The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-14
From the New York True Sun, Sept II
STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.

The Excelsior was yesterday afternoon blown up
and destroyed by fire, passenger killed, and one
other and both engineers severely injured. The
boat left the pier at the foot Of Robinson street at
five o'clock, on her usual trip to Coxsackie, and
owing to the strength of the tide, before she had
fairly got into tie stream, foated down opposite
Barclay street. where her larboard boiler burst with
tremendous explosion, tearing away the guard
house entirely, and a portion of the promenade
deck, throwing the remains Of the boiler entirely
overheard, and instantly taking fire. Captain Mel
son was at the time on the forward promenade deck,
and escaped injury. The chief engineer, who was
scaded badly on his arms, Notwithstanding sprang
to the promenade deck for the buckets, which had
been thrown overheard. He instantly jumped to
the rsain deck and threw overheard a quantity of
oil which had caught the flames, by which his
| hands were severely burnt. At this moment it was
discovered that man had been driven into the en-
CINE room. The captain and engineer Immediately
rescued him, but much injured by steam and
bruises, and unable to speak. He was instantly
sent ashore in one of the small boats which had
come from the dock, and conveyed to the hospital,
where he died in about ten minutes after he arrived.
| His name Slosson, 70 years old and a resi-
dent of Coxsackie Alderman Gilbert, of this city,
married his daughter. The other passenger injured
was William Hull, of 1T Lewis street, this city.
His Jaw is splIntcred of the bones Of the nose
broken and his face badly scaded; but it is thought
he will recover. His wife and daughter were in
| tendance on him at the hospital last evening The
chief engineer, William Van Wart, and his brother
George, the assistant, were conveyed to the hospi-
tai, the latter much scaded internally, and about
| the face and arms He considered in dam
gerous condition. Dr. Gurdon Buck the attending
ply scian and Dr. Littel, the house surgeon, were
devoting their whole time to the care of the wound
ed, and rendering every aid in their power. Mr..
Roome, the superintendent, was also in constant at
tendance. The aged mother of the engineers, who
resides in Coxsackie, happened to be in the city
and visited her sons last evening.
| Fortunately, there was not a female on board ex-
cept the chambermaid. The passengers, of whom
there were probably not forty on board, behaved
with great calmness, and not one it is believed was
lost overheard or injured, except the two mentioned
above. One of the fremen, named Jones, is miss.
ing, and it is feared was thrown from the guard
house. Immediately on the explosion several small
boats went out from the docks and brought off sew
eral passengers, and the steamer Columbus, which
had just arrived from Peekslkll, Immediately wen
| Excelsior to the foot of Murray street. where she
was being made FAST when the Fairfield passed be.
tween the dock and the Excelsior, and cut the cable
As an engine at hand, but for this occurrence
the Excelsior might have been in good measure
saved. She now honted down the stream, coming
in contact with schooner, and burning her bow
spirit and bows; and afterwards, in sheet O
fame floating under the bows of the Dutch frigat,
in the harbor, when the John Fitch of the Hobo
ken ferry, nobly came to the rescue and towed he
on to the flats, on the point below Jersey city
where Captain Nelson remained in a small boat t
attempt TO scuttle her, but abandoned her. She wa
burning all the evening, and must be entirely destroy
ed. She was owned by Hunt 6o Nelson, OF Cox
sackie, the latter of whom the captain. TIL,
accident must have been entirely owing to some de
feet either in the boiler or steam chimney; the engi
neer thinks the latter. She had on but Is inches o
steam, when she usually carries from 80 to 30 inch
es. She was and beautiful boat, and wal
first put on the route on the LIST of June. Her ma
II chinery was taken from the old Virginia; in othe
respects she was entirely new. She cost S35, 900
we're loss to her owners. Most of the luggage ant
almost the entire freight were lost. One Of the Jer
sey city boats was requested to go to the aid of thu
Excelsior, but refused, when there was prospec
Of saving her. The Fairfield has been much cen
sured for the course she took. The loss to Captain
Nelson, il is said, will be very severe. II is sin
guar fact that the Excelsior had just returned from
an excursion with Sunday school children.