Darren in NC
Silver Member
- Apr 1, 2004
- 2,822
- 1,684
- Detector(s) used
- Tesoro Sand Shark, Homebuilt pulse loop
- Primary Interest:
- Shipwrecks
Well, here's another one I'll likely never go after. So many projects, so little time.
The CW Sombart caught on fire near St. Louis in 1859. All the passengers and crew escaped. Some of the newspaper accounts say that all the cargo was consumed in the fire. (Never trust everything the newspapers say.) There is no mention of gold or silver of any kind in the newspaper accounts (that comes later). In 1881, massive flooding of the Mississippi River rerouted the river's course in the area where the steamboat sank. The bend of the river where she sank became a farmer's field and is still the case today.
In 1906, the Kansas State Historical Society mentions that the boat was carrying "a large sum of gold and silver money, which was never recovered." In the same paragraph, it mentions that the captain is still living at Boonsville, and speaks about the boat. Thus, my assumption is that he is the source of the information. “She was never fast, but a good carrier and money-maker” sounds like a man reminiscing. The paragraph also states it was sunk at the mouth of the Saline River, something never mentioned anywhere else. Note the photo with the Saline ferry. All other earlier accounts state she was burning a few miles north of St. Louis and later mentions Bissell's Point. You can see the old riverbed path on Google Earth. One article says divers found her in 30 feet below the water on her side.
A good magnetometer and some patience could yield quite a find. No one will know the actual amount lost until it's found. Be sure to ask permission from the land owners. Even better to work with the Arabia Steamboat Museum out of Kansas City. Also, keep in mind that a letter of approval must be secured from the Corps of Engineers regarding any excavation work near the Mississippi River, even if it's on private land. Happy hunting!
The CW Sombart caught on fire near St. Louis in 1859. All the passengers and crew escaped. Some of the newspaper accounts say that all the cargo was consumed in the fire. (Never trust everything the newspapers say.) There is no mention of gold or silver of any kind in the newspaper accounts (that comes later). In 1881, massive flooding of the Mississippi River rerouted the river's course in the area where the steamboat sank. The bend of the river where she sank became a farmer's field and is still the case today.
In 1906, the Kansas State Historical Society mentions that the boat was carrying "a large sum of gold and silver money, which was never recovered." In the same paragraph, it mentions that the captain is still living at Boonsville, and speaks about the boat. Thus, my assumption is that he is the source of the information. “She was never fast, but a good carrier and money-maker” sounds like a man reminiscing. The paragraph also states it was sunk at the mouth of the Saline River, something never mentioned anywhere else. Note the photo with the Saline ferry. All other earlier accounts state she was burning a few miles north of St. Louis and later mentions Bissell's Point. You can see the old riverbed path on Google Earth. One article says divers found her in 30 feet below the water on her side.
A good magnetometer and some patience could yield quite a find. No one will know the actual amount lost until it's found. Be sure to ask permission from the land owners. Even better to work with the Arabia Steamboat Museum out of Kansas City. Also, keep in mind that a letter of approval must be secured from the Corps of Engineers regarding any excavation work near the Mississippi River, even if it's on private land. Happy hunting!
