Around Burlington: Curious boat passengers found frightening cargo, disaster followed

Burlington has always loved a fireworks night — especially when the pyrotechnics are displayed against the back drop of the Mississippi River.

But in August 1909, that love affair led to the loss of lives and a giant explosion that shook the city.

That year, local booster clubs and the city raised financial backing for a carnival that would draw visitors to the city.

The highlight of the celebration was to be an elaborate fireworks show based off two barges moored in the middle of the river.

The riverfront was crowded that night and some of the onlookers opted to board a variety of pleasure boats to view the display from a close up vantage point on the river.

Frank Bouiva’s launch “Naughty Girl” was among the craft that cruised the river that night looking for a good spot to watch the show.

Because of the swift current running that day, the boat was having trouble anchoring but suddenly, in the darkness, loomed a barge tied up opposite the town.

Bouiva maneuvered his boat alongside the darkened platform and tied off as the passengers prepared to watch the upcoming show.

Upstream from the Naughty Girl sky rockets were being fired off from another moored barge.

Then, during a pause in the show, Bouiva’s passengers grew curious about their convenient observation post and a number leaped aboard the barge to see what it contained.

What it contained came as a shock. Burlington’s John Daly worked at Murray Iron Works and he was the one that discovered the frightening cargo.

“I took a hitch around the post at front end of the barge and then stepped onboard while Mrs. Hassel held my son. I picked up a substance of some kind and discovered it was fireworks.

“I told Mr. Hassel in a joking way when I got back to the launch that if a spark where to fall on that barge we would all be blown to eternity.

“The spark business stuck in my mind and then I saw good sized chunks of fire falling in our direction,” Daly continued. “I yelled at Bouiva to put off and at the same time I was trying to cast the rope loose.”

That warning came seconds too late for suddenly the fireworks-laden barge erupted in a mighty explosion that lit up the river for miles around.

The Naught Girl heeled over from the force of the blast and a rush of flames washed over it.

J.D. Conover from Mount Pleasant remembered what followed.

“There was confusion at once and the people on the boat appeared panic stricken. My wife and Mrs. Jordon leaped into the water and Mr. Jordon and I followed.

I am not sure that I actually jumped but all I know is I was in the water struggling.”

Those passengers who remained on board and were not injured threw life preservers of those in the water but for some it was too late.

Bouiva was badly burnt by the blast but he remained at the launch’s wheel and directed rescue attempts.

Mrs. Jordon and Mrs. Conover disappeared beneath the dark water while their injured husbands were hauled back aboard.

Edward Lee, a 23-year-old Burlington man who “suffered from a nervous disorder” and worked at Ewinger’s was also gone.

Dr. D.W. Dixon was nearby in his launch and he immediately came to the rescue.

But watchers on the shore were unaware that the giant explosion was anything more than part of the show and were applauding wildly.

Bouiva later described the trip to the Illinois shore as a “nightmare trip.

The women in the boat became more frightened as we tried to get away and there were some that wanted to jump out and were only restrained from doing so by others who were cool headed.”

“We landed near Baners and as soon as the launch struck the bank the people baled out and it was impossible to count and see how many we still had onboard.”

In that night’s confusion, it originally was feared that many had perished and it was only late the following day that the final death toll was put at three with eight burned.

Dragging operations began immediately but weighted down by the heavy clothes of the time, the bodies were not recovered for three days.

The disaster divided the town as coroner Prugh struggled to affix blame.

But the final verdict faulted both the fireworks display organizer and the boat owner.

The deaths and injuries did not, however, dampen the towns enthusiasm for pyrotechnics but in following years steps were taken to avoid a repeat of the disaster.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Love affair with fireworks led to loss of lives