The steamboat Stari Bečej had, as already mentioned, reliably served its purpose for years. But, as our people say — “the devil never sleeps.” Something happened that even a ship twice its size might not have withstood, let alone a small vessel like Stari Bečej.
A Fateful Day
It was the morning of September 12, 1931 — a beautiful late summer day. The morning air was cool but pleasant under the sun. Passengers enjoyed the fresh air on deck, confident that the day would remain fair — as the old saying goes, “The day can be known by its morning.”
And indeed, everything was calm and sunny until 2:30 p.m., when Stari Bečej departed on what would become its final journey, sailing from Stari Bečej toward Novi Bečej. Sadly, for about ten passengers, it would also be their final voyage.
A Storm Out of Nowhere
The small steamboat departed with around thirty passengers, including several grammar school students. From the west, dark clouds could be seen approaching, but no one suspected danger. Such skies were common in the autumn months, and people thought it would simply rain.
Passengers chatted about errands completed in Stari Bečej, while the students laughed and joked, unaware that the storm clouds were rapidly closing in. Then, the sky suddenly darkened, and a dim twilight fell over the river. Panic broke out — it felt as though the end of the world had come. In a desperate attempt to find safety, passengers rushed into the lower cabins, a fatal mistake.
How the Newspaper Pravda Reported the Disaster
The Belgrade evening newspaper “Pravda” published the following report on September 14, 1931:
GREAT CATASTROPHE ON THE TISZA – THE STEAMBOAT “STARI BEČEJ” SUNK WITH MANY PASSENGERS
“Yesterday afternoon, the town of Stari Bečej was shaken by news of a terrible tragedy on the Tisza — a disaster that claimed several lives.
The ship’s crew was at their posts, ready for a routine voyage. They were experienced sailors, accustomed to navigating the Tisza through wind, rain, heat, and cold. Such an accident had never been recorded before — almost no one could recall a ship ever sinking on this river.”
“The steamboat had already set off on slightly rough waters. Inside the cabin, people were talking as usual. The helmsman, Mladen Krstonošić, kept a sharp eye on the river ahead. But the wind strengthened, and the waves grew higher. Then, without warning, a massive wave struck the vessel, flooding the engine room and extinguishing the fire beneath the boiler.”
“Krstonošić shouted: ‘Everyone to the deck!’ Realizing disaster was imminent, he tried to steer the ship toward the Banat shore, hoping the wind and current might carry them to safety. But the storm was too strong. Another enormous wave smashed into the side of the boat, shattering the windows and flooding the interior. Seeing that the steamboat was doomed, he ran below deck, calling: ‘Everyone to the deck! The lifeboat has overturned!’”
“As water poured into the lower cabins, passengers rushed upward in panic. The lifeboat was lowered, and women and children were placed inside first. But just as it was about to be launched, two terrified passengers jumped into it, capsizing the boat. Chaos erupted as others began leaping into the river, crying for help. Tragically, no help could arrive in time. Around ten passengers — including women — lost their lives in the raging waters of the Tisza.”
After the Sinking
Following the disaster, Novi and Stari Bečej were left without their daily river transport for a short time. Soon, the Belgrade shipowners Jezdić and Bakarić took over the line using their steamboat Tomislav, a luxurious vessel with a capacity of 250 passengers. However, due to the short route and high operating costs, they soon abandoned it and turned to more profitable routes on the Danube and the Sava.
After them, a small steamship named Srpče was introduced. It had previously operated on the Begej River between Zrenjanin (then Veliki Bečkerek) and Srpski Itebej, but it too proved unsuitable and left the line after about ten days.
Eventually, a new line was established between Novi and Stari Bečej with the motorboat Miroslav, owned by Crkvenjakov from Stari Bečej. The vessel, named after his elder son, could carry around 150 passengers and was powered by generator gas. It remained in service until the beginning of the Second World War.
The Beloved Riverboat
Everyone in Novi Bečej — young and old alike — loved the Miroslav. No one came to the banks of the Tisza without glancing toward the pier to see if “the little boat,” as people fondly called it, was docked.
And if it wasn’t there, eyes would turn toward the ruins of the old Novi Bečej fortress, waiting for the boat to appear on the horizon — to greet it as it arrived from Stari Bečej, or to follow it with longing gazes as it disappeared downstream.
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