Crosby, Francis Hoyt 'Frank' died 1868

CROSBY, HOYT, SHAFFNER, NOEL

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/1/2014 at 01:00:13

The Memphis Daily Appeal
Memphis, Tenn.
Thursday, January 23, 1868

River News column

On Thursday last, as the trading boat 'D.W. Hewitt' was backing out from a plantation just above Florida Landing, the fulcrum rest of her safety valve gave way. In falling, the lever broke the steampipe. The steam rushed out and broke through the deck overhead and into the rooms of Mr. Frank H. Crosby, who had just left the storeroom forward and entered his own room to wash for breakfast.

His death, by the overpowering heat, was almost instantaneous. Capt. Noel and Mr. Andy Swivel, who were at breakfast, seized axes, and by cutting through the bulkhead recovered the body in a few moments, but when taken out it was found to be thoroughly cooked, and life extinct.

Mrs. Crosby made a narrow escape, as she had just left the room, and had barely reached the table when her husband met his death.

The 'Hewitt' is a propeller, and belongs to Capt. John Noel, her commander, and Capt. Jake Swivel, well known here in times past in connection with the police force. Mr. Crosby was a brother-in-law of Capt. Noel, and was employed as a salesman on the boat.

Mrs. Crosby passed up the river on Sunday night on the 'Dexter' with the body of her husband, on the way to her former home, Fort Dodge, Iowa. She requests us to tender her heartfelt gratitude to the officers of the 'Dexter' for kindness and attention bestowed on the way to Cairo.

Notes: The date of death was Jan. 16, 1868. Francis Hoyt 'Frank' Crosby, and his wife Josephine (Shaffner) Crosby are on the 1860 U.S. census in Webster co. Iowa. He is buried in Oakland cemetery, Fort Dodge.