1874 — Oct 22, steamer Brooklyn boiler explodes, sinks, Detroit Riv. ~Wyandotte, MI-13-18

–13-18 Blanchard estimated death toll range (five passengers and eight crew).*

— 22 Swayze. “Great Lakes Shipwrecks B.” (Notes fatality counts of 13-20 “are also given.”)
— 20 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 236.
— 20 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 687.
— 18 True Northerner, Paw Paw, MI. “News Of The Week.” 11-6-1874, p. 2, col. 1.
–10-15 Boston Daily Globe. “A Terrible Explosion…Lake Steamer Blown to Atoms…” 10-23-1874, 1.
— 15 Elk County Advocate, Ridgway, PA. “News of the Day.” 11-12-1874, p. 4, col. 3.
— 13 Boston Daily Globe. “The Lake Horror. Further Details…” 10-24-1874, p. 1.
— 13 Delphi Journal, IN. “The Explosion of the Steamer Brooklyn.” 11-4-1874, p. 1.
— 13 Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed.). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 799.
— 5 Passengers
— 8 Crew
— 13 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 40. (Crew)

* Blanchard estimated death toll range. Given the range of reported deaths we see in the sources we cite – 13-22 – we sought to create a listing of those identified as fatalities. This listing shows thirteen names. This is also the number reported by Swayze in Shipwreck as well as in most of the reporting we see in newspapers at the time (only a small number cited herein). Thus we choose to show 13 deaths as the low-end of our fatality range (and are of the opinion this was the most likely death toll).

However, in that we do see several newspaper reports at the time noting either 15 or 18 deaths, we choose to show eighteen as the high-end of our estimated death-toll range.

We speculate that the higher numbers such as the twenty reported by Berman and Nash as well as twenty-two reported by Swayze in “Great Lakes Shipwrecks” (who does note seeing reports of 13-20 deaths), confuse deaths with the number of crew reported to have been on board.

Narrative Information

Mansfield: “Destruction of Steamer Brooklyn. – The steamer Brooklyn, of the Northern Transportation line, Capt. Harvey Brown, bound from Ogdensburg to Chicago, exploded her boilers near Fighting island, ten miles below Detroit,, October 22. The explosion tore her apart, and she sank immediately. Five of the steamer’s nine passengers were killed and eight of a crew of 21 also perished. Many of the survivors were severely injured. The steamer sank in about 25 feet of water, only about 6 inches of her pilot house remaining above water. To this nine persons clung for safety till released by the propeller Cuba. Eight others were picked up from the water by fishing yawls from the shore. The shock of the explosion threw from their feet all who were aboard, and most of those on deck were injured by flying missiles hurled in all directions. The Brooklyn was one of the fastest boats on the line, and could make from 13 to 15 miles per hour. She was built at Cleveland in 1866, and was valued at $45,000.” (Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed.). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 799.)

Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwrecks B: Brooklyn: Propeller driven wood passenger and package freighter.

“Date of Loss: 1874, Oct 22.

“Place of loss: Off Fighting Island, near Wyandotte, MI….

“Loss of life: 22 (other numbers of casualties from 13 to 20 are also given)….

“Detail: Her boiler exploded violently, blowing off most of her after end, tearing her bottom out and sinking her quickly. Parts of her boiler were found more than ¾ of a mile from the site of the explosion. A coroner’s jury found that the Brooklyn had been pouring on too much steam in an effort to pass the steamer Cuba, some distance ahead and that the 2nd engineer had let the water run low in the boiler. The Brooklyn had been bound from Ogdensburg and Buffalo for Chicago. Locally contracted wreckers had to race thieves to the wreck to strip it. Her engine was reportedly blown clear out of her hull. Salvagers said her after end was the most thoroughly blasted wreck they’d ever seen.” (Swayze. Great Lakes Shipwrecks “B”)

Newspapers

Oct 22: “Detroit, Thursday, October 22. The propeller Brooklyn of the Northern Transportation Company, bound up from Cleveland, exploded her boiler near Fighting Island, fifteen miles south of this city about 1 o’clock, this afternoon. As far as can be ascertained, about twenty-five persons were on board in all. Seven of the wounded were brought to Detroit by the propeller Cayuga of the Union Steamboat Company. It is reported that the steward and one or two others got away in a small boat from the wreck. The wounded are under doctors’ care at this city. It is reported that the two engineers went down with the boat. There are probably between ten and fifteen lives lost in all….

Later – Full Details – The Missing, the Dead and the Wounded.

“Detroit, Thursday, October 22. The steamer Brooklyn had nine passengers and carried a crew of nineteen. Thirteen persons were killed, of whom five were passengers; and eleven were wounded, including four passengers. The wounded were brought to this city and placed in a hospital. Some of the wounded, as well as persons on the steamer Huron City, which was close by assert that the Brooklyn was racing with the steamer Cuba when the explosion occurred. The missing passengers are Mrs. Bablin and child of Oswego, a lady from Cleveland and two Frenchmen from Oswego, names unknown. The missing crew are: John Morely of Ogdensburg; cook, name unknown, of Oswego, where he shipped as they started; William Hilliard of Ogdensburg; James Romaine, Michael Huck and James Phillips of Cape Vincent; Michael Hanley of Oswego; Samuel Anderson of Rensselaer Falls….” (Boston Daily Globe, MA. “A Terrible Explosion. A Lake Steamer Blown to Atoms While Racing…” 10-23-1874, p. 1.)

