New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-20
DISASTER on TIE STEAMER COMMON
WEALTH.

Yesterday morning, about o'clock, while the steamer
Commonwealth, of the Providence and Boston line,
near ThIoggs Point, and running slowly for the pnr
pose of having light before passing through the
Gate, ore of the firemen who was in the starboard
fre-room was startled by bursting kind Of sound and
tie almost instantaneous rushing out OF steam through
the creyces around the edges of the iron doors, usually
termed the front connection doors above the furnaces
lie at once dashed open the door, aud to the fire.
room the arboard side of the boat where the safety
valve was raised and the connection with the starboard
boiler shut off. Tie door of the freroom having been
left open, and also a large window, strong current of
air rushed in and took the steam along between
decks scading eight persons, all of whom deck
passengers with the exception Of waiter lcolored be-
longing 10 the boat, who was in a small with
eal other persons The latter could not restrain him
rom going out as his terror had made him beside him
self, otherwise lie would not have been injured. The
names of the killed and the injured and the
condition of the latter given below The sufferers
We're Immediately and kindly attended to b. officers
and passengers and arrival at the wharf were sent
TO the City Hospital.
On examination il was found that one of the inner
plates of the steam chimney had given way at place
where they riyeted together, and the lap next to
the smoke chimney being lower than that next to the
stea of course the steam rushed downward with great
force instead of being carried up through the Hue,
would otherwise have been the case. The aperture
was ten or twelve inches in length and in the widest
part three or four inches in BREADTH
The cause Of the accident lay in the construction OF
the chimney. The same fault exists in the con
sriction of almost every boat running, and accidents
of the kind, though rarely of serious nature are
not unfrequent.
AN inspection OF the point where the breakage
occurred revealed the fact that the iron had completely
rusted away the projection OF the chimney plate on
the inside forming Judgment for the water as it
trckied down. Had all the sections of the pipe Tapped
nwardy, it is The opinion Of good engineers that the
present accident would not have happened-and in
Gaze of break at these points, the stream would have
rushed up the fue and done mischief The accident
would doubtless have been serious had not the
beat been running under the comparatively low pres
snre of sixteen pounds Of steam.
The Commonwealth came mp to her wharf under the
steam of one boiler, arriving about g. o'clock IL w.,s
not intended that the boat should make more than two
or three trips more previous 10 her laying mp for the
Winter. As it is she will probably not resume her
trips for several months, the Vanderbilt taking her
place.
KILLED AND INJURED.
WILLIAM BLAKf, from Dublin, ireland; inst ar-
rived here by way of Boston; is burnt on the check
and nose slightly.
RosANSA BLAME, wife Of the above is burnt very
badly about the face and hands, and also somewhat
internally, from breathing the scalling steam She is
IN very dangerous condition, and from the great diff
hculty She experienced in breathing, it was thought
that the operation of tracheotomy opening of the
wind ipe would have to be performed during the night
MARY BLAKE, daughter of the above, a young girl
IL also badly burned about the head and face Her case
s serious, but not quite bad that of her mother.
JoHN BLAKE, ten yeais of age, another cild OF the
above, is very badly scaded externally but is doing
We'll and It ID believed that he will recover.
TnoMAs KGLIAy resides nj Beverley, Mass, and is
britannia worker by trade. His injuries ARE merely
superficial, about the hands and face.
CHnIEs HADsrELrER il a German, hut speaks
English well; ~ years of age, and shoemaker by
uadc. lie Is I'M very bad condition. Tracheo;ony
VII probably have 10 be performed and his physician
THINKS there Is little chance OF his recovery
JoHN HoINEs resides at No. 30 Eorty-second
street. Is burned in the face, but will shortly recover
JAAEs MHtRs ooofod j. years OF aye, waiter
on he boat was badly burned both internally and eX
enJiy. lie never rallied from the lime he wns
aiken 10 the Hospital, and died Little after p M
Tho principal sufferers present most aqoni4nc an.
Iemance, lhoi faces being swollen and mhamed 10
such degree TO have Destroyed all distncmess Of
features. The child Mary wds in sound slanbor at
~ O'Clock Last night her mind and body seeming 70 b,
IL strongly coniGsed conditions. Ds. s. b. ia, |