Miscellaneous Blogs

Book Review: The Explosion of the SS Sultana

Published

3 years ago

April 8, 2022

If you were asked to list two or three major maritime disasters, where many lost their life, I guess you would mention the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, the RMS Lusitania in 1915 or even the RMS Empress of Ireland in 1914. I suspect you wouldn’t mention the loss of the SS Sultana on 27^th April 1865 – even though it remains the deadliest maritime disaster in American history.

Whilst a total of 1,517 died when the Titanic sank, 1,198 on the Lusitania and 1,012 on the Empress of Ireland it is estimated that over 1,800 people died when the Sultana exploded and sank in the Mississippi River. The death toll was an estimate due to the chaotic circumstances at the time. General Robert E Lee had surrendered to General Ulysses Grant on 9^th April 1865 and though the American civil war wasn’t over, it was drawing to an end. These were tumultuous times as thousands of Union soldiers were being repatriated from Confederate prison camps to the north. There was both euphoria and resentment in the air. Less than a week later, on 15^th April, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The news and aftermath was all consuming. Whilst the death of almost two thousand people wasn’t ignored it was overshadowed by the carnage of the American Civil War where an estimated 750,000 perished.

The Explosion of the SS Sultana is not a record of any formal investigation or official report. It is essentially an account from a collection of eye witnesses and previously published sources of the events surrounding the loss of the steam ship and those on board. What is clear is that all the ingredients for a disaster were present. What is equally clear is that whilst most of the eye witness accounts are consistent the booklet contains numerous assertions and statements for which no evidence is given nor corroboration provided. In particular, the suggestion that the explosion was due to sabotage by Confederate forces still battling against the Union Army.

There is no doubt that Union soldiers, who had endured terrible conditions in Confederate prison camps, were only too keen to travel north and towards home – regardless of the condition of the ship and facilities provided. It is claimed that a Union Quartermaster, previously judged “totally unfit” to continue his duties and suspected of graft and corruption, was charged with the task of negotiating the price of passage for returning soldiers. It is also claimed that greedy ship owners were only too willing to transport as many passengers as possible – even if it overloaded the ship. What is known is that the Sultana was designed to carry only 400 passengers. On 26^th April, when it began the journey north towards Memphis, it was estimated there were over 2,400 on board; over five times the number it was designed to carry. Indeed, the cover picture of the booklet illustrates vividly the overcrowding. What’s more the Sultana, excessively loaded, would be battling against the current all the way north – putting immense strain on the ship.

What those on board didn’t know was that two years previously the ship had been hastily refurbished and put back into service with experimental boilers. One of these boilers had failed prior to the ill-fated journey and was hastily repaired. After the disaster these experimental boilers were later removed from other ships.

In the account Charles River Editors assert that other ships were available, alongside the Sultana, at the time of loading but were not used. They also assert those responsible for the overloading of soldiers on board were reprimanded but no evidence is offered. The account, whilst vivid in places, remains an unsatisfactory epitaph to those who died.

Included in The Explosion of the SS Sultana are several black and white photographs of the ship, together with other sketches and illustrations. They do capture the moment of departure and the aftermath.

The Explosion of the SS Sultana (undated)

Publisher: Charles River Editors
28pp
ISBN 9781500857660

Charles River Editors provide a variety of services to those who wish to publish both print based and digital material. This includes the republication of previously published material. Search on www.amazon.co.uk for more.

Find out more about the reviewer, Professor Fred Lockwood, who is also a published author at www.fredlockwood.co.uk.

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Fred Lockwood

Dr Fred Lockwood is Emeritus Professor of Learning and Teaching, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He is also a PADI Master Scuba Diver and dived in the waters of Central America and Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands. Follow Fred at www.fredlockwood.co.uk.

Blogs

Scubaverse Christmas Gift Guide 2024: Day 5

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2024

Team Scubaverse

Welcome to Day 5 of Scubaverse.com’s week-long Christmas Gift Guide!

Struggling to find the perfect gift for that special scuba diver in your life? Read on for Team Scubaverse’s pick of this season’s must-have Christmas gifts.

Every day this week, we are publishing a special Christmas Gift Guide full of different gift ideas that are all ideal for divers, so you’re sure to find something that’s perfect. Take a look at today’s selection below…

SlipIns DiveSkins

Team@slipins.com / www.slipins.com / SlipIns Facebook / SlipIns Instagram / SlipIns Pinterest

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DiveSkins are perfect for scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, paddling, surfing, and all water sports. It shows up beautifully in pictures under water.

This tight-fitting, tailored lycra suit offers maximum comfort. stretchy, breathable, fast-drying fabric with the world’s best sun and stinger protection.

SlipIns are:

*Ultimate 50+ UPF sun protection
*Abrasion protection.
*Quick dry, breathable, soft fabric
*The ultimate stinging critter protection

Save 10% on your order if you mention you saw this ad in Scubaverse in your order note!

SAVE YOUR SKIN…WEAR OUR SKINS

Team@slipins.com / www.slipins.com / SlipIns Facebook / SlipIns Instagram / SlipIns Pinterest

Diving Books from Miflex Hoses

sales@miflexhoses.co.uk / www.miflexhoseshop.co.uk / miflexhoseshop.co.uk/acatalog/Diving-Books.html / Miflex Hoses on Facebook

We stock a great range of Diving & Underground book titles, ideal to add to any order or simply buy as a gift for a friend.

Titles we have include:

Shipwrecks of the Dover Straits, Adventures Underground, Pioneers Beneath the Peak, Dive Truk Lagoon, Underwater Potholer, Images Below & many more.

