Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-05-17
The Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind.
THR1LL1NG.AND HORRIBLE DETAILS.

The Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind.
THR1LLINGsAND HORRIBLE DETAILS.
| The San Francisco papers bringus the fullpar-
tculars of the explosion on board the steamer Jen
ny Lind, wv hch occurred on the 18th Sultimo on
the passage from Alvisol to San Francisco, with
from 1875 10 1 so passengers. Itappears that when
off Pulgas Rancho, and while the steamer was go
ing atiofdinary speed, asviolent tremor was felt
throughout the boat, like the conclusion produced
by the firing OF cannon, and, in second after,
Tremendous report was heord, and the whole vessel
enveloped in dense cloud of scalding steam
The plate on the afterhead Of the boiler had been
blown out, and the steamland boiling rush
ed out with fearful violence. The bulk head, Sc p
arating the boiler fromlthe cabin, which was aft,
was shiyeted into thousand fragments by the force
of the shock. -
The cabin was closely con fined room, 16 by
eet, with small windows looking out upon SOFT
of gangway that interviewed between it and the
ratings TWAS Just about dinner time; the table
was spread and a few minutes before the ladies
and children, and gentleman in charge of ladies,
had been introduced into the cabin so that they
might not be accommodated by the rush to the dim
ner table when the bell should ring, and were
about seating themselves at the table, when the
explosion took place, and dense volume of steam
rushed into the cabin All in the room were
stricken as if wited by heat. They were scaldea
irghttuly externally, and all inhaled the fearful
steam. Not one escaped. Allwere either killed
instantly or have since died. Many of them had
their clothes torn iromthem and the skin entirely
burned off their faces and bodies.
The scene presented was horrible beyond de-
scripton, not simply the scalded, but all were
more or less mangled by the fragments of the boil
er and bulk head, and streams oflbloud flowed
from the mutated bodies. - . -
Some few Of the gentlemen managed 10 grope
their way out of the cabin, crying piteously TO
those above 10 save their wives and children.
When some oil the passengers who were unhurt
rushed Lelow, sight presented itself which stag
gerel them, and some became faint. They found
the deal and dying lying in a confused mass upon
the floor, covered with fragments of chairs, tables,
furniture and timber, and horrible 10 relate, were
writing in the scalding water six inches deep on
the floor PcorlittIe children were crying piteous
ly Tor their mothers, who could hear, but blinded,
could not see. Mothers Shrieked in agony, calling
upon some one to save their children. The pic
ture even in our recollection, is heart rendlng.
Such was the scene in the cabin. '
The violence OF the steam struck as we have
said against the bukhead in the rear of the boiler
and the greater portion burst throug the cabin in
It's mission of death; while another portion recol
ed and rushed TO the forward part killing Instant
ly one OF the hremen, who was standing IN front
of the furnace doors, mortality scalding another on
the forward deck, and killing several of the pas
sengers who were standing on the forward part of
the lower deck SLlV EgFr Efn sjrs- -ff.f p
Those of the passengers standing on the forward
part of the upper deck were nearly all saved, a
few only were scalded, and those not dangerously.
Those about id-ship, right over the boiler, were
entirely uninjnred.3 far r. --tfvls
But the moStterrble destruction was on the af-
part OF the upper deck, just. over the cabin.
Here large number of passengers were congrega-
ted. After the steam had done its work Of deStruc-
ton in the cabin, it burst up in the companion
way, and in an instant swept those in its way to
the, deck. Not a man around stood. Fifty lay
PROSTATE, scalded1 and wounded. shreking in az
ony, and some mourning out their last moments Of
life. 81" ss55.N-.z7 2 I.- a.s.seLa-l t1 ~!
As soon as the CONSERVATION had subsidized, those
who had escaped rushed to the assistance of the
sufferers, W no We're brought ZIP on deck aud lail
out, some of them on mattresses and otheIS on the
bare planks with the carcasses ola number of hogs
ranged on the decSs rs pillows. The cries of
pain were fearful. Some lost their senses and "a
we'd madty; others were seen staggering blndly
about, the skin hanging in threads from their
bodies and from their hands, like gloves turned in
side out. --- -. - .-l...
Many of them had their clothes literally torn off
them, and shivering in the cold while burning in
ernally and crylIu, for water. Many were literal
y sca!ped, their ham melted off, as it Were by the
steam Some who We're rushing around frantic
with pain, had t. be seized TO lievent them from
jumping overheard. Their clothes were stripped
from them as soon possible, but horllbe to re-
late, the skin from their bodies pealed oil with
them. b. Ir5 Tt1 ~
Some one went 10 assist poor fireman who was
scalded terribly. He said to them: "Leave me
and go to some one to whom you can do some good
Pm dc ad manI,' and in few moments after
expired. ~ .. 8 y 12-+ts a55 r ~ ~ q u ~
Mr.. James Tobin, late of the firm of Tobin &
Duncan, was standing near the companion way
leading TO the cabin, and talking to Mr.. Shelton,
when he felt the tremor before alluded to. Famil
lar with such accidents the Mississippi river,
and knowing what 1t portended, even before lie
heard the2exploslon, and simultaneously with the
gushing up of the steam, with extraordinary pres
ence of mind, he jerked apart the fastenings
around his neck of heavy cloak he had ON,
threw it entirely over his head, wrapped his hands
IN the folds, and Frustrated himself 10 the deck.
The furious volley of steam rushed over and
around him, but he lay with his hand claSped oveS
his mouth and held his breath. This he did as long
as he could, when he made gesp to recover HIM
self, and again held his breath. Even through the
thick,folds Of his cloak--through his hand-low.l
down on the deck-half minute after the explo-a
san, the air was painfully hot. In a little more
than minute, he raised his cloak to if he
could breathe-found it still too hot and covered
himself up again. In two minutes he uncovered,
completely unhurt-heh had not even been Singed
his couk was burnt, and almost dropped to pieces
Beside him lay poor Shelton, to W HON he had Just
been talking, fearfully scalded internally and ex-
ternally, and now, poor fellow, dying. Mr.. Tobin
was the only man of thewhole crowd around him
who rose up. His escape, under Providence, is
due 10 his presence Of mind alone.,sa5 IS
Among the wounded were Mr.. ]. D. Hoppe, of
San Jose, badly; and Mr.. l.. w. Ryder, slightly.
] sSTATEMENT OF ARTHUR SPRING.-The Philadel--
phia Ledger contains ansaccount of another long
interview with Arthur Spring, the condemned
murderer, in which he not only protests his own,
innocence, and asseyerates the guilt of his SON of
the murder Of the two females but declares that
his son is guilty of all the crimes with which he
himself has been charged, The ledger says: -