Remembering The Mary Frances: A Heartbreaking Tuscaloosa Tale

A summer spent on the Black Warrior River has been the source of many pleasant memories for those in Tuscaloosa, but this idyllic setting was also the backdrop for the greatest boating disaster in West Alabama history.

The Tragic Tale of Mary Frances

Mary Frances was a 30-foot motorized yacht owned by Samuel Fitts Alston, a prominent banker in the Druid City. Alston enjoyed sharing his pride and joy with the community, and he and boat Captain Dick Antonio used Mary Frances to offer free scenic tours of the Black Warrior River to Tuscaloosa residents.

Many families enjoyed these excursions until everything changed on June 15, 1919.

What Happened to Mary Frances?

The boat began its journey on the Black Warrior River with an estimated 65 tourists on board. As Mary Frances navigated a turn near Holt, the boat suddenly capsized. Escape from below was impossible, and many women and children were trapped as Mary Frances sank. Others were flung into the water as the Black Warrior slowly claimed the ship.

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How Many Lives Were Lost When Mary Frances Sank?

26 people were killed when Mary Frances sank on June 15, 1919. Reports from the Tuscaloosa News noted that "the city [was] covered with a pall of sorrow" as residents saw "one cortege after another wended to the cemetery carrying the mortal remains of those to whom death had come in the most hideous and tragic form."

How Did Tuscaloosa React to the Mary Frances Tragedy?

Businesses closed at noon the following Tuesday, June 17, to allow residents to attend a memorial service held at the Elk's Auditorium.

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The sinking was investigated, and Alston and Captain Antonio were found to be blameless for the tragedy. Alston was said to have covered the burial expenses for most of the victims of the wreck.

Is There a Memorial to the Mary Frances Tragedy?

No public memorial to Mary Frances exists. Victims of the disaster are buried in both Dunn's Creek Cemetery No. 2 in Echola and Tuscaloosa's Evergreen Cemetery.