An event so appalling as this could not occur even at a time when the country was accustomed to hear of the deaths of great numbers of men, without action upon the part of the government looking to the investigation of its cause. A military committee and a committee upon the part of Congress were appointed for that purpose. Both committees, no doubt, discharged with fairness and ability the duty assigned them. There were many theories and rumors as to the cause. Rumor charged that the Post Quartermaster at Vicksburg, by a contract with the owners of the vessel, received a commission of $2.00 for each soldier passenger furnished, and for that consideration he had recklessly crowded the vessel beyond her capacity. It was also charged that the machinery was out of repair, and the vessel generally unseaworthy.
The investigation, however, disclosed the fact that before leaving Vicksburg her boilers had been repaired by competent mechanics; that the charge against the Quartermaster was untrue; that the disaster was not due to the fact that the vessel was carrying more than her estimated capacity. The writer has not been able to obtain the report made by either of the committees as to the true cause of the explosion.
Among the lost were men from every company of the 9th Cavalry. The following list may not be complete, but is believed to be correct so far as it goes:
Daniel Curtis, Co. A
Patrick Day, Co. A.
Frederick Blessinger, Corp., Co. B.
Charles E. Church, Co. B.
Ephraim B. Parman, Co. B.
John Steward, Co. B.
Warren A. Huckins, Co. C.