Mittie Stephens
The Mitty Stephens came out of a shipyard in Madison, Indiana, in 1863, in time to be a part of the effort to preserve the Union. She served as a naval packet for a year, but after the failure of the Red River Campaign in 1864 she was sold. Civilian owners used her on the Missouri River and then stationed her in New Orleans. In 1866, "Mittie Stephens" began regular roundtrips between New Orleans and Jefferson, Texas, via the Mississippi and Red rivers and Cypress Bayou. Her last voyage began on February 5, 1869. Seven nights later, "Mittie Stephens" steamed on Caddo Lake near her destination with 107 passengers and crew, plus cargo, which included hay stacked on deck. Sparks from a torch basket located on the bow to illuminate the ship blew in the wind to the dry hay, ignited, and a conflagration resulted.
The helmsman steered for shore but the ship "grounded." That meant that passengers might have saved themselves by jumping overboard and wading to shore. But the side-mounded paddlewheel kept turning in an effort to force the ship on to shore, and many who leapt overboard were sucked into the wheel. Sixty-one people perished.
"Mittie Stephens" burned to the water line, though parts of her, including the bell, and some machinery, were salvaged. Her remains reminded those who visit the lake of the danger that await those who move upon the waters well into the twentieth century.
For a tale occuring on the Mittie Stephens two years earlier, go to this link.
Other links:
Excerpts about neighboring town Mooringsport and the area from A History of Navigation on Cypress Bayou and the Lakes By Jacques D. Bagur.
A document detailing river boat activity in the area from Shreveport to Daingerfield, Texas. It notes that the B. L. Hodge (large boat on the right) traveled to Jefferson. That's hard to imagine today, but from the maps and descriptions, the lake and 12-mile bayou were dramatically different from today. Link: Historic Watercraft, Shreveport to Daingerfield
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