Nov 2: “The Coroner’s jury, at Detroit, investigating the cause of the boiler explosion on board the propeller Brooklyn, charges the Captain, the Second Engineer, and others with the disaster. They found that the safety-valve had been tampered with and that the boat was racing at the time.” (Chicago Daily Tribune. “Miscellaneous.” 11-2-1874, p. 8, col. 7.)

Nov 5: “The steamer Brooklyn, of the Northern Transportation Line, exploded her boiler near Fighting Island, ten miles below Detroit, on the 22d. She was laden with a mixed cargo, had nine passengers, and was manned by a crew of twenty-one. The explosion tore her apart and she sank instantly. Five passengers and eight of the crew were killed and four passengers and eight of the crew wounded. The Captain, Harry Brown, attributes the explosion to low water in the boiler, but one account says the Brooklyn was racing with the steamer Cuba and was carrying a tremendous head of steam when the catastrophe occurred.” (Rochester Union Spy, IN. “General News Summary.” 11-5-1874, p. 2, col. 2.)

Nov 13: “Detroit, November 13. – The local Board having under consideration the Brooklyn disaster have concluded the investigation, and submitted a report to Inspector Ralph. Their conclusions are that the Brooklyn was carrying one hundred pounds of steam at the time of the disaster, being thirty pounds in excess of the amount allowed by her inspector’s certificate, and that in order to carry this excess of steam the steam-lock of the safety valve must have been tampered with, or it would have blown off; that the boiler would have probably stood this pressure with a full supply of water. They do not charge Captain Brown with the responsibility of the accident, but think he failed to exercise that prudence which is expected of commanders. They place the responsibility upon William Hilliard, second engineer, who was killed at the explosion.” (Cincinnati Commercial. “Report of the Local Inspectors at Detroit on the Brooklyn Disaster.” 11-14-1874, p. 5, col. 3.)

Listing of Fatalities as Identified in Sources Cited

Passengers

1. Boffin (or Bablin or Mrs. Peter Rabbin ), Mrs. Passenger, from Oswego.
2. Boffin (or Bablin), 4-year-old child of. Passenger.
3. Unnamed Frenchman #1 of 2 traveling from Ogdensburg to St. Louis. Passenger.
4. Unnamed Frenchman #2 of 2 traveling from Ogdensburg to St. Louis. Passenger.
5. Unnamed woman from Cleveland. Passenger.

Crew

1. Anderson, Samuel Porter, Rensselaer Falls, NY.
2. Hanley, Mike Deck hand.
3. Hilliard, William. Second engineer, Ogdensburg.
4. Huck, Michael Fireman.
5. Morley, John First cook, Ogdensburg.
6. Phillips, James Fireman.
7. Romaine, James Wheelsman, Cape Vincent, NY.
8. Unnamed man Second cook, shipped from Oswego.

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Boston Daily Globe, MA. “A Terrible Explosion. A Lake Steamer Blown to Atoms While Racing…” 10-23-1874, p. 1. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-oct-23-1874-p-1/

Boston Daily Globe. “The Lake Horror. Further Details – the Boat Racing…” 10-24-1874, p. 1. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-oct-24-1874-p-1/

Chicago Daily Tribune. “Miscellaneous.” 11-2-1874, p. 8, col. 7. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-daily-tribune-nov-02-1874-p-8/

Cincinnati Commercial. “Report of the Local Inspectors at Detroit on the Brooklyn Disaster.” 11-14-1874, p. 5, col. 3. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-nov-14-1874-p-5/

Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “Terrible Lake Disaster….Names of the Killed and Injured.” 10-24-1874, p. 1. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-oct-24-1874-p-1/

Delphi Journal, IN. “The Explosion of the Steamer Brooklyn.” 11-4-1874, p. 1. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/delphi-journal-nov-04-1874-p-1/

Elk County Advocate, Ridgway, PA. “News of the Day.” 11-12-1874, p. 4, col. 3. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ridgway-elk-county-advocate-nov-12-1874-p-4/

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. And Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. http://www.linkstothepast.com/marine/chapt36.html — Google digitized: http://books.google.com/books?id=iHXhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

Rochester Union Spy, IN. “General News Summary.” 11-5-1874, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/rochester-union-spy-nov-05-1874-p-2/

Swayze. “Great Lakes Shipwrecks B.” Accessed 11-13-2020 at: http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/b.htm

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

True Northerner, Paw Paw, MI. “News Of The Week.” 11-6-1874, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 11-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-true-northerner-nov-06-1874-p-2/