The New York registered passenger ship William Nelson had left Antwerp in Belgium bound for New York on June 2, 1865 with 550 passengers and crew aboard. Twenty-four days into the voyage sickness was discovered and a morning fumigation with tar pots was ordered. An accident with these set the ship afire. Hundreds perished but three boats with survivors were picked up over the next hours. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"The Late Disaster at Sea," New York Times, July 23, 1865
Chronicle, The Annual Register or a View of the History and Politics of the Year 1865 (London: F. & J. Rivington, 1866), 83-85.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Crime/Disasters
