When was it published?

February 13, 1850 in Republican Herald

Domestic News February 13, 1850

Republican Herald

Q: What keywords are associated?

Rhode Island Steamer, Shipwreck, Loss Of Lives, California Voyage, Storm Disaster

Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island

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What is this article about?

The steamer Rhode Island sank at sea, with full particulars indicating the probable loss of 32 lives. The catastrophe has spread deep gloom in the community, more felt than the recent destructive New York calamity. The vessel was considered too old, small, and weak for a California voyage.

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Full Text

LOSS OF THE STEAMER RHODE ISLAND, AND PROBABLE LOSS OF THIRTY-TWO LIVES.—Full particulars of the loss of this steamer, with the detail of facts which lead us to fear that thirty-two human beings have found a watery grave, are given in our columns to-day, from the Journal.—The news of the terrible catastrophe has spread a gloom over our community which is much more sensibly felt than that produced by the late awful and still more destructive calamity in New York. Without claiming the right to attach the blame to any one, we will say that the Rhode Island, in our opinion, was too old, too small, and altogether too weak, for a voyage to California, and would never have rounded the Cape, even if she had weathered the storm which proved her ruin.

What sub-type of article is it?

Disaster Shipping

What keywords are associated?

Rhode Island Steamer Shipwreck Loss Of Lives California Voyage Storm Disaster

Domestic News Details

Outcome

probable loss of thirty-two lives; steamer entirely lost due to storm.

Event Details

The steamer Rhode Island was lost at sea during a storm en route to California. Full particulars from the Journal detail the facts leading to fears of thirty-two deaths. The community is deeply affected, more so than by the recent New York calamity. The ship was deemed too old, small, and weak for the voyage and unlikely to have rounded the Cape even without the storm.