Seawanhaka disaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
| Name | Seawanhaka |
| Port of registry | United States |
| Builder | Terry |
| Laid down | 1866 |
| Fate | Exploded and sunk June 28, 1880 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Paddle steamer |
| Tonnage | 611.74 grt |
| Length | 225 ft (69 m) |
| Beam | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Draft | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
The Seawanhaka was a large steamboat that traveled on the water. On June 28, 1880, a terrible accident happened on board. Its boiler, which creates steam to power the boat, suddenly exploded. This happened while the boat was on the East River near Wards Island in New York City. The explosion caused a big fire on the boat. Sadly, between 24 and 35 people lost their lives in this disaster.
The Seawanhaka Accident
The Seawanhaka was a paddle steamer, a type of boat that uses large wheels on the sides or back to move through the water. These boats were very common for travel in the 1800s.
What Caused the Explosion?
The main engine of a steamboat is powered by a boiler. This boiler heats water to create steam, which then pushes the boat forward. On the day of the accident, the boiler on the Seawanhaka exploded. This was a very powerful and dangerous event.
Investigation Findings
After the accident, a group of people called a coroner's jury investigated what happened. They looked into the cause of the explosion and why so many people died.
- The investigation found that the boiler had been checked just a few months before, in March.
- At that time, it was thought to be in good working condition.
- However, the investigation also found that the boat's crew did not handle the emergency very well after the explosion. Their poor actions made the situation worse and led to more deaths.
The Seawanhaka disaster was a sad reminder of the dangers of early steamboat travel. It highlighted the importance of both equipment safety and proper crew training.
