Ben Sharrod

[skintback42004]

Anybody ever hear of anyone searching for coins or relics from a steam boat called Ben Sharrod that blew up in the early-mid 1800s south of Natchez Mississippi.I belive it is probally between Blackhawk Louisiana and Natchez Island.Im thinking of metal detecting floodlands,river banks and sandbars whenel the river is low.Any suggestions.

 

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[Darren in NC]

She was found years ago. You might try catching up with these guys and seeing how you might help...

http://www.riverboatdaves.com/aboutboats/b-2.html#BSHAR

 

[allen_idaho]

Sounds like they found the right boat. But I'm not so optimistic that there would be much to salvage.

On May 7th, 1837 the Ben Sharrod left New Orleans and headed upriver under Captain Castleman with 200 passengers, Whiskey, Brandy, Gunpowder, Specie, and misc cargo.

On May 8th, the ship caught fire after wood stacked near the boiler burst into flames. At about 30 miles south of Natchez, MS the ship's wheel ropes were burned off and she could not be steered toward shore. As the ship was abandoned, 150 passengers were killed by the fire or by drowning. The survivors were picked up by the "Columbus".

On this day, two explosions occurred. First the stores of whiskey, brandy, and other alcohol. Second, the ship's boiler. The ship was left to burn and float downstream.

On May 9th, a third explosion was witnessed by the "Alton". This was the 39 barrels of gunpowder being carried aboard. After this explosion, the ship sank about a mile from Fort Adams. Debris was thrown across the river.

So my guess is that the cargo was either burned or blown up. And the specie onboard was most likely melted together into one big ingot similar to what happened to the silver coins aboard the "Lexington" in 1842. Is it worth the salvage effort? Maybe. Maybe not.

 

[Galleon Hunter]

1837. American side-wheel steamer Ben Sherrod, 393-tons, Captain Castleman, en route from New Orleans to Louisville carrying about 200 passengers, general freight and a large quantity of specie consigned to banks in Tennessee and a considerable amount of wealth belonging to private individuals, burned near Black Hawk, Louisiana on May 8. The Ben Sherrod caught fire while racing the steamer Prairie about fourteen miles above Fort Adams, Mississippi. According to reports, the deck and engine room crewmen were inebriated and during the race, her boilers became so overheated that they ignited about 60 cords of resin-soaked wood. The forward section quickly became a raging inferno. The fire burned through the wheel ropes as the Sherrod continued upstream with no means of steering her towards shore. Many of those onboard jumped in the water to escape the fire – people fought for floating objects – women and children were thrown aside by men, cowardly trying to save their own lives. Ironically the Prairie did not bother to stop and assist; she continued on to Natchez only to report that the Sherrod was on fire. The steamer Alton, did attempt to rush to her assistance and accidentally ran over many of the survivors in the water. The blaze continued to spread, first setting off the barrel of whiskey (like a cannon) the drunken crew had been enjoying, before reaching her boilers, which expoded with a devastating roar. The riverboat’s final death-blow came when the flames ignited forty barrels of gun power she carried. That explosion reportedly, could be heard for miles. One wealthy passenger placed $38,000 under his pillow, and though he managed to escape with his life, lost all his money while another lost $20,000 in specie. Seventy-two people were reported to have perished in the disaster.
Today, the remains of the Ben Sherrod are currently being recovered by a consortium of private investors. The vessel is lying upside down about one mile from Fort Adams and about 1.3 miles from the present channel of the Mississippi River. She was buried under approximately seventy feet of sand and mud. To date, about 50 feet of hull timbers have been uncovered. The timbers were found to be in excellent condition and the group hopes that her cargo is still intact and equally well-preserved. (Note: The Ben Sherrod was built at New Albany, Indiana in 1836. There is much confusion surrounding this particular shipwreck. An article published in Lost Treasure Magazine mistakenly claims the loss occurred near Louisville, Kentucky. The Atlas of Shipwrecks & Treasure states that 150 people perished in the disaster. Shipwrecks: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Worst Disasters at Sea by Ritchie, claims 200 people died and erroneously gives the date of the loss as January 2. The Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks list the Ben Sherrod, but also has a listing for a Sherrod, burned on the Mississippi River on May 9 and declares that 100 lives were lost. This is undoubtedly a reference to the same wreck based on the close proximity of the dates and location.)

Hope this helps

 

[skintback42004]

I belive the mississippi river holds alot of nice treasure and artifacts.I guess alot of the shipwrecks would be hard to find and salvage due to the current and sediment depositing over the bottom.

 

[allen_idaho]

Or in this case, the entire river moving, leaving the shipwreck buried in a field.

 

[truckinbutch]

Or in this case, the entire river moving, leaving the shipwreck buried in a field.

That is a major problem . That river has altered so many property lines and state boundaries with it's fickle nature in the last couple hundred years that where something is is anyone's guess .