Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-12-06


O'Clock to-day, a loud report, so peculiar
In sound that it was readily recognized |
as the explosion Of some boiler upon the
water, rang through the city, and star
tied from stores and shops, a curious and
excited crowd, who quickly swarmed
upon the docks to learn the particulars
OF what proved to be a calamity only.
second in fearfulness to the similar ex-
plosion of the Inflated Hayner-still so
fresh in the public mind. A white column
of steam rising to the clouds on the West
side of the river, and shower of debris
falling upon and covering the surface of
the water beneath it, told the story
plainly. The steam tug G. II. Heartt,
while moored at the West Troy dock,
had exploded her boiler. We give the
fullest particulars of the calamity we
have been enabled to gather at this
| writing.
The c. H. Heartt, employed for towing
purposes in the Troy waters, steamed up
this morning as usual, and during the
| forenoon had been "hauling" to WIS about
the harbor. Shortly before II o'clock,
it was moored at the West Troy dock
near the lock of the upper side.cut, to
allow the employees to dine. The boat
| had been lying there but for few mo-
ments, when, from some unknown rea-
son, the boiler exploded with fearful
violence-completely demolishing the
craft and throwing the fragments high
in the air. Most of the debris was blown
toward the river, which would seem to
indicate that the boiler had blown out
on one side. Two men where upon the
boat at the time of the explosion-Thos.
Collopy, captain and pilot, and Henry
Phelps, engineer. Both of these men
where sent up some distance in the air
and landed on the dock-one of them
about fifteen feet from the shore, and
the other nearly thirty feet. Michael
McDonough, "runner" for the boat,
had stepped off from it just before the
explosion occurred, and escaped injury.
He seems to bear charmed life. 1t
will be remembered he had just left the
Hayner when the disaster befel that
craft. The Heartt sank immediately
the largest pieces left to mark the dis
aster being but the roof of the cabin and
section of the wheelhouse. The
; steamers on the river at once went to the
rescue, but could be Of no service. A
large crowd collected on the shore, the
= two unfortunate men were carried into
saloon near by, and DR.. Sabine and
! others summoned to attend them. They
presented horrid sight-their heads
and faces were mutiIated so as to be
almost unacceptable, their clothing
+ was torn nearly off o! them, and, to
= crown all, they had fallen in soft mud
i on the dock and their entire forms were
smeared with filth and blood. Neither
. of them can recover. Collopy is dying
: at present writing, and Phelps will MOI
a long survive. Collopy was about twenty
n two years of age and unmarried. Phelp:
r was older, and leaves wife and two
:. children. Both of the victims reside il
West Troy.
The Heartt was only about three year
y old. 1t was small tug OF about fourteen
y horse power, and singular coincidence
with the Hayner accident is that it wa
u built ia Buffalo by the same establish
: ment which built the latter boat AM
was turned out abont the same time.
It was valued at $1,000, and was owned b.
n a number of individuals under the firm
It name Of Robinson, Belts & Co., the I'm
y fortunate victims Of the calamity hav
= ing an interest in the craft.
s Collopy died about l O'Clock, ant
= Phelps about half an hour later.-TrO
: Tines, 28A.