historic shipwrecks of the gulf of mexico pot

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE SIDEWHEEL STEAMSHIP JOSEPHINE ‘The sidewheo steamship Josephine Photo courtesy ofthe Mariner's Museum, Newport News, Va A STEAMER FROM HAVANA GOES T

Historie Shipwrecks

of the Gulf of Mexico

A Teacher's Resource

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE SIDEWHEEL STEAMSHIP JOSEPHINE

‘The sidewheo steamship Josephine Photo courtesy ofthe Mariner's Museum,

Newport News, Va)

A STEAMER FROM HAVANA GOES TO PIECES NEAR

‘THE MISSISSIPPI COAST—NO LIVES LOST!

"This was the headline from a New Orloans newspaper on the morning of February 9, 1881

‘The steamer was the sidewheel merchant ship -osephine She was sailing from Havana,

ba, to Now Orleans, Louisiana, when she FOUNDERED during’ a severe winter storm,

‘Though all of her G5 passengers and crow survived the shipwreck may sll bold clues to the lives of people who endured this perilous journey,

In 1997 the shipwreck was identified off the coast of Biloxi, Mississippi, by marine

‘archaeologists with the Department of the Interiors Minerals Management Service (MIMS) Research conducted on this important shipwrvck has also identified clues about the

‘merchant shipping industry, and the development af RONAICLLED steamship technology of the nineteenth century

NOTE TO TEACHERS This ‘Teacher's Resource accompanies the Minerals Management Service's (MMS) fedueational pustor “Historie Shipwrecks of the Gulf of Mexic.” The resourve is an intenduction tothe sidewbee! steamship sJosephine ns an example ofthe types of shipwrecks ound in the Gulfof Mexico, ‘The resoure is not meant co include everything about marine archacology and we recommend that teachers use other resources to expand on this Introduction, ‘The materials presented can be adapted to levels 7-12,

WHERE To GET THE PosTER AND TEACHER'S RESOURCE

Copios of the Poster and Teacher's Resourae may be obtained from the Public Information Office at the following adress

USS Department of the Interior

‘Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexien OCS Region Public Information Office (MS 5034)

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (604) 730-2519 oF 1800-200-GULE

‘You can also ceoss the Teacher's Resource online a ltnutheww, mms gor

elect:

Kid's Page from the left column

Gulf of Mexico Kid's Page from the Ie eolumn

First Printing: April 2001

Revised Printing: May 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page About This Unit '

Roforonens 2 Cover Photo Credits 24 Critique of Instructional Resources forthe Sidewheel Steamship Sosephine vn

ABOUT THIS UNIT

This unit is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file “Josephine! find thor sora on sidewhoe! steamships of the minetesnth century I was within by Dave Ball marine archaeologist with the US, Department of the Interiors Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, New Crleans, Louisiana, Thịt nit as roviewed by Leina all and Adam Rowe, junior high school teachers in the St Tammany Parish Sebo! Districs, Mandeville: Laaisins,

Where It Fits into the Curriculum

Topies: ‘his lesson could be used in units on commerce, maritime transportation, oF twehmology TL cam he used ca help staents Tearn about che maritime industry along the Gulf Coast of he United States in the mineteonth century or to uaderstand dhe npportance fafmesehant steamships in the settlement af the'Texas Gull Coast

HL Time, Continsity and Change:

AIL People, Places, an Bi

) ‘To examine the significance of historic shipwrecks in undesstanvling che pase

2) To learn how historical decumonts anu photos can assist researchers in learning mare about historic events,

4) To gain skills in drawing conclusions on the basis of map analysis, readings, and visual

Materials for Students

The materials listed below either can be used directly on the computer or ean be printed foal photccapied and distnbuted to students, The saps and images appear twice: in a Jow-resolution version with associated questions and alone in a larger high-resolution

1} One map of stoamship rmates along the Gulf Coast and che enerent location of the sel

2) Vheow readings on the importance of steamship commerce along the Gulf of Moxiew in

‘he mil-nineteenth centuay: the sinking nf the vessel and Charles Morgan, the-owner of

‘he steamship sasephine

5) One SIDESCAN-SON AR image andl one site map of the shipweeck for comparison,

4) ‘Throe photos and a sketch ofthe steamship Josephine,

5) Ono Hist of voftbalary terms (wards appearing im SMALL CAPS within tho text are Aefined here,

