Daily AncestorBoiler explosion
Boiler explosion meant death when a steam boiler burst, on a steamboat, locomotive, mill or factory; one accident could kill dozens.
Wikipedia describes steamboat boiler explosions such as the Pennsylvania on the Mississippi in 1858, which killed more than 250 people, including Henry Clemens, Mark Twain's brother.
The 1911 Census Bureau manual indexes boiler explosion under injuries by machines, and locomotive boiler explosion under other crushing, with railway accidents.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Wm. H. Tarbox, 33, M, W, Engineer, June, Boiler explosion
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Boiler explosion." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/boiler-explosion. Last checked 2026-10-12.