Mississippi River recedes and exposed a 107 year old shipwreck in Baton Rouge

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The Brookhill joined the Baton Rouge ferry fleet in 1895 to carry traffic across the river, according to a 1960 story in The Sunday Advocate. Its sister ship was called the Istrouma.

The Istrouma was the day ferry. The Brookhill worked nights. Both were moored at the city docks.

During a hurricane, the Istrouma broke loose and sank down river. The Brookhill sank in place.

"Disaster struck on Sept. 29, 1915, as a hurricane blew in from the Gulf breaking the Istrouma from her dock and carrying her down the river to where the railroad station is, and sinking her," The State Times reported. "She sank slowly however, and the watchman had time to get safely to shore before she went under. Her stacks could be seen above the water for quite some time. ... The Istrouma's mate, the Brookhill, also went down at the dock when great piles of logs were driven against her and crushed her hull."

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