United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Thursday, July 16, 1908
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Explosion
Date of Incident: July 16, 1908
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Customs Inspector Ziba Nickerson and Customs Inspector Charles Atwood 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 Nickerson was survived by his wife.