Hague Street explosion

The Hague Street explosion occurred on February 4, 1850, in New York City, when a boiler exploded at a printing press manufacturer.

[2] The blast killed at least 67 people, injured around 30, and sent thousands running into the streets.

[3]The rescue effort was led by New York City Mayor Caleb Smith Woodhull and the New York City Police Department, with assistance from the fire department.

[2][4] The last person to be rescued was a young boy who had been trapped for 17 hours under a mass of wood and iron beams.

The boy died of burn injuries shortly after his rescue; his story featured prominently in newspaper reports of the day.