Iron Mountain (Riverboat)
Encyclopedia
The Iron Mountain was a stern-wheeler that plied the Mississippi River
from 1864 until 1872.
Built in 1864, the boat was 54.86 meters long (180 feet) and had a 10.67 meter (35 foot) beam. Its fame comes from the fact that in June 1872 when traveling from New Orleans to Pittsburgh, loaded with cotton and sugar, it disappeared. It left Vicksburg
with a string of barges following and 55 crew and passengers. It headed North and was never seen again. A following steamer, the Iroquois Chief, found the Iron Mountains barges. The tow rope had been cut rather than broken. The barges were the only remains ever found.
This is the legend often told.
In fact the Iron Mountain hit an obstruction at Stumpy Point, near Island 102, which cut a hole in her hull and she sank. The crew except the chambermaid scrambled onto one of the barges and escaped. The chambermaid, who was obviously caught below deck was killed and her body was recovered the next day with some wreckage. Further wreckage was found on June 30th, 1872 several miles where the boat was lost. However the main wreckage was never found.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
from 1864 until 1872.
Built in 1864, the boat was 54.86 meters long (180 feet) and had a 10.67 meter (35 foot) beam. Its fame comes from the fact that in June 1872 when traveling from New Orleans to Pittsburgh, loaded with cotton and sugar, it disappeared. It left Vicksburg
Vicksburg
Vicksburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:* Vicksburg, Florida* Vicksburg, Indiana* Vicksburg, Michigan* Vicksburg, Mississippi** The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign...
with a string of barges following and 55 crew and passengers. It headed North and was never seen again. A following steamer, the Iroquois Chief, found the Iron Mountains barges. The tow rope had been cut rather than broken. The barges were the only remains ever found.
This is the legend often told.
In fact the Iron Mountain hit an obstruction at Stumpy Point, near Island 102, which cut a hole in her hull and she sank. The crew except the chambermaid scrambled onto one of the barges and escaped. The chambermaid, who was obviously caught below deck was killed and her body was recovered the next day with some wreckage. Further wreckage was found on June 30th, 1872 several miles where the boat was lost. However the main wreckage was never found.
External links
- Mississippi Trivia
- http:/ /perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id233.html