Show sultana explosion at I 1 A M on april 27 1865 at a point on the mississippi river about eight miles above memphis term tenn the northern bound sultana began to rock violently she was with her load oi of 2143 2142 union soldiers returning from confederate captivity for her hold was empty the rocking motion agitated the water in the boilers already enduring pressure far beyond their stated strength in midstream the strained metal gave way with a roar heard for miles and the united states had the biggest ship disaster in its history the loss of life 1739 was greater than in the sinking of the titanic or the lusitania |