Westfield II Explosion

The ferryboat Westfield II suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion while docked at South Ferry in Manhattan. The disaster resulted in the deaths of between 45 and 91 people, with reports of injuries ranging from 78 to 208, though figures varied across different newspapers like the Times, Herald, Tribune, and World. One of the injured was Italian immigrant Antonio Meucci, who was developing an early version of the telephone. Meucci was in such financial distress that his wife had to sell his laboratory and telephone prototype for $6 to buy medicine.

Jacob Vanderbilt, the owner of the ferry, was arrested for murder, but he avoided conviction. The explosion severely impacted the finances of the Staten Island Railway, which owned the ferry, eventually leading to the company’s receivership on March 28, 1872. On September 17, 1872, the company's assets were sold in foreclosure to George Law, with the exception of the Westfield II, which was purchased by Horace Theall.