In Alabama, a New Orleans bound steamboat is destroyed by fire and at least four people die.

The steamboat Sunny South was making its way on the Alabama River from Montgomery, Alabama to its eventual destination of New Orleans, Louisiana when fire broke out aboard, probably in the cookhouse.  At least four people aboard were burned to death or drowned and the vessel burned to the waterline, completely destroying its main cargo of 800 bales of cotton worth $150,000.  (By John Osborne)