Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-11-21
Ftom the Philadelphia Bulletin-
~~--x.,. s,...s.u. Ae.s6sa.-DreadfsI
~ = - Loss 81 LGfes
P.RrtcUxaRs OF THE DrsAsrER.

Castle, Dslaware, OF ths explosion o.
the boiler of the Steam Propeller Tel
eefaph,. on the river Delaware, of
that place, a few minutes after seven
O'clock, attended with the scalding
ofseseral of the passengers and a
dreadful loss Of life. 49,.
Tie Telegraph arrived here at an
early hour this morning in tow OF
the steam tug Tiger. We have made
every exertion to ascertain the facts
of this melancholy casualty, and
have gathered the following particu-
lars: ssl.7zLz
The Telegraph "a high pressure
sieamer) belongs to the Philadelphia
and Baltimore Steamboat Company,
and is one Of the boats of what is
known as the Ericsson Line. She
carries passengers and freight be-
tween this city and Baltimore, via
the Chesapeake and Delaware Ca
nal. She was, we believe, built. at
KeDsington, in lS47, and commenced
running in the fall of the year. Her
boiler was only aboEt three years
old, but had become much worn.
The Telegraph was on her regu-
lar passage from this city TO Balti-
more with her usual cargo of goods
and some forty passengers--the to-
taI number OF persons on board, in
cIuding the officers and hands, being
about fifty. " 20
At the time of the accident, those
IN charge Of the boat say that she
was going at her ordinary rate, her
engine making its customary mum.
Der ofrevoIutions, and that the head
of steam was not greater than COM
mon. The officers and employees
who survived, declare the disaster TO
be unaccountable, and that they can
not assign any cause for it. The Of
ficers of the Company with whom
we have conVersed, allconcur in stat
ing that this was the case, as far as
they have been able to learn.
1t is boldly stated, however-and
we give the statement only as we
have heard it--that the Telegraph
was racing with the steamer Oregon
of the Merchants and Peoples (op-
position) Line, and that she had up
all the steam she could raise with
anything like regard for safety.
Be this as it may, an examination
OF the boiler by several competent
Judges, this forenoon, satisfied them
that, in some places it would not
bear a very heavy head of steam
without danger. There has been,
TOO, astrong rivalry OF late, between
the two lines, and when they start
-as they generally do about four
O'Clock in the afternoon-the con-
duct of their crews has frequently ex-
cited forebodings among the specta-
tors along the wharves, as to the
consequences that might ensue from
the spirit manifested.
Sill the absence of positive knowl.
edge, and as the cause of the calamity
will, doubtless be fully Investigated by
the proper authorities, we refrain from
directly casting censure upon any one.
The portion ofthe boiler that explod-
ed was the inner part ofthe steam drum.
This collapsed, and the vent upwards
being thereby partly closed, the steam
was downwards. 1t blew out the door
of the smoke box, and rushing aft, filled
the engine room and kitchen, and made
a total wreck of all the frame work OF
these apartments, with everything in
them; instantly killing the cook and
steward, and awfully scalding the first !,
engineer and fireman. The second en-
gineer is missing, and was either blown
through a window into the riyer, or
jumped overheard and perished.
The deck passengers were collected
around the furnace and about the boiler
TO keep themselves warm, and there
were two ofthe cabin passengers in the
engine room. They were all complete
ly enveloped by the steam, and some of
them frightfully scalded. The depIora-
bic scene that ensued can only be i'm
agined. Totry to describe it, would be
giving at best but faint idea oft.
The report ofthe explosion was about
as loud as that ofa gun. The lamps
were all blown out, and the vessel left
in momentary darkness. As soon as
the first panic and confusion snbsided,
the attention of the uninjured was di
rected TO the condition of the wounded
and dying, and all was done that it was
possible TO do for their relief.
The boat was got ashore with all dis
patch, and the authorities and citizens of
New Castle, exerted themselves in the
most humane manner in behalf of the
sufferers. DIR. A. II. Grimshaw and
several other Delaware physicians. were
promptly in attendance, and rendered eff.
fcient medical aid. Mr.. Chalkley Tay.
lol, and Mr., T. S. Robinson, Of this
city, attended toa portion of the suffer-
ers all night. 5 =
Six dead bodies were brought 10 the
city, and have been taken in charge by |
the SoronerHaas, who will hold inquest |
apon them tomorrow. These persons
-~or most Of theu- died on the passage
]