[1] At that time, and for the entire operational life of this vessel, the Columbia River was not continuously navigable from Portland at tidewater.

Instead the river was divided into reaches known as the lower, middle, and upper Columbia, each one separated by a long stretch of essentially unnavigable rapids.

Boats like Annie Faxon on the upper Columbia could navigate 141 miles (227 km) up the Snake River to Lewiston, Idaho, and even beyond.

The boat's pilot, Thomas McIntosh, had been beheaded by flying debris, and crewman William Kidd was blown to pieces.

Five crew members were killed: John McIntosh, Thomas McIntosh, William Kidd, Henry Bush, Pain Allen, George Farwell, and Scott McComb [3] The cause of the explosion was later said to be the failure of a safety valve (called a "fusible plug") to blow when the water level in the boiler fell too low.