The fact that the employee, entering such steam boiler, firebox, or smoke chamber, had knowledge of the unsafe condition of such steam boiler and danger in so doing, and meeting with an accident, shall not deprive him of a right of action against such employer for damages, and should said accident result in the death of such employee, then the wife, or next of kin, shall have a right of action against such employer for any damages she, they, or the estate of such deceased employee, may sustain by reason of the death of such employee, which action may be commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction.