SS Ada Hancock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name |
|
| Owner | Phineas Banning |
| Launched | 1859 |
| Fate | Destroyed in boiler explosion, 27 April 1863 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 60 tons bm |
| Length | 60 ft (18 m) |
The SS Ada Hancock was a small steamship. It was used to help larger ships in San Pedro Harbor in the early 1860s. This type of ship is called a tender. It would carry passengers and cargo between the shore and big coastal steamships.
On April 27, 1863, something terrible happened. The Ada Hancock's boiler exploded in San Pedro Bay. This area is near Wilmington, California, which is part of Los Angeles. The explosion killed 26 people and hurt many others. There were at least 53 passengers on board.
Contents
The Story of the Ada Hancock
The Ada Hancock was built in San Pedro in 1859. It started as a tugboat, which is a strong boat used to pull other ships. Its first name was Milton Willis.
In 1861, a man named Phineas Banning bought the ship. He was a very important person in the history of Los Angeles. Mr. Banning renamed the ship Ada Hancock. He named it after the daughter of his friend, Winfield Scott Hancock.
A Tragic Day: The Explosion
A writer named Harris Newmark wrote about this sad event. He described it in his book, Sixty Years in Southern California, 1853-1913.
He wrote that the Ada Hancock was making a second trip. It was taking passengers to a larger ship called the Senator. These passengers were going north. While in San Pedro Harbor, the Ada Hancock tilted. This let cold water get into the engine room.
The cold water caused the boiler to explode with great force. The boat was completely destroyed down to the water line. Pieces of the boat were found far away, even up to three-quarters of a mile!
There were at least 53 passengers on board. At least 26 of them died. Some people, like Phineas Banning, were lucky. They were thrown many feet into the air but only had minor injuries.
Edward Carlson, a soldier, also remembered the day. He was stationed nearby. He said the water in the bay was shallow. Big ships had to anchor far from the dock. The Ada Hancock was used to bring people and mail to shore.
Carlson and some friends almost went on the Ada Hancock that day. But it was cold, so they decided not to go. They had just turned back when they heard a loud noise. They saw people and pieces of the boat flying in the air.
He said that in that short moment, more than twenty people died. Just moments before, they were full of life. They had plans for their trip and their future. Carlson felt lucky to be alive.
After the explosion, every boat rushed to help. The injured and the dead were brought to shore.
What Happened Next
Harris Newmark also wrote about what happened after the explosion. Mrs. Banning, her mother, and a daughter of B. D. Wilson were hurt. Miss M. Hereford was also badly injured. She later passed away after suffering for a long time.
The accident happened around five in the afternoon. But the sad news didn't reach the town until almost eight o'clock. Doctors and soldiers quickly went to the harbor to help. Many of the people who died were buried near the beach.
Frank Lecouvreur worked for Phineas Banning. He wrote about helping after the accident. He found the large warehouse partly used as a place for the victims. Many bodies had been brought in. Some were hard to recognize.
His first job was to get the business back in order. He and other men started sorting freight in the warehouse. It was a very hard task. Whenever a new person was brought in, and they recognized someone they knew, it was very sad. Friends and family came, crying for their loved ones. One by one, the victims were laid to rest.
People Who Were Lost
Harris Newmark listed some of the people who died in the explosion:
- Thomas W. Seeley, who was the captain of the larger ship Senator.
- Joseph Bryant, who was the captain of the Ada Hancock.
- Dr. H. R. Myles, a druggist.
- Thomas H. Workman, who was Phineas Banning's main clerk.
- Albert Sidney Johnston Jr.
- William T.B. Sanford, the postmaster.
- Louis Schlesinger.
- William Ritchie, a messenger for Wells Fargo.
- Two Mormon missionaries who were traveling to the Sandwich Islands.
- Fred E. Kerlin from Fort Tejon.
