Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-08-06
Explosion of the Long Island Steamer
Empire State.

lHC ENDtTC Dtute ltlL all nlNCf LOT
New York at Il o'clock, Saturday eve.
ming, with 225 passengers. She arrived
at Newport at 81 O'Clock and left again
in quarter of an hour. Everything ap-
pears to have gone on as usual up 10 10
o'clock hat night, save that it is said
that the boat was running at a very rapid
speed, and it is further asserted that The.
smoke stack was red hot some time pre-
yious to the explosion. At a quarter
before 10 o'clock, when most of the pas
sengers had retired for the night, a ter
rife explosion occurred, shaking the
boat to her center, and spreading con.
%sternation and dismay among the pas.
sengers. The shock of the explosion
had scarcely subsidized before a dense
volume Of steam filed every part of the
vessel. The alarm among the passen-
gers may be better conceived than de.
scribed. Most of them having retired
for the night, seized their life-pTeserTers
and rushed into the saloons in their
night clothes. In a few seconds the sa-
looms were filed with a dense body of
steam, and the frantic passengers rushed
wildly to and fro through the suffocating
yapor, seeking to reach the open air
As. it was impossible 10 see the way
thither, they had to feel it out, stumbling
against each other and over sofas end
chairs at every step. Surprising, from
the steam and smoke, hat the boat was
or fire, and unable from the darkness to
see the true condition of things, for some
time the passengers continued to blindly
rush from one part of the boat to the
other, giving vent to their fears in loud
shouts and screams, and imprecations,
that rendered the general confusion more
appalling. Then came, loud above all
the din, the aeonizing shiieks and groans
of the wounded, to swell the horrors Of
the occasion.
Capt. Brayton promptly caused the
to be stopped, and then dropped
anchor and proceeded to investigate the
extent Of the disaster. Upon examina-
ton it was found that the steam chest
around the starboari smokestack had
exploded about on a level with the up
per deck, forcing the steam all through
The boat with terrific force. Wherever
he scalding vapor touched Ii blistered, /,
and as the result of the casually, il was
-ound hat a large number Of persons :
we're scalded with more or less severity.
Tie distressing ere of the wounded
;oon recalled those who had escaped in :
ury from their temporary forgetfulness, !
md everybody set to wolk with a will !
do what he could to alleviate the sui !
of he injured and dying. Many a
If the passengers, however, could not '
overcome their fears enough to lay aside a
heir life-preservers before they had got !
Jack TO the wharf at Fall River. e
With all the tenderness and dispatch
he wounded were picked up and taken c
o the saloon, and although no medical h
nan was on board TO advise, they did =
they could to ease their suferings. :
Jill, -four and cotton were applied to
calded parts, and other means of relief
we're resorted to. The wounded pre-.
cnted a terrible scene. Every spot upon
7kich the steam had struck was scalded +
0 severely that the skin peeled off at l
he touch. ,
Another account says: y
The first cloud of steam and smoke
Ihich filled the cabin, was Immediately I
Jllowed by another still blacker; con b
chiefly Of steam which had passed a.,
yer The Goals of the furnace. The first
'as mostly smoke from the furnace
frenzy of the passengers now rose :
D the highest pitch /; some tainted, some
commenced praying, friends called to T
ach other in frantic tones-preparaIiOns
,r taking TO the water or boats were q
iade by the more collected-o,hers =
Ished furiously about, apparently not 9
moving what they were doing. Capt. :,
and his first officer Mr.. Tilden, :.
anne forward in a few moments, and
counting a chair, proclaimed that all
was passed, and called upon the :
assengers to calm their app~rehensions :
nd restore order. The stewardess be- :
aved with the most admirable GOODNESS
nd energy, and soon succeeded in re-
the ladies.