A Standard History of Waupaca County, Wisconsin. An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic and Social Development.

              HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY 125
Berlin City Wrecked by an Explosion
In tlie above list are noted tlie Berlin City and the Pearl, wliich were among the best known and fastest boats engaged in the Wolf River iraile. By force of circumstances tliey were rivals; lunv boats, eacli determined to demonstrates its sn])eriority in sj^eed and efficiency.
^'On, Ihe third of Au\y, 1H57,'' siiyH an nceotint of tiu^ ne(Md«^nt, ''sho (the Berlin City) was enroute for P>ei'lin, and Jnid engaged in a race willi the steamer Pear], whik^ crossing Lake; liuttes des Morts. The Berlin (Jily was crossing the bar at the head oi' the hdvc when she was blown u]) hy the explosion of her boiler, and tliis beautiful lilthi boat which had been l^lowing so gracefully througli tlie water, instantly ])ecanie a wreclc. Her upper w^orks, over and in front of the boiler, wx're hlown to piec(>s. A number of lioles were blown in Iier liottom and she sank u[)ou tlie shoal water of the bar. Many were blown overboard into tiie water, more or less scalded. It was indeed a lucky thing for those on board tln'it the water was shallow, for had this not been the cas-e many of them would have found a watery grave. Engineer Samuel Anthony was in¬ stantly killed and afterward found under a ])ortion of the lioikn-, Icri'ibly mangled. Two deck hands were hlown overboard and drowmsd. 'fheir bodies were not found until the next day. Miss Carhart, a lady of Berlin who was going home from her school at Appleton to spend the 4th of July, w^as scalded so badly that she.did not live to reach her home, but diet! soon after the accident at Oslikosh. Capt. lU'own, of an ocean stcatmer, was also a passenger on,this fatal trip and was so badly scalded and hurt that he died, several months afterwards, from the injuries which lie that day received. Captain Brown felt quite indignant over the accident and said: 'The idea of my sailing the dangerous sea all of my life, and now blown up on this condemned little frog pond on a 75 cent boat with a 50 cent fare and m.y leg broke.' In all there were five lives lost, in conse¬ quence of this explosion.
''No doubt the loss of life would liave been much greater at this time, but it appears that the steamer Pearl was in the lead when the boats arrived at this point and ex-]\layor ICcllogg of Oslikosh and several others were looking back at. the Berlin ('ity w^hcn h(^r boiler exploded. These gentlemen immediately gave the abu'm and Capt. L. Sherwood imme¬ diately turned his boat around nnd went baclv to the assistance of the suffering, struggling people. E\'erybody was x>lc^^<^d on board of the Pearl and taken back to Oshkosh, where the best medical aid obtainable was given them.
''The Berlin City w^as quite l)adly damaged and for a time it was thought that she was not worth repair; but slu: was finally raised and re-