Wilcox Home Ruler newspaper tells of riverboat sinking in April 1825

Claiborne, Alabama. 

One of the most famous river boats of Alabama’s early history was “The Henderson.” This 123-ton vessel plied the waters of the Alabama River in the days when Alabama was a young state, carrying passengers and cargo to and from all points between Montgomery and Mobile. No doubt, it made many stops in Wilcox County in those days of early Alabama statehood.

The Henderson’s biggest claim to fame is that it is recognized by many Alabama historians as the boat on which French General Lafayette made his voyage down the Alabama River in 1825. Lafayette, who was an old man at the time, made his way through Alabama as part of a tour he was making of the United States. He visited Montgomery, Selma, Cahaba, Claiborne and Mobile before going on to points west.

Lafayette was expected to stop at Prairie Bluff when he passed through Wilcox County, but he actually skipped this stop, much to the chagrin of those who were expecting him. The Masonic lodge at Prairie Bluff had been named in Lafayette’s honor, but when he didn’t stop, lodge members changed the lodge’s name to Dale Masonic Lodge in honor of early Alabama frontiersman, Samuel Dale. This lodge later moved to Camden, and it still carries the name “Dale Lodge” to this day.

The Henderson and Lafayette did stop at Claiborne on April 6, 1825. Little did anyone know at that time, but the Henderson’s days were numbered. About three weeks later, on April 27, the Henderson collided with another vessel, the Balize, and sank about one mile south of Claiborne landing.

The best source of information about this accident actually comes from an old Camden newspaper called The Wilcox Home Ruler. The newspaper reported that the Henderson went down with a load of “barrels of fine whiskey, brandy and wines.” The Camden paper’s description of the watery resting place of the Henderson specifies no exact location other than “she sank in tolerable deep water” one mile from Claiborne.

Some say that in years past, when the river got low during seasonal droughts, you could see the wreckage of the Henderson. Supposedly numerous attempts have been made to salvage its cargo, but whether or not those efforts were successful is unknown. Many believe that the Henderson’s cargo remains untouched beneath the muddy waters of the Alabama River.

Many also believe that Wilcox County’s namesake, U.S. Army Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox, is still buried in an unmarked grave at Claiborne. Records reflect that he was buried at Claiborne after he was killed by Indians during the Creek War in 1814. Some sources say that he was later reburied in the Camden Cemetery, where you’ll find a headstone for him today. Others say that his body was never actually moved.

In the end, let me hear from you if you have any additional information about the Henderson or any other river boat wrecks on the Alabama River. I would not be surprised to hear that there are numerous old wreck sites in Wilcox County that remain intact to this day. Some may contain cargo even more valuable than the Henderson’s lost load of whiskey, brandy and wine.