0) One list of supplemental resources

Visiting the Site

Bocase of tho nati of this particular site, it rather dificult to vist However, it is not impossible, The remains ofthe vestel he sn about 3 feet of water approximately 6 miles South of Ship Iskind and Horn Isla, Visitors must be orsiied $cU28 divers and woul ned to have aenoss (0st hea 6 take them to the site

SETTING THE STAGE Explain to stuemts that the steamship asephine played a evtical role in dhe develmpment fof morehant shipping along the Gulf Coast, Dofore the advent of ears, airplanes ancl wns powered engines steamships were one of the most dependable and commonly used methods

fi Transporting passengers and cargo aver lone distances With the development of 180%: ACA steamships in the mid-ninotonnth century, Ghe merchant shipping tndustey gorse ad regular routes were established co areas that had previnusly ten difficult tn yeaeh, Situated! near the mouth of the Mississippi River, the city of New Orleans held a unique position that allowed it (a heenme the Inegost port ủy im the southera United States ids from the interior U.S, wore browght dawnriver and loaded ota acean-going Vessels for transport to markets elsewhere alang the U.S coast, oF to foreign markets sch as those

in Europe, Likewise, foreign merchandise was transforred fh oeeanegaing ships st New Orleans to sverbonts and thea carried upsteeam 10 each towns im the inteviow US

involved in the Gulf Coast STEAMBOAT industry was Charles Morgan, who developed ingerests in merchant shipping in the 1830s Turing his raareer, Morgan established the fust regular stoamship route between New York and Charleston, Soothe Carulina He started th first steamship insite an Texas, shel brought the first steamship to the Gulf of Mexies, He had ties to the Pacifie merchant steamship trade sod also had interests in merehant shipping in Central America and Mexico Morgan's influence can still be seen in the southern U.S tofay For example, Brishear City, Loisiana, as renamed! Morgan City afler he established a reslar steamship route between this city and Galveston, Texas ‘The Mongan steamship sosephine

‘was the first vessel 10 operate along that route

One of the most influential me

By conducting historical research, as well as recording and analyzing the curren remains

ff the -osephine, yo can learn more about this vessel and che impact it hal on the tnorchant steamship trade along the US iulf Const in the mid-ninetoenth century

LOCATING THE SITE During the middle of the nineteenth century, the major transportation routes along the southern states were often over water, The map below shows the major water routes discussed inthe following pages: shown aleo are the approximate loeations of the Shipwrveks Mary, New York, ani Josephine

LEGEND Shipwreck

‘Map 1 Steamship Routes along the United States Gut Coast

Exercises for Map 1

1, Review the locations of each of the cities on the map and trie the major steamship routes along the Gulf Const of the Linited States,

2 Lacate the two major routes of the steamship Josephine: Morgan City to Galveston: New Orleans to Havana

8 Review the locations ofthe thrue shipwrecks on

4, Why do you ti

across the Gull?

the map,

the routes above paralleled the coastline rather than heading straight

5, Why do you think New Orleans instend of Morgan City or Mobile, developed into one of

‘the major port citi ofthe United States?

DETERMINING THE FACTS: READINGS

READING 1: HIsToRY OF THE STEAMSHIP JOSEPHINE

In 1867, New York businossimin Churles Morgan contracted the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company of Wilmington, Delaware, to consteuet the IRON-UULL sidawhesl steamer Josephine Completed in early IS6E the vessel Fist arrived at New Cleans, Lossiana, on February 29 1868, having departed feom Wilmsingion on Febsuary 6, Along the way Josephine mate saps in Havant, Ca, and Key West, Florida,

Josephine was designed for use along the US, Gulf Const, ans ineompornted design features Similar to most ofthe sideyshee! steamers that were ennalraefaf long the Atlantic Cast

‘luring the middle I800< ‘The ship had a round STH, two cabins, two decks, Wo masts

‘an cok! (ransport up 10.250 passengers, While no construction plans have heen xlent fied for this vessel, she was registered at 1282.63 tons, 25 fot long, 2 fwet wide, with an TAS foot depeh of hkl "Though she operated primarily between New Grleans, Lauisians, and Galveston, Texas, Josephine FOUSDERED in a stuns an JSST whale enroute to New rans from Havana, Cuba,

