On April 17, 1826, the steamboat “Susquehanna” started from York Haven, having in tow a large keel boat capable of carrying a thousand bushels of wheat, and proceeded on a fatal trip up the Susquehanna River, arriving at the Nescopeck Falls at 4 o'clock on May 3.

A detailed account of the event was carried in the June 26, 1936, edition of the Berwick Enterprise newspaper.

“The steamboat explosion in the Berwick Falls was one of the extraordinary events in the early history of Berwick that left a deep impression and has since been recited in poetry and recalled by successive generations. It had an effect on the history of the region as it marked the last of the continued efforts to navigate the Susquehanna River and to evolve boats of light draft and sufficient power to negotiate the shallow currents and rapids.

“In 1771 the Susquehanna was declared a public highway by the provincial assembly, and a sum of money appropriated to render it navigable. The Durham boats, on which the first families ascended the river, derived their name from Durham, a town on the Delaware below Easton where they were made. They drew 20 inches of water under 15 tons burden. When manned by four men with setting poles a boat progressed at the rate of about two miles an hour against the current. Various improvements were attempted in the construction of boats. Isaac A. Chapman built a "team" boat, which was a horse-driven ark, and named it "Experiment." It was launched in July,1824, but was unwieldly in size and shape, and was abandoned. The discovery of steam power caused attention to be directed to the Susquehanna by parties interested in the traffic thereon; and it was deemed feasible to operate steamboats in the trade.

“The steamboat "Codorus" was built at York Haven in 1825 and launched in October of that year. She was 60 feet long, 9 feet wide, and had a sheet iron hull, and drew 7 inches of water unloaded. The hold was two and one-half feet deep, two boilers supplied the steam for a ten horse-power engine, and 70 persons could be carried, 30 in the cabin and 40 on deck. Under the command of Capt. John Elgart, the boat made a successful trip up the Susquehanna from Harrisburg in March and April 1826, up to Binghamton, N. Y.

“The success of "Comorus" caused the owners of the "Susquehanna” a larger boat, to attempt the trip. The "Susquehanna," Capt. Collins commanding, was built in 1825 at Baltimore, was 80 feet long, 14 feet wide, drew 20 inches when empty, had an iron wheel, 9 feet in diameter, as well as an iron hull, was operated by a 10-horsepower engine, had two boilers and accommodations for almost 200 persons. Her speed was 10 miles an hour.

“The first trip was made in 1826, and on the afternoon of May 3, of that year an attempt was made to pass the Nescopeck rapids, where the Berwick bridge now stands. The current being too swift, the captain allowed the boat to drift down until she stranded on the rocks near the shore, about the center of the channel below the present bridge. This caused the stoppage of the wheel, and as one of the crew was holding down the safety valve, the strain became too much for crude boilers, and one of them exploded. The boat was not seriously damaged, but two men were instantly killed and several scalded badly by the escaping steam. Among the passengers who escaped with little injury was Col. Joseph Paxton, of Rupert, who described the accident in an article printed in a Danville paper.

“With our pitch pine, we succeeded in raising a full head of steam and set off in fine style to ascend the rapids. The strength of the current soon checked our headway, and the boat, flanking towards the right bank of the river struck a rock. I stood on the forward deck with a long ash pole and was in the act of placing it in the water hoping to steady her, when the explosion took place. I thought a cannon had been fired and shot my head off."

“Among others fortunately uninjured when the ill-fated boat blew her boiler were Christian Brobst, of Catawissa; William Woodside, William Colt, and Sheriff Underwood, of Danville; John Foster, William G.Hurley and Isaiah Barton, of Bloomsburg.

“The injured were borne to homes as they were brought up over the hill at the foot of Mulberry Street. Some of the victims were taken to the old brick building at the corner of Front and Mulberry streets. The floor was covered by cotton saturated with oil and in this the sufferers were rolled. The stains of the oil were on the floor until the building was torn down to be replaced by the Dickson building, now occupied by the Montgomery Ward store.

“The house owned by Mrs. Anne Jackson, on the south corner of Front and Mulberry, lately replaced by y the Sinclair gas station, was also opened to the injured. This explosion was perhaps the most extraordinary event of the early history of Berwick. This fatal attempt of the "Susquehanna" deterred other boats, and the navigation of the river was abandoned. Buried In Pine Grove.

“Near the entrance gate (of the Pine Grove cemetery) are the graves of the two victims of explosion, the tombstones being of sandstone, crudely carved with quaint lettering and ornamentation, the inscriptions being as follows:

CALEB WHITMANS aged 24 years.

This dust and ruin that remain

Are precious in His eyes,

These ruins shall be built again

And all that dust shall rise.

JOHN TURK-aged 23 years.

Farewell to all my dearest friends,

I rest me here from pain,

I hope when Christ shall call me hence

To see you all again.

The steamboat explosion in Berwick Falls on May 3, 1826, was commemorated in a poem which was written shortly after the tragedy. Copies of the poem, with the heading "Attention to All," were printed and distributed throughout the state.