Henry,

Could you explain the reason for concluding that? Is there some documentation of the ships faults that you are alluding to? Was the vessel itself unsound, because the reason for the accident was in the operation of its boilers, not its hull. It seems unlikely that they would have bothered to raise a structurally unsound wreck. And I doubt the Saffold yard built the actual boiler(s?)

What I've read indicated the water level was low and that the pressure gauge was out. Both of these are things the engineer would be responsible for--and unfortunately he was ill. When the water pump was started the boiler exploded (or the water feed line burst having the same effect?) This sounds like a classic combination of multiple instrument failures and human error leading to disaster. They had the fires going for two hours before this happened. Shoving cold water into an overfired and dry system is extremely dangerous. It is also a predictable mistake that an inexperienced crew is likely to make when not properly supervised by more experienced personnel.

The vessel's captain seems to have been incompetent. Lt. McLaughlin had this to say: "She is not as badly damaged as I had supposed. The deck immediately over the boiler on the port side was raised by the explosion some 6 inches. Beyond that there has been no damage to the boiler. Mr. Warner has not had an opportunity to examine the boiler. From a casual observation he thinks she can soon be in running order; the machinery has not been injured. It has been to me still more a matter of surprise why that vessel should have been allowed to sink. A pine plug driven into the feed pipe, which had been blown off, would have been all that was necessary."

Dale,

In the link below note the reference to a contract for Johnston to build a 90 ft barge w/ 22 ft beam.

It is also interesting that McLaughlin complains about the salvaged Chattahoochee being stripped during/after salvage: "Nearly all her outfit has been plundered, and in some instances sold and given away by those who were left in charge. Things were scattered around, some at the arsenal, Johnston's, and Eufaula. Johnston had the entire control in raising the vessel. After she was up she remained in charge of his negroes. She has been stripped of everything that could be converted into money."

It isn't clear to me if he is blaming Johnston or if such conduct had become the norm among the workforce's handling salvaged vessels, or if he is heaping scorn on the slave workforce that Johnston used (a common but ironic and stereotypical complaint by many of the time.)