Hi Mr. Davis,

My name is Leann McElhaney and I believe that my 4th great grandfather, Bartley R. McMurray (mispelled Bartly R. McMurray or Bartly Russell McMurray) of Blount County, Tennessee, was on the Sultana. Family oral history has been told that he survived, although he could not swim, by hanging on to a dead animal that was floating in the water (although after reading many accounts I believe it was more likely a dead person as I have not seen in any accounts that there were animals on board).

Thanks so much for your time,
Leann McElhaney