Among the passongors on her muden voyage were the vessels owner Charles Morgan anal severa} members of his family, A newspaper report Irom that time described the vessel as the most boautfal and elegant of tiny that have entered the port of Havana’ (Daity Pieayune 1868)

he Josephine’s arrival in the Crescent City (Now Orleans) coincided with the implementation of a regular route between ashear City (later renamed Morgan City in honor of Charles Margin), Lowisiana, and Galveston, Texas Dusing her service, from 1868 t0 T88I, the Josephine made 2-3 trips per week between these ports, Additional vessels falso sorviend this route, Ax with many of the regularly establishod routes, che US mail hhocamo a standard cargo on these vessrls allowing for regular communication between the New Orleans and Galveston areas

Josephine played a extical role in the development of merchant shipping along the Cull Coast AS regular routes were established, hashor improvements wen made, which fontribated to the geuwth uf these areas, Asa resale people and businesses boyan to settle rear these locations inorder 1 fake advantage of the newly e

ablished transportation Not long after Josephine began regular service sho was almost lost when she ran agenorid

ff che Texas const Aer about cvo woeks the steamer was rfloated, taken back to New Orleans, aul placed in dry dock at the Vallott» Dry Duck facility in Algiers, where she wa inspected for walks, Inspection was unable to identify any major damage, and the vessel twas soon rotuenaal ta serview

however the ship played a role in Texas bistory by

an bandite attacked the town, When it was leaned that a ents boarded Josephine anel waited i¢ nat safely offshore

Corpus Christt when Mo

assault was imminent, res

arly in 1881, Josrphine was transferred to the New Orleans, Lovisians, to Havana, Cuba route, replacing the steamer Morgan, another vessel built by the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company and operated by Charles Morgan, This was to he dosephine s last voyage

On danuary 27, Josephine lofi New Orleans, and arrived in Havana a few days later, On February 2 she doparted Havana with several passengers and a eargo of tobaceo nh etzars Among the passengers was a family of musicians led by Professor Herman Franko, AAcwonling 40 Prufessor Franko’ aeanant ofthe POUNDERING, the steamer begat her return trip to New Orleans at 5 p.m, on February 2, She arrived in Key West the fllowing

‘aernoon and departed foe Cedar Key chat evening, arriving on the morning of Friday the fourth At Cedar Key, the Josephine picked ap several more passengers Included zion the new passengers were 14 membre of an Traian caav thất hai reesaily suvRel the sinking oftheir ussbor ship, originally bowl for London from Pensacola

Josephine loft Cede Key around A p.m Friday, Fubeunry 4, 1881, on gouce to New Orleans,

‘and sailed without cident unl sometiaio Sunday, when on of the crewmembers natieed that the vessel was leaking, Passengers and crew worked frantically to bal wager but cout nol control the leak, so arrangements were made ta abandon the ship, Prioe to the engtain faving the order, however, the leak began to subside, Yet not long after the seas picked up find Josephine bene 0 lake on water ono aor’ On Monday evening the captain again hid the erew peepage ty abandon ship Hy a.m, ‘Tuesday morning all had escapes, and the vessel hogan to eel to one silo, Though all of the approximately G5 passengers and erow feseaped the sinking, cho captain's dog was not so lucky

A second account, from an unidentiti! passenger, said Josephine ran imo a huerieane sometime Saturday aliorsgon, which di ot let up until Monday “On Sunday morning it

‘Was discover that the pressure of she water against the se of the ship apenesl the seams

ml the tr was pouring in at 8 fearful rate” This ineident was reportel as the first, serious accilent fo a Morgan Line vossel in 11 years, ‘he loss of sasephinwe was value! ac Šñn 000,

Though it wns desevibed as a hurricane by one af the survivors, the cime of the FOUNDER

iy Pebrasry, well after hurricane season ends on thw Chilf Coast Nevertheless, 1 ave heen a Very severe winter storm, for several acnunts of storm damage were Ataile in the February 10, 1861, edition of the New Orleans Daily Picaytine, Tnehuded in the reports was an account that most of the buildings at Pass Manchae were destroyed, Damage was also ineureed at least as ar east as Pensaents, Florida

Discovery of the Josephine

Tixlay the shipwreck lies in ahoue 88 fort of water between Hoen Istand and Ship Island tivo of the barrier islandls in the Chandolenr chain off Mississippi Divers trom the Department of the Inteviors Minerals Management Servioe carried nat investigations 00 this wreck during the sunimers af 1907 and 1999, ‘Those investigations were Kite to just

a few days, with the primary purpose of photodocumenting the site, "The investigations alsa

timed ta collect as mich inforaation as possible to eonfiem the kleatifcation ofthe vessel

by using noninvasive tenis

At present, much ofthe toa ill af the sree is buried but appr to be mostly intact from

