Tom C. Powell (Packet, 1915-1924)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1915 at Paducah, Kentucky
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Sank at Cottonwood Bar, Ohio River, January 31, 1924
• OWNERS: St. Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company
• OFFICERS & CREW: Jesse Singleton (pilot)
• RIVERS: Tennessee River; Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 5411; Built for the St. Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company to replace City of Florence in the Danville-Lamb's Ferry trade. She was chartered occasionally to run Louisville-Stephensport. She sank several times, once coming up over the pass at Dam 44 when a wicket speared her on the 4th of July, with many passengers and a big freight aboard. Jesse Singleton was the pilot on watch. In January, 1924, she hit something below Smithland, Kentucky across the Ohio River from Hamletsburg, Illinois, and ended up sunk at Brick House Light, about five miles downstream. Captain Fred McCandless had the towboat Marcia Richardson tied up at Hamletsburg when he received the word about the Powell's sinking. When he got there, he found eighteen people marooned in the Powell's pilothouse, about the only thing showing above water. He got them off and then picked up two more survivors at Catfish Point and three others at Kinkaid Landing Light. Heavy ice had cut into her hull. Five lives were lost