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Customs Inspector

Charles F. Atwood

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Accident
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch July 16, 1908
Age 40
The Vigil Panel 54 · Column 4 · Line 6 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 93

Incident

Customs Inspector Charles Atwood and Customs Inspector Ziba Nickerson were killed in an explosion on Pier 47 at the Mystic Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts.

The inspectors had taken a box of blasting caps from a steamer Bethania and placed them in a storage shed. Inspector Nickerson was attempting to open the box with an axe when the contents detonated, causing a massive explosion.

Inspector Nickerson, Inspector Atwood, and a wharf watchman were killed and several longshoremen and other civilians were injured.

Inspector Atwood was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Inspector Atwood was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Customs Inspector Atwood served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Customs Inspector Atwood.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1908
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Charles is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1908, 36 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 111th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Customs Inspector Charles F. Atwood

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch July 16, 1908

Where the Name Is Cut

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