The upper sections of the Mississippi River were frozen over during the particularly cold winter and ice "gorges" had formed both above and below St. Louis, Missouri. When, as was inevitable, these masses of ice shifted, seven Mississippi river boats moored on the levee - the New Admiral, Old Sioux City, Empire City, Calypso, Highlander, Metropolitan, and Geneva - were crushed and destroyed. The loss was estimated at $185,000. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
William C. Cochran, "Perils of River Navigation," Proceedings of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association; Volume X Part II, for the Year 1919-1920; 1921; p. 330.
"Breaking Up of the Ice on the Mississippi - Destruction of Steamers," New York Times, January 13, 1866, p. 8.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Crime/Disasters
