87 died when two boats collided during the search for John Wilkes Booth. They will be remembered this weekend at Maryland museum

A maritime tragedy that occurred on the Potomac River during the intense search for Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth will be remembered this weekend by a wreath laying, free museum admission and other activities.

The annual events are planned at St. Clement’s Island Museum in St. Mary’s County, Md.

The April 23, 1865, collision of the barge Black Diamond and the steamer Massachusetts in the Lower Potomac near St. Clement’s Island killed 87 people. 

The military had contracted with the Black Diamond to help prevent Booth from escaping into Virginia. He managed to do so and was killed a few days later, overshadowing the ship tragedy off Coltons Point.

The overloaded Massachusetts -- a privately owned ship also known as JWD Pentz -- was carrying about 300 soldiers from Alexandria, Va., to return to various regiments at City Point and Fort Monroe when it struck the port side of the coal barge, manned by 11 volunteers, shortly after midnight.

Angela Wathen's depiction of collision (St. Mary's County Museum Division)

According to the newspaper accounts, the tragedy occurred within one mile of Blackistone Island (now called St. Clement’s Island) but the exact location is not known, said Karen Stone, manager of the museums division of the St. Mary’s government.

While the Black Diamond sank, the Massachusetts limped nearly 30 miles to Point Lookout, Md. Most of the dead were on the troop transport.

Stone, in an article for Historynet.com, wrote:

“It is difficult to compile a complete list of the names of the men lost on Massachusetts, as they represented several regiments. Most were recently exchanged prisoners of war, captured at Plymouth, N.C., on April 20, 1864, and sent to the Confederates’ infamous Camp Sumter prison camp in Andersonville, Ga. After being transferred from Andersonville to the Confederate prison camp in Florence, S.C., in December 1864, the men were eventually exchanged and nursed back to health by Union doctors at Camp Parole near Annapolis, Md. All were returning to their various regiments to complete their terms of service.”

Visitors can take a water taxi to nearby St. Clement's Island State Park

Here’s how this weekend will play out:

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Visitors can enjoy free water taxi rides to a state park on nearby St. Clement's Island (the final ride will leave at 3 p.m.) and free admission to the St. Clement's Island Museum. There are special exhibits on the Black Diamond story and the Surratt House Museum (Clinton, Md). St. Clement’s Island State Park has a hiking trail and replica of Blackistone Lighthouse. A large cross marks the site of the arrival of Roman Catholic colonists in 1634.

SATURDAY

2 p.m.: A concert on the waterfront lawn of the museum will feature the Sibling Rivalry Fiddle Band, a four-sibling ensemble playing Civil War-era music and other American folk tunes. The teen musicians are Fredericksburg, Va., natives and their instruments include the fiddle, bodhran, tin whistle and mandolin.

St. Clement's Island Museum (St. Mary's County Museum Division)

SUNDAY

2 p.m.: Commemorative ceremony marking the Black Diamond-Massachusetts disaster. It will include a wreath laying, the reading of the names of those who died and were identified, and remarks by the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

3 p.m.: Reception at St. Clement’s Island Museum following the ceremony.

Evening cruise: Sold out.

A painting of the disaster donated by artist Angela Wathen will be on display.

For more information about the weekend, contact St. Clement's Island Museum at 301-769-2222 or visit Facebook.com/SCIMuseum.

Wreath laying at previous ceremony (St. Mary's County Museum Division