The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-07
MORNING, NOVEMBER I, 1853.
AWFUL CATASTROPHE.
Terrible tsanAboat Explosion and Loss OF
Life-Total Destruction OF the Propeller PEE
trei and Los OF the Crew, SC.

4
sad calamity Occurred ON the North liver, the foot of
Jay street sml propeller named the Petrel explod-
ed her boiler andwas blown to atoms. Three men lost
their lives while ofonrh badly injured The Petrcl
appears was abut So 40 feet long and manned
| BY crew OF fourpcrsons, namely - pilot Henry
Brink engineer; Eward Duwney, fireman, and -,
deck hand
she owned by Robert Allen, of Jersey City, aud
during the past weeks has been extensively engaged
in towing canal bats from New York to Brooklyn and
other points.
As she was steamng up the river opposite Jay street
already referred the engineer appeared deck and
sauted the engineered the Broadway then lying
at her wharf at the lbove pier and just he waving
his handkerchief Tho explosion took place The tha
ensued is described rs being most terrible The propeller
was blown TO pieces and all who were board kill
ed, with the exception Of the fireman DowDey.
The body ofthe engineer, Henry Brink, was blown
fully bundled feet into the air and its descent fell
upon the promenade deck of the steamer Broadway
crushing in thedeck With It's weight and forcing its way
through to the saloon below. The body Of the unloru
nate man was nueled the most shocking manner one
Of his legs was entirely blown or while his entras pro
uuded to the lergth Of several feet
Downey's escape seems most wonderful He was picked
up in the water in half conscious state suffering cons
derably from wound in the head On being brought
ashore however le revived sufficiently TO be able to tell
his name and the of the deceased engineer He was
unable however, give reporter the names of the
pilot and deck hant
The only vesges Of the i'll fated tow boat which re.
NAMED some pieces Of the exploded boiler
which blown ashore and landed the Duane street
pier. As specimens of boiler iron these fragments do
compare favoraby With any have hitherto use
being full Of flaws md extremely rotten appearance
tha
of Inspector Hutchngs promptly repaired the scene of
the disaster and rendered efficient service taking care
of the wounded and removing the dead. boat
was procured and every effort made to discover some
trace of the missing men, but in vain.
Not remnant Of the propeller discovered except
few pieces of brokn timber and these of the
Inflated boat soonnoated of with the tide and were lost
to view.
On the person q the deceased engineer were found
number of papers among which order Messrs
Quntard whitrey for boiler of the steamer Petrel
signed by Erastus W Smith, dated September %, 1858
The body Of the deceased conveyed to the deadhousc
at Bellevue Hospital await the action of tho Coroner
The dreadful eecsof the explosion witnessed by
several hundad perssns and the greatest emen was
manifested by the spectators for the safety Of the unio
nate crew. Mr. Lawrence, the clerk o the Broadway in
describing thesccne states that he observed the title pro
peer gong past the PIER ana neaTd the usual saluaOn
from tue whistle; he swung his handker by way
Of recognition when she instantly exp oded. The smoke
pipe and fragments Of the boat blown in all drec
tons; heard crash him. and turning his atten.
ton that way, the dead body Of man, which had
fallen through TIE deck AT distance, floating in the wa
ter he discovered the fireman, whom he promptly res.
cucd by Of a small boat and subsequently assist
ed in conveying him to the New York Hospital.
The pieces Of the exploded boiler, together with the
papers found upn the person Of the engineer
possession of b. the police, and may be the Fifth
Precinct Station liouse.
The Petrol about fifty tons burthen and valued
at IS 600 She vas lying idle all the at Ncwtown
creek but she recently changed owners and since then
has been activelyengagcd In the towing business.
No btassigned for the explosion for the rea
that there alive who could throw any light
upon the matter. The engineer killed instantly also
the pilot and deckhand, present un.
known there rmains no one to solve the mystery
cept the fireman, Owney and he says he
rnr he accident ANAL