‘he KEEL to the WaTeRLISE, ‘The upper hull ahove the WATERLINE is gone ‘The HOW ofthe ship 1s completely buried, but the Tine of the bull may be fallowed with only short interruptions to the vessel's RUDDER,

(One of the most dramatic onturos ofthe wreck is the WALKING BEAM engine, the diamond shaped feature thot ennnected the engine piston to the FUCENTEIC of the PADDLEWHBELS, Which lies collapsed against the STARBOARD sido of che ship, The WALKING REAM engine

‘was built hy the Morgan lron Works Company of New York City This company was also jawed hy Charis Morgan

Questions for Reading 1

1 What was one af the regular ean ‘carried on the Josephine?

2, Approximately how many days did it take to travel from New Orleans to Havana’

8, Why do sou think the fosephine soiled along che rote it dil?

4, Peetond sou ave a erew mombor that survived the sinking of the Josephine, Write an facomnt of what happened for the daily newspaper

5 What impacts do you think the loss of osephive has on the people of New Cleans and Hhạvama?

Reapine 2: WHO was CHARLES MORGAN?

‘One ofthe foremost figures in the development of the stoamhip trade along the Gulf Coast fof the United States was not a Southerner ar all, but a New York businessman named Charles Morgan, Morgan was hoen in Killingworth, Connecticut on April 21, 1705, At the inde age of 1, young Charlos traveled to New York City tn talon position as a grove ork, Opporsunities abounded for ambitious young men in the bustling port of New York fand ly sige 20 Morgan was pruprictor of 9 ship CHANDLERS and soon themvaller began Importing goods from the southern United States and the West Indies

n 1837, Charles Morgan expanded his interests to che Gulf Caast, Though be lost about 10 ships in the prucess, he established the first rogular steamship service in Texas in the late Tike, Around this time Morgan also had tiesto the Pacifie merchant steamship trade and merchant shipping in Central America sind Mexico

‘As with all of Morgan's steamship companies, one of che regular cargoes shipped on the Gulf Coast line was the US mail By 1855, Morgans Souther Steamsbip Company

¢stablished routes between New Orleans, Galveston, and Part Lavaca, and by 1860 Morgan

‘was operating six regular routes in the Gull

Daring the Civil War, dhe Morgan Tron Works supplied machinery for several Union naval vessels and also constructed che Union Monitor-lass IRONCLAD Ontondage, Afler most of his Gulf Coast ships were ommandeered by the Confederate Navy, the Southorn Steamship Company coased operations in 1843 A fow of his remaining Gulf Coast Steamers: however, operated as PLOCKADE RUNNERS during the war Always one to profit frum opportunity Morgan arranged for the constrvetion of five mow vessels at the Tartan ine! Hollingsworth shipbuilding facilities in Wilmington, Delaware, between 1862 and 1864, These ships operated as Union charter vessels, After the Civsl War, Morgan’ interests returned! to the Gulf of Mexico ane! within four years had surpassed his pre-war hoklings

Morgan's greatest goal after the Civil War was to develop snified system of steamship and railroad lines that would connect the Gulf southwest with the Mississippi Valley northern Latin America, and the Adantic and Pace consis Botween 1877 and 1885, Mongan realized múch of bis dream, ‘The initial step was taken by the newly elected Democratic legislavure of 1877, which chartered Morgan's Louisiana and Tesas Raided and Steamship Company QLL & TR & S), giving him the widest possible latitude to extend rail lines throughout Louisiana nd ‘Texas, to connect to existing lines, and to own

a family enterprise by 1885, ‘The mark that # left on the economic history of the South snl on the United States was inielible, Daring the spain of Morgan's hetisn tho public had come to take tho existeneo of regular, long-distance transportation for fganted, and national and state governments undertook projects that had been le tớ Private imitate In other wonls, the modern mixed economy evolved as a rostlt of achievements of men such ns Charles Morgan,

Remains of an Empire

Of the 117 steamships owned by Charles Morgan ur is corpora enterprises between 1833

‘and 1885 Che wrocks of thrwe have heen discovered in the Gulf of Mesto ar eantiguows

‘wators Ono of these, Mary, was recorded by archacologists off Araneas Pass, Texas, in

1995, ‘The US, Department of the Interiors Minorals Management Service (MMS) hae ucumented two others, New York and sfasephine Taken together, these vessels represent the span of steamships employed by the Morgan Line and document the changing

‘wehnology af steam navigation in the United States

Que:

1, When did Charles Morgan bogin operating merchant steamships? ms for Reading 2

How many of Mongna's ships have been found by aschaeologists? What are their names?

