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On Monday, March 13th, 1854, the peaceful quiet of Hawesville, KY, was rudely rocked by a huge explosion, drawing startled residents down to the waterfront. The tremendous boom reached across the flowing waters to arouse citizens of Cannelton, IN. The overheated power plant boiler of the unfortunate steamboat Reindeer had blown up just as it was passing the two adjacent river towns. Nearly everyone on board suffered the unexpected eruption of scalding steam and hot water, and many expired during the agonizing misery of the next few hours. 38 lifeless bodies of the ill-fated passengers were retrieved for burial in a mass grave at the Hawesville cemetery upon a hill above the town. |
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