, 1860-11-10
THE EXPLOSION Of the PROPELLER MoHAWk

lFrom the Dstrcit Advertiser, 9Th.
Yesterday morning at O'Clock, the star
board boiler Of the Ecrcw steamer Mohawk,
Capt. Harvey D. Phcatt, exploded, the steamer
being then aground on the St Clair Flats.
Four men were killed, viz: Daniel Kirkwood,
second engineer; Martin Leeman, German, )
fireman; one other fireman, namc unknown,
and Proctor Brooks, . co1orcd man, who was
passing wood at tho time, were killed outright,
and one missing. Casrar Rolfe, q fireman, was
Capt Phcatt to A1gonac, with man to tend
him, and the required medical attendance pro-
cured. News came during the dag that he
could not lire, and src this he has probably
expired.
The Mohawk, bound down, with x, ,217 bush
els Of wheat shipped At Chicago by sturges,
Buckingham g. Co, and some 1900 brls -four
shipped;by different parties At milwaukee,,
reached the Flats ut 11o'clock Tuesday night,
and had nearly passed them, when coming to
vessel at anchor acruss the channel, she en-
deavorel to pass astcrn Of her, and grounded
on tue Eastern bank. Her efforts to get off
we're continued without other aid, till half past
three o'clock in the morning, When the tug
Emerald arriving, lent her assistance. About
half hour afterwards the explosion occurred.
The explosion was upward, aud her main,
second and hurricane deck, aft the passage
way, between the steerage aud forward cabins,
with the; exception Of the extreme after rart,
were blown up. Those who arc named II
killed, were on duty At the time, and their bo-
dies are missing.
The eseape OF Capt. Pheatt is a matter of
wonder. lie WAS standing leaning upon the
after steering wheel, sighting By the flagstaff
to see whether she moved, when the boiler
exploded The noise seemed to him like that
of sudden clap Of thunder accompanied by
the ratumg Of hail about biz ears. He found
himself standing By the rail, and In bewildeE-
1nent - to the cause Of the uproar, and actu-
auy called ont to some ono to know what was
the matter. The kplinters flew about and
around Linn, and the wheel was shattered, but
he escaped unhurt Had he been six feet fur
ther forward he must hare been killed
Tho second engineer, Mr.. -Krkwood, had
been on board but one trip before the present,
and Vas regarded by Caps- Phcatt as ski1lful
and careful man. &c leaves wife and two
children In Buffalo.
All the others were also shipped at Buffalo.
Ihe one whose name is unknown had not been
on board long. The mas1 Ro1fe, whose death
vas imminent At last adyicez, is spoken Of by
Capt Pheatt rs an excellent man
Nearly all Of those on board were bruised
more or less by being struck and knocked
about, but none seriously.
One fireman, who had just been relieved on
bis watch, was in Ills room, and was blown
into the water, but got on board again. He
says that when he last tried the water, some
| ten minutes before, thera vas enough. This
| Is all that We can learn in our inquiries u to
the cause Of the explosion, and, as in most
boiler explosions, those cognizant Of tbs
| causes are killed. VIC shall probably know
| nothing moro. Capt. Phcntt says the boiler,
or st least SO much OF it rs can be seen, Is cut
OF as it by some sharp instrument, not far
from the steam chimney, The latter remains
| standing: Tic starboard arch IL broken, and
several ttauchions arc knocked ouf from
| both.
Immediately after the explosion, the stear1-
| CT caught, fire from the Goals and burning
wood IN !the steerage cabin stove, and would
undoubtedly AEe been burned up but for the
| p1ompt, and weAAajrccted efforts of the Cap
tain. ne used an h orercoat to good effect
In smotherins the flames, and was fortunate
! in having buckets at hind
The Mohawk lies sunken in ten feet three
inches OF water forward, and ahput eleven anil
| half feet AFT The wheat is, of course, soak ed
| but the flour, which was on deck, Is safe. A
| portion Of the latter YVES On the quarter deck,
| aud with that portion Of the deck, remains
uninjured.
There L. insurance In several companiss, and
among them the Home and the Etna. -
| iWo steam, pEmpa-Worthinl.to Shave
been engaged, and will be sent up On the
propeller Mary Stewart, which Is expect cd
from Buffalo this morning, and Capt. Pheatt
Is confident his steamer can be got here with
IN day Or two. Tho Mary Stewart will take
| the flour on to Buffalo.