Prairie State (Packet, 1850-1855)

Date

• April 16, 1852

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sidewheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1850 at Griggsville, Illinois
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Burned on July 4, 1855 at the Rock Island boat yard
• OFFICERS & CREW: Stephen Hewitt (master, 1855)
• RIVERS: Illinois River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 4574; First home port, St. Louis, Missouri. She ran St. Louis-Illinois River. Captain Samuel Rider was one of the stockholders. On April 16, 1852 she landed at the Pekin, Illinois wharf almost at the same time as the Avalanche. Both boats were carrying a high (racing) pressure of steam. The Prairie State left the landing before the Avalanche and was just below Pekin when her boilers exploded. Many of her passengers and crew were scalded, drowned and killed (20 lives were reported to have been lost). The Avalanche came to her aid and towed the boat back to the Pekin wharf. The Prairie State was in the St. Louis and Keokuk Packet Company. In July 1855, while tied alongside the Kentucky at the Rock Island boat yard, the Kentucky caught fire which spread to the Prairie State and both boats were burned
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: The Prairie State at the Pekin wharf prior to the explosion of her boilers in 1852. A photo of Captain Samuel Rider is included