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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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St. Joseph Traveler
July 6, 1859

         Death of Capt. JACK NAPIER by the
          Bursting of a Cannon.
          
         It has become our painful duty to chronicle one
       of the saddest events that ever occurred in this
       community, whereby an esteemed and beloved fellow
       citizen, in the prime and pride of manhood, was
       hurried to a sad and untimely death. On Monday
       the 4th instant, at about six o'clock P.M., Capt.
       JACK NAPIER, who had just returned from a pleasure
       trip down the Lake shore in the Montezuma, charged
       with rifle powder a six pounder which was on the
       bluff fronting the Perkins House where it had been
       fired many times during the day, and then applying
       a match himself, the cannon burst with a terrific
       report into a dozen pieces, one of which hit the
       unfortunate man in the right side, mangling him
       fearfully, and causing his death in less than two
       hours. Portions of the cannon flew in every direction,
       but no other person was injured save one man whose
       head was just touched by a glancing piece which
       inflicted a slight wound as it shot by.
         Capt. JACK NAPIER was a son of the late Capt.
       BENJAMIN NAPIER, for many years a resident of
       Sandusky, Ohio, and one of the pioneer seamen
       of our inland waters, and was a brother of Capt.
       NELSON W. NAPIER of the Propeller Montezuma, and
       also of Capt. JOSEPH NAPIER, now a resident of
       our town. Capt. JACK, whose untimely death we are
       now called upon to mourn, for two years (1856-
       1857) was commander of the Propeller Neptune, of
       the Western Transportation Co.'s Line, plying
       between Buffalo and Chicago. He was 29 years of
       age. Of a warm and generous nature, always up-
       right in matters of business, ever conscientious
       in the discharge of the duties he owed to mankind,
       brave and cool in the hour of danger, in each
       acquaintance he found a friend and admirer, and
       all who knew him felt drawn toward him by feel-
       ings of more than common friendship. - 
       Every heart feels the gloom which his tragical
       death has cast over our village, and both old
       and young share in the general mourning. Yester-
       day the shipping in the harbor displayed their
       colors at half mast as a token of respect for
       the deceased. The warmest sympathy of the public
       goes forth to the bereaved friends in their sad-
       ness and affliction.
         The funeral will take place on Thursday the
       7th, at 2 o'clock P.M. The deceased being a
       member of the Masonic fraternity will be buried
       with Masonic honors.
       
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