Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-09-13

ExPLosIoN.-One Man Killed-Many Of our
citizens were startled, about five p. NJ, on Sat
urday I'd inst, by report, which sounded like a
cannon, and apparently some distance from the
city. A messenger soon arrived from Captain
Collins of the steamer Algoma, stating that the
steamer Hummng- Bird, Capt Grady, on her up
ward trip had exploded her boiler about seven
miles below the city, nearly opposite the "Be-
mis- Farm" and requesting immediate assistance
The fact that many Of our prominent citizens,
who were engaged down the river, and in Chi
cago numbering, generally return on Saturday
from their weeks avocations, caused feeling
of anxiety and gloom TO spread over the city un.
til the particulars were learned Immediately
the dispatch arrived, Mr.. Ball of the &C. r.
Trans. Co." despatched teams and physicians to
the scene of disaster, and others of our citizens
also drove down in order to render any aid that
might be required. On examination the result
was found not as disastrous as at first supposed
The Humming- Bird Was steamng at her usual
rate, having scow in tow, and on board about
twenty-five passengers taken from the Agoma,
at Steee's Landing, that being as far up the
river in the present stage of water as the Ago
ma can with ease run. From Mr. Damon Hatch
of this city, we CLEAN the following particulars {:
Mr.. Ii. with Capt Collins and others were seat
ed on the bow of the boat, and had noticed
what appeared to be some disarrangement in the
top OF the steam chest, and that bubbles were
playing around the centre, which was apparent.
ly very hot. At about the same time boy,
supposed to be the one killed, was observed to
move the weight that balances the safety valve,
to The extreme end Of The Ierer, almost immediate
ly a report ensued, and Mr.. II. found himself in
the river, in water over his head After scram-
bling on board of the scow with the assistance
of the pilot, Mr.. James Marshall, himself with
Capt. Collins and others, applied themselves to
the work OF ascertalnng the extent of the dam
age Most miraculous to relate, only one was
killed, John McMunn, eyed about sixteen, who
with the pilot were standing at the Wheel He
was blown about eight rods forward into the riv-
er, and taken out dead. Marshall was also
blown into the river, had his collar bone diso-
Gated, and was scalded somewhat. The Impress
ion is prevalent, that there was little or no wa
ter in the boiler, and the explosion, the result
of gross negligence on the part Of the engineer
At all events, the Transportation Co. owe it to
themselves and the public to fully investigate
the cause of the disasterand promptly discharge
from their employ, those by whose carelessness
the accident occurred Many of the passengers
were either forced by the conclusion, or jumped
into the river, but all were rescued. Mr. Da-
mon Hatch lost one wallet containing thirty dol
lars, and another with some two hundred more
in, was fished up by one of the boat hands, Mr.
Robbins, lad some sixteen years of age, and re-
stored to the owner.
This is the first explosion that has taken place
on the river, during the eighteen years in which
steamers have piled upon its bosom, and it is
truly miraculous that this was no worse, in fact,
he wonder is, that all on board were not in
stantly killed.
ed from the Roman Catholic Church on Monday
morning. lG. r. Enquirer.