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Quiz about SS Sultana Tragedy on the River

SS Sultana - Tragedy on the River Quiz

This quiz is on the steamship Sultana. It was a riverboat that exploded and sank with many people losing their lives. It became a question of sabotage because it was carrying Union soldiers from the war.

A multiple-choice quiz by titanic97. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
titanic97

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
258,379

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
410

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what state was the Sultana constructed? Hint

Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

Tennessee

Ohio

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Question 2 of 10

2. What kind of vessel was the Sultana? Hint

tanker

freighter

steamboat

battleship

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who was the captain in charge of the Sultana? Hint

Charles Bartlett

J.C. Mason

C.J. Mason

Arthur Anderson

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the cause of the tragedy onboard the Sultana? Hint

rotted out planking; took on water

struck another vessel

boiler explosion

ran aground

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Question 5 of 10

5. About how many people are estimated as having been killed onboard the Sultana? Hint

1800

500

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Question 6 of 10

6. Most of the passengers onboard were Union soldiers.

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. In what river did the Sultana sink? Hint

Rio Grande

Susquehanna

Colorado

Mississippi

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Sultana was absolutely confirmed to be sabotaged.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the first rescue ship on the scene? Hint

Sidewheel

Essex

Bostonia

Jenny Lind

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Question 10 of 10

10. Was the wreck of the Sultana ever found?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what state was the Sultana constructed?

Answer: Ohio

The Sultana was constructed of wood and was constructed at the John Lithoberry Shipyards of Cincinnati,Ohio. It was built in 1862 and was constructed for the Mississippi River travelers.

2. What kind of vessel was the Sultana?

Answer: steamboat

The Sultana was a wooden paddlewheel steamship. It was built for the passenger trade along the Mississippi. On this voyage, however, she was extremely overcrowded and was carrying better than 2400 persons onboard.

3. Who was the captain in charge of the Sultana?

Answer: J.C. Mason

The captain of this vessel was J.C. Mason of St. Louis. He would perish as well as part of his crew in the explosion.

4. What was the cause of the tragedy onboard the Sultana?

Answer: boiler explosion

As the Sultana was heading north just past Memphis, TN at around 3:30 AM on April 27, 1865, a faulty boiler exploded and sent most of the passengers into the waters of the Mississippi. The explosion also destroyed a great section of the ship and burning coal sent the rest of the ship into a blazing inferno. The rest of the burning hulk later sank near Mount City, AR.

5. About how many people are estimated as having been killed onboard the Sultana?

Answer: 1800

When the tragedy was over with, around 1800 out of the 2400 onboard had perished. This also included Captain J.C. Mason. Estimates of the exact numbers of dead vary, but 1800 is the most commonly-quoted figure.

6. Most of the passengers onboard were Union soldiers.

Answer: Yes

Most of the 2400 passengers were Union soldiers returning home from the Confederate prisoner camps. These prisoner camps included such ones as Cahawba and Andersonville. Most of them lived in the Ohio area where the ship was built.

7. In what river did the Sultana sink?

Answer: Mississippi

The Sultana sank in the Mississippi River just north of Memphis. In fact, the fire was so intense and so bright that the glare was seen in Memphis. As previously mentioned, the wreckage sank off the west bank of the river in a tiny town in Arkansas.

8. The Sultana was absolutely confirmed to be sabotaged.

Answer: False

It has been believed by many historians that the Sultana was sabotaged, but this has not been confirmed by any means.

9. What was the first rescue ship on the scene?

Answer: Bostonia

The first rescue ship was the Bostonia. It was southbound when the explosion occurred. It took on many of the survivors as well as other ships like the Essex, Jenny Lind, and the Navy Sidewheel. Most of the people that they took aboard later died in area hospitals.

10. Was the wreck of the Sultana ever found?

Answer: Yes

The wreck of the Sultana was believed to be found in a soybean field and buried about 32 feet down. Sections of charred wood were found in the soil. The Mississippi has changed it's course a couple of times during the years and the wood in question was found about 2 miles from the river.

Source: Author titanic97

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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