Chicago, IL Tugboat C W PARKER Boiler Explosion, Oct 1891

CAUSED BY A BOILER

Seven Persons Killed and Many Injured by an Explosion.

A boiler explosion aboard the steam-tug C. W. Parker killed seven persons and seriously injured many others in the neighborhood of Archer avenue bridge on the south branch of the river at Chicago, Ill., about 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon. The C. W. Parker, in company with three other tugs was engaged in attempting to tow the coal steamer H. S. Pickands out of the draw of the bridge when the explosion occurred. Three of the killed were employees of the tug and their bodies have not yet been recovered. The other persons killed were standing on the banks of the river, to which a number of spectators had been drawn to witness the removal of the steamer Pickands with a cargo of coal. The vessel had run aground in the draw and four tugs were putting forth every effort to move it, when one of the, the C. W. Parker, exploded. The list of killed and wounded is as follows:
Killed – SAMUEL ARMSTRONG, of Manistee, cook of the C. W. Parker; JAMES B. CARTER, captain of the C. W. Parker; JOHN C. MOORE, engineer of the C. W. Parker; MRS. MARY RICE, of 3013 Archer avenue; BARBARA RICE, daughter of MRS. MARY RICE, aged eighteen; SAMUEL SAWYER, laborer; Unknown Man, killed by fragment of boiler, while standing at the east end of Archer avenue bridge.
JOSEPH CULLEN, fireman of the C. W. Parker, received fatal injuries; HENRY BELL, deck-hand, was badly scalded and had his leg paralyzed; CHARLES KIRTIN, a bystander, was wounded by missiles; FRANK WAGNER'S arm was broken; JOSEPH BOMORAZK, skull fractured; GEORGE JUELL, captain of the tug Van Schaack, leg and back hurt; LOUIS DE MARS, deckhand on the Van Schaack, back sprained; JAMES CUNNINGHAM, cook on the Van Schaack, scalp wounds. These were the persons most seriously hurt.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1891-10-09
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!