Rutland Herald

Steam Explosion on Connecticut River.

The new tow-boat Greenfield, plying between Hartford, Conn., and Greenfield, Mass., blew up on Monday last, about six miles below Northampton, and nearly opposite South Hadley. The boat was constructed to pass through the locks and canals on the river, drawing but little water and quite narrow. At the time of the explosion she had four freight boats in tow, and had stopped to attach a fifth. Both boilers burst at the same time, and the boat was so much rent that she sunk immediately, carrying down one of the freight boats, in six feet water. The captain (Crawford) was thrown high in the air, and fell upon his head in one of the freight boats and survived but a few hours. The engineer (Mr. Wood) was killed outright in the engine room, and one of the firemen was thrown some distance, but fell in the water and was not materially hurt. Mr. Lallin, the inventor and constructor of the boilers, was on board for the purpose of observing their operation, and was so severely wounded that there was little reason to hope for his recovery. Two or three of the men belonging to the freight boats were slightly injured. The smoke pipe of the steamer was thrown into an adjoining field. The Greenfield belonged to Stockbridge, Allen, Root & Co., and cost about $10,000. The freight boat which went down was chiefly laden with salt. Captain Crawford was well known and respected on the river, having been engaged in the same business for ten years past. --N. Y. Observer.