New-York tribune., 1886-03-11
A TUGBOAT BLOWN no PIECES.
FIVE MEN KILLED IN BOSTON HARBoR.
THE VESSEL WRECKED WITH A NOISE LIKE THAT
OF LARGE FIRE-CRACKRR

THE VESSEL WRECKED WITH A NOISE LIKE THAT
OF A LARGE FIRE-CRACKER.
BOsrON, March 10 (SpecidD. The steam tug
John Markeo left whaIf at $50 a. M to-day. after
having towed up two fishermen, and started down the
harbor to for other incoming vessels In an hour
the tug was blown to pieces by sudden explosion.
The only story be obtained from the men on
other towbosts which lay distance from the yes
sci destroyed When tho John Markee arrived OH Long
Island Head she to anchor and the men went down
to breakfast. Everything quie: on board sud
denly the the tugboats uear by saw sight nash
which followed by loud report and tho whole ves-
sci seemed to leap 800 into the air and fall in rag
ments.
:" was towing up the schooner Harry W. Anderson"
said Captain Riley, OF the tug Camilla when saw the
John Markee only two huDdred feet away. She was
headed northeast in the direction Of Deer Island could
plainly Captain NickersOn iu the pothouse, smok-
ing He had one arm resting the window sill and was
looking up the harbOr The cook leaning out or the
door of the galley and the fireman standing on the
outside looking into the nre-rOom He seemed to be
talking with the engineer. While was looking at her
saw the boat tremble, aud then without any warning
she blew up The prevented Inc from seeing what
took place directly the but should think that
the whole with ption OF the hull went into
the air. Isaw man thrown about two hundred feet
into the higher than anything else. guess
1t the fireman. for he tho outside. big
trunk up almost high he did Spars and other
hundred feet of the boat. The sound more like that
of big cannon re-cracker the water than like gum
But the whole thing over in moment. When the
smoke blew away could only pieces OF wreck float
ing the slipped my hawser and made for the
place as quickly as steam would take When
reached the wreck couldn't any signs OF human
being. The heavy umbers we're blown to pieces like
chips."
Captain Doan. Of the tug Fremont, said: "Our boat
about quarter Of mile away when saw the boat
blown up hundreds OF feet into the There seemed to
be million pieces. In the midst OF them could see
the bodies OF they fell back into the water
at directed boat toward them. With the as
sistance of tho mate william Britton the engineer,
George Doau, and the fireman, William Welsh, sue
ceeded In getting the body OF Captain Nickerson out OF
the wreck. His foot was fractured and his faca and
breast terribly injured He lying across spar, so
that only his back could DO seen. His
head and feet were under water. He
must have been killed instantly. Then we
picked up the body OF the fireman. He terribly
mangled his head split open and his face was
badly gashed The force OF the explosion had blown OFF
the end OF one foot and from both
the flesh had boen stripped as with knife. There was
an ugly hole his side that looked though piece of
coal had been blown through him" The list OF those
killed follows:
NIcKERsov CYRUS captain East Boston thirtydvo
He married and had TWO children.
Charles mate OF East Boston, age thirty three
Unmarried
CRooKER D. H. ngneer Of East Boston, age forty.hve
CRooKER Frank fireman, brother Of tho engineer OF Hyde
Park. thirty five. lie was married and had three
children.
A. p. cook, of East Boston age thirty Unmarried
singular coincidence that the only other serious
boiler explosion which mas occurred In this harbor toOk
place in March, 1879, the same locality aud only an
hour later in the day The boiler OF the tug Curlew,
Captain Gates, blew up and scalded all the crew except
the captain. Two OF the aferward died from their
injuries.
The John Markee 63 feet inches in length. and
16 feet inches BEAM and had registered tonnage OF
1877 and was in splendid condition About four years
ago sunk In the river at Philadelphia by col
sion and lay under for about five months. The
same boiler which exploded this morning In her hold
AT that time The boat had been Inspected by the
Boston authorities her certificate from the Philadelphia
authorities having expired. she came to Boston on
August |, 1855 She valued at $4,000. She has
been run an independent line by Captain Nickerson
and others. who formed stock company. she was in
sured for 81 800.