Top of page

Photo, Print, Drawing Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-Boat "New Jersey". Terrible conflagration and destruction of the steam-boat "New Jersey"

About this Item

Title

  • Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-Boat "New Jersey".

Other Title

  • Terrible conflagration and destruction of the steam-boat "New Jersey"

Summary

  • This hand-colored lithograph from 1856 shows a dramatic view of the steamboat New Jersey, engulfed in flames and smoke. The captain is still at the helm as the passengers escape into the icy river. Panicked passengers jump into water that is already teeming with disaster victims. One of the victims is an African American man. Passengers thrash and swim, while others attempt to stay upon and assist others onto floes of ice, debris, and a single rowboat. Rescuers from the nearby wharf, including firemen, work frantically and desperately throw a rope to a woman standing afloat an ice floe. On the fire-engulfed deck, a horse is seen amidst the passengers; on the rear of the boat, a woman is driven off by the flames. On the riverbank in the background, a sign for "Baths" is visible. Beneath the image is text listing the names of the 107 white and "colored" passengers, divided into three columns: "the dead," "the missing," and "the saved." Captained by Ebenezer Corson, the steamboat New Jersey was mid-voyage to Camden from Philadelphia (using an alternate elongated route due to heavy ice), when it caught fire on the night of March 15, 1856. The fire started as a result of defective boilers, a fireplace, and brick work. With the fire spreading rapidly, Corson retreated to Arch Street Wharf in Philadelphia, and came within 30 feet of the pier when the pilot house collapsed, leaving the boat unmanned and out of control. Corson survived by leaping ashore before the uncontrolled ship drifted back out on the river. This lithograph was published by Alfred Pharazyn (circa 1833--circa 1878), who operated a print coloring establishment in Philadelphia between the 1850s and the 1870s.

Created / Published

  • Philadelphia : A. Pharazin, 1856.

Headings

  • -  United States of America--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
  • -  1856-03-15
  • -  Delaware River (New York-Delaware and New Jersey)
  • -  Disasters
  • -  Fires
  • -  Lithographs
  • -  Marine accidents
  • -  New Jersey (Ferryboat)
  • -  Rowboats
  • -  Steamboat accidents
  • -  Steamboats

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  "Digital catalog number: POS 744"--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 print : lithograph, hand-colored ; 26 x 36 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: The Library Company of Philadelphia.
  • -  Content in English.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Philadelphia on Stone

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021670425

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-Boat "New Jersey". Pennsylvania United States of America Philadelphia, 1856. Philadelphia: A. Pharazin. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670425/.

APA citation style:

(1856) Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-Boat "New Jersey". Pennsylvania United States of America Philadelphia, 1856. Philadelphia: A. Pharazin. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670425/.

MLA citation style:

Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-Boat "New Jersey". Philadelphia: A. Pharazin. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021670425/>.