From Authors including:

Stefan Panis, Martyn Farr, Duncan Price, Ron Young, Rod Macdonald, Chris Howes

Visit our website for more details.

sales@miflexhoses.co.uk / www.miflexhoseshop.co.uk / miflexhoseshop.co.uk/acatalog/Diving-Books.html / Miflex Hoses on Facebook

OrcaTorch D710 Dive Light – now available in pink!

sales@sea-sea.com / www.orcatorch.com / OrcaTorch on Facebook / OrcaTorch on X / OrcaTorch on YouTube

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Already available in Black, Green, Red and Blue, the D710 Dive Light from Orcatorch is now available in Pink too.

Whether you’re a recreational or a professional diver, you’ll find the OrcaTorch D710 dive light useful in your underwater activities.

With max 3,000 lumens, the D710 is one of the strongest torches in its class. You also have plenty of brightness settings to choose from if you prefer less power.

It runs on one OrcaTorch 21700 5000mAh rechargeable battery with a Type-C charging port, easier for you to charge it anywhere. Now it offers five exterior colour options: Black, Green, Red, Blue, and Pink, to satisfy your diverse needs.

Featuring:

* Uses Luminous LED, max 3000 lumens

* Uses 1 * 21700 Li-ion battery

* 6° beam angle

* Offers four exterior colour options: Black, Red, Green and Blue

* Easy operation with side titanium alloy push-button switch

* Safe lock function, prevents mis-operation

* Intelligent Over-Heat protection

* Battery indicator

* Water pressure resistant construction, depth rated to 150 meters

* Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation

* Over-discharge protection function

* Constructed from high-strength A6061-T6 aluminum

* Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized finish for durability and corrosion resistance

* Two sides coated toughened glass with high water pressure resistance under deep water

Sea & Sea is the home of OrcaTorch and other leading diving brands in the UK.

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Scubapro Luna 2 AI Dive Computer

Scubapro Europe Website / Scubapro USA Website / Scubapro on Facebook / Scubapro on Instagram / Scubapro on YouTube

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SCUBAPRO, the world’s premier manufacturer of high-quality scuba diving equipment, introduces its second generation Luna 2.0, an easy-to-read, intuitive dive computer loaded with easy-to-use features and available in two versions, the Luna 2.0 and Luna 2.0 AI with wireless air integration.

Designed for new and casual recreational divers, the low-profile Luna 2.0 sits comfortably on the wrist. Its oil-filled plastic housing helps ensure reliable performance to depths of 120 meters. A large widescreen display features a high-contrast black and white matrix-segment LCD with full-sized characters for easy reading in all dive conditions. An intuitive menu and simple two-button interface lets the diver navigate the system with ease, aided by clearly marked screen prompts. The LUNA 2.0 offers two algorithms – Predictive Multi-Gas Bühlmann ZH-L16 ADT MB PMG or ZH-L16 + GF PURE, plus 21-50% nitrox compatibility and three selectable gasses for open circuit diving. Three dive modes are available – Scuba, Apnea and Gauge – to suit a range of diving activities.

The Luna 2.0 AI (air integrated) offers the same easy-to-use features and functions as the standard Luna 2.0 plus adds wireless air integration. This not only enables to easily monitor ythe tank pressure, it also provides true remaining bottom time (RBT) and allows the air consumption to be factored into the decompression calculation. Also available with the Luna 2.0 AI is an optional integrated heart rate monitor that lets visually track the heart rate and skin temperature to help staying in the personal target zone.

Both Luna 2.0 models include personalized dive management functions like PDIS (Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops) which calculates an intermediate stop based on N2 loading, current and previous dives and breathing mixes, and Microbubble levels that give the option to adjust the level of conservatism in the algorithm to match the individual experience level, age and physical conditioning for a more enjoyable dive.

The soft silicone arm strap offers a comfortable fit on the wrist, plus bungee mounts on the corners of the housing allow for alternate attachment methods. A Bluetooth Low Energy interface enables the download of the dive data to any iOS or Android device or PC/Mac (firmware can be user-updated), and the CR2450 battery is rated for up to two years or 300 dives.

Scubapro Europe Website / Scubapro USA Website / Scubapro on Facebook / Scubapro on Instagram / Scubapro on YouTube

35% off Red Sea Liveaboard Scuba Scene in Spring 2025

info@oysterdiving.com / www.oysterdiving.com / Oyster Diving Facebook / Oyster Diving Instagram

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Embark on the ultimate diving adventure aboard the Scuba Scene, the luxury liveaboard offering an unforgettable Red Sea experience. Known for its exceptional service, safety, comfort, and world-class dive sites, Scuba Scene is the ideal choice for divers of all levels.

Dive into crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant coral reefs, exotic marine life, and awe-inspiring shipwrecks. From the stunning Ras Mohammed National Park to the famous Thistlegorm wreck, Scuba Scene brings you to the heart of the Red Sea’s best sites. With spacious cabins, gourmet dining, and a dedicated crew that ensures every detail is perfect, this liveaboard guarantees relaxation and adventure in equal measure.

Now is the perfect time to book! Save a massive 35% on any sailing between 3rd March and 28th April 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or taking your first plunge, Scuba Scene promises an experience you’ll cherish forever.

Don’t miss this chance to dive the Red Sea in style and at an incredible price. Book your adventure today!

Tel: 0800 699 0243

info@oysterdiving.com / www.oysterdiving.com / Oyster Diving Facebook / Oyster Diving Instagram