8 What was one of tho primary enrgovs transported on all of Mongan’s steamships? Why đâu you tink this was such a popular way to eeansport this cargo?

4 Did Charles Morgan worl with the Union, the Confederaey, or both sides during the (Civil War? Why?

5, Explain the importance of establishing regular transportation routes along the Gull Coast What effeet would rogular steamship cransportacion hay on people living near these routes?

ReaDINe 3: PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOATS

By the beginning of the ninotoonth century, several cities located along the eoast andl at the mouths of major waterways in the United States had already been established as conters for maritime rade and commerce, Cities ike New York, Poston, and Now Orleans served

me bubs 10 move products and people from the interior to places elsewhore, Regular maritime shipping routes had also been established between coastal communities of the U.S os well as with mjor markets overseas (primarily in Burupe) People from the interior use the major river systems to transport theie ols to these cnastal port cites whore they esld be loael on Inrge eceangoing vessols for further transport (0 oller markets in requrn, the large orsangoing vessels brought goods from other markets to (he constal ports

‘whore they wore ofEhauded and chen ships! upriver to the smaller eommities af the

In the early 18005, 57EAA524E technology bosom to take off in the United States se Wea

of harnessing the energy produ from steam was not ne, but STEAMBOAT teehnollgy’ was not rewhly nxepted until Robert Fulton sucessfully completed construction of the Clermont the first STEAMBOAT built in the United States After is trial un from Nevr York Ws Albiny in 3807 n regular raate wis establishod amd the Clermont became: the first sieam-powered PACKET-HONT the reason the Clermont was 60 sucessful was heeause she was able reiably te make che round trip voyage fram New York to Alinny to Now York, distance of approximataly 250 miles, in nbout G2 hours, ‘Thotigh this secms rather long by today's standards dior nstanee, a caro the bighvway ean travel this distance in about 4 hour9, salhoats could fake siveral day to complete joey ofthis distance,

In December 1811, the first STEAMBOAT began its way down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to New Orleans, Louisiana, This was the siernwhect steamer New Orleans, wsnes! by Nicholas J Roosevelt, Tt avevesl at the city of Now Orleans on January 12, 1812, taking 14 days to complete this voyage Once it was shown that steamboats enuhl reably travel geeat distances op the navigable waterway of tho Uniced States, they heenge the prefered method of transporting passengers an ear, Major waterways of the United States, such as the Missouri, the Ohio, and the Mississippi Rivers os well ny the Geoat Lakes, and the siastlines of the Adantie: Paeife, and Gulf of

‘Mesteo became the primary transportation routes of the nineteenth contury

‘were propelled by large PADOLEWHERLS, they eould maneuver in much shallower water

w

As more steamboats wore emsiruetod and more routes established, etaritiae commerce Inenvased, As new rontes were developed, SPIEANIOAT awvners would often work closely with Toca bosinosses to develop aeibties to smprave maritime trade Lmprovements wore ttten made to fnciivies such as harbors aed wharves, and once the area began to grow, Dore waetinases were built to handle the rise af import and expat comme

Another key component of regular STEAMHONT routes was the transport of the U.S, mail, neo the vnkand an cigstal waterways wore che most efficent oieans af travel many teamiboats were contracted tw carry the mail between port cities, ‘The reliability of regular tail service and supplies, as well as improvements to infrastructure, made these port eities sone desirable lo people, and resulted sn population incrvses in thew cities as wel

1 What was the naive of the first steamboat built in the United States? When was i built?

2, Who was responsible for bringing the fest steambuat down the Mississippi River vo the city of New Orleans?

2 Doseribe some of the roasons why steamboats were more efficient than silat,

4 Deseribe how sleamboats influenced the development of port cities,

5, You ape a steamboat captain, Dleseribe a recent trip you've made from New Orleans to valveston, Explain the typo af eanga anu passengers you have on boa’, Haw long does your vayage (ake nnd what type ha might you earounter on this journey?

6 Before electricity, how do you think pesishable eargo might have been preserved dusing

su typienl steamboat voyage?