The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-09
AHo.l aER STEAMSHIP DISASTER.



terrible .Rxplesisn en the Steamer Keiss-
Five Perssns Reported Killed and kishtecn
or Twenty Badly scaldes.
FoarRsss NoNRos, Dec O. lS0e
Another startling steamship disaster 70 b added 70 The
already painfully cumulative list occurred o. hafpass
three O'Clock this morning through the explosion Of the
steam drum Of the steamer Thomas Keso. by which
Ave persons killed and eighteen or twenty BADLY
scalded
Tho steamer lsh Baltimore last evening little behind
time, having on board between one hundred and
thirty and ono hundred and forty passengers and
. large load Of freight including . drove OF
mules When the explosion occurred she was
three and . half miles 70 the psorthwsrd Of
Wolf Trap Light thirty mine miles distant from here II
very fosey the time but this had nothing TO
with the dsassr The noise OF the explosion awakened
and alarmed every For time the utmost confu-
sion and CONSERVATION prevailed. Nngling with the
wild screeches Of the wounded and the terrible brayings
OF the mules nearly AL or which badly scalded,
and the madly kissing steam permeatng the length and
breadth OF the steamer. came the alarming that
tho steamer was nre and sinking. To allay this
tunult and satisfy such Of the passengers % we're
rushin1 anticaly about clamoriug for life preservers
and the small boats to be lowered required the utmost
Efforts Of the oscers Of the steamer and Tie sefpos
Al lengh when !. was found that the steamer was in
NO dancer OF sinking the abssrbing inquiry became 10
ascertain the extent Of the Disaster and the absosbnG
eracisusly engaging in the latter work were Surgeon
Purcell, United States Army; Colonel Wilson, Of the
United states revenue cutter Nemaha who fortunately
were board, and proved themselves equal 70 the
Ing emergency OF course other gentlemen lent most
and unvaying in their assistance Both the ladies'
saloon and the main saloon became temporary hospitals
Unhappy there was little TO do with, there being
medicine chest board, and the only surgical nstru-
ment such Surgeon Purcell fortunately had with him.
Flour sweet oil and lint in fact the only remedies
at command but everything that could be done with
these remedies TO alay the sufferers was DONE 8s
The following is q complete and correct list Of the
hour
OFFICERS AND CREW OF STEAMER KILLED.
Chas Reider, chief engineer; Vance Wilson, assist
ant engineer; n Waldrop baggage agent; VIM Hall,
CREW sCALDEp.
slightly.
Stephen Hayes, ehas W. Nixon, slightly; Joseph Da-
Wis Major Eugene Carter Eighth United Staies infantry;
l. A: sangtelle Mrs James SOUTHAMPTON, Edward zoch
Ter. Geo. Rickett, Rev. John l. Cowlng
Many attribute the disaster 10 imperfect construction
Of the boiler while the contrary II appears that they
good condition, and the engine capable of running
safely with forty-fve pounds Of steam The explosion
occurred on the starboard side Of the steam drum blow
ing hole in large enough for to crawl through
and drawing from the outside threeq inch
rvets having stay bolts The main force Of the expo-
room killing instantly, as stated the coal passers while
At their employment
Most Of the wounded sustained their injuries from the
inhalation Of the hot steam.
At ten O'Clock this morning the steamer City Of Nor
folk, from Annamessex TO Norfolk, seen and sg-
nailed, and at once came alongside Of her. and the pas
sengers their baggage and the mails were transferred
70 her and brought to Norfolk On their arrival at
Norfolk such Of the injured required medical attend
ance were taken to the United States Naval Hospital
This evening the steamer John Sylvester went TO the
aid Of the Thomas Kelso and will tow her into Norfolk
The Thomas Kelso built about year ago. in Chester
Pa, by Nessrs. Reaney Archbold, and has been
ming on the Chesapeake Bay ever since. She SLOW,
but was always considered very safe boat