John G. Lawton Explained

The John G. Lawton was a steamboat of the Savannah River in the United States. The ship's boilers exploded on June 9, 1859, just beyond Gum Stump Landing,^[1] about above the city of Savannah, Georgia, killing and injuring several people.^{[2] [3]} The steamboat Excel "was in sight" at the time of the explosion and "promptly rendered assistance". The explosion was a cover story in Frank Leslie's Illustrated News.

Among those identified as killed:

• Gatty or Gates of Barnwell, South Carolina^{[4] [5]}
• Mr. Washington Goette of Silver Hill, South Carolina (possibly same as previous)
• Edward Grant, "white deck hand"
• John S. Montmollin, banker and illegal slave trader of Savannah
• John Robison, "colored cabin boy, property of Mrs. P. Prendergast," possibly also described as "John Robertson, waiter, colored, missing"
• Richard Scaborough, deck passenger, of Purysburg
• John Stone, "colored fireman, property of F.M. Stone" of Columbus, Georgia
• James Strobhart of Savannah
• John Williams, "colored pilot"

Missing:

• Capt. T.G. Keeble
• Allen, the property of Mr. Orman
• Negro, property of Mr. Augustus Osmand (possibly same as Allen)
• "Colored deckhand, name unknown"

See also

• Timeline of Savannah, Georgia

Notes and References

1. News: 1859-07-02 . Blowing-Up of the Steamer J.Q. Lawton, Savannah River, Georgia . VIII . 1–2 . Frank Leslie's Illustrated News . 187 . 2023-07-14 . Whitworth University Digital Commons.
2. News: 1859-06-14 . From the Savannah News, June 11th, the Late Explosion, Further Particulars . 3 . The Weekly Telegraph . 2023-07-14.
3. News: 1859-06-16 . Wreck of John G. Lawton Searched for Bodies 1859 . 2 . Daily Columbus Enquirer . 2023-07-14.
4. News: 1859-06-11 . Steamboat Explosion . 1 . Detroit Free Press . 2023-07-14.
5. News: Daily Columbus Enquirer 13 Jun 1859, page 2 . 2023-07-15 . Daily Columbus Enquirer . 13 June 1859 . 2 . en.