New-York tribune., 1868-02-18
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
TERRIBLE STEAM rUe EXPLOSION


ONE MAN KILLED-PRoBABLY FATAL INJURIES
TO TWO OTHERs-TOTAL DESTRUCTION or
THE BOAT.
Yesterday, about 1890 p M, while the steam
tug James A. Wright Capt sas Dakns, towing tho
Norwegian bark Gangerrof up the ryer explosion oc
her boiler took place, causing the death OF one man.
and inaictng dangerous injuries upon four others-
Il appears that the J. A. Wright had been Laid
up for three weeks in New Jersey, owing t@
the damages she had lately received in colison
with the ferry boat Pacific, and that yesterday
morning was first appearance after the affair Whem
the two vessels had arrived between Governors ian0
and Brooklyn the tug alongside the bark for the pur-
pose taking her into the Brooklyn shore IL was at this
moment the explosion occurred, with tremendous re-
port followed by clouds Of steam which completely en-
veoped the unfortunate tug and the Gangerro Az soo
the air had become clear the Revenue steamers
Uno, Capt. Leay; the tug Howard, Capt Burger, and
the Staten Island ferry.boat Northheld, whicff
close at hand proceeded to render assistance Tho
tug was fonnd to be fire, and their first efforts wer5
to extnguish the flames This was done without great
difficulty aud gave them greater facilities to ascertain
the whole effects of the catastrophe Three men Of the
six Capt Dakns Fisher the engineer, and.Wliam Jay
cocks mate who forward at the moment the boiler
burst were blown into the air and hurled With reas
force upon the deck Of the Gangerrof A2drew Finch,
deckhand was terribly scaded, and had one leg
badly broken, Aonzo Diver. the fireman, was
but it beng difficult under the circumstances to ext-
cate his body IL was not attempted at the time The
steward John Hemings, with the exception OF q few
bruises escaped unnjured. OF the three unfortunate
who were thrown upward by the force OF tho e.po-
sion, fell from great hight as that OF the fore.
yard The first Of the rescues to obtain relief
FOR the sufferers, and they at once ic-
moved to shore, with the exception OF HemiDgs.
who was so slightly hurt to be able to accompany tho
wreck to Morris and Delaware Canal Basin, jersey
City, where 1t taken by the Howard steam.tng WIN.
Jaycocks was brought TO New York and taken 70 tho
seriously scaded he was pronounced 70 be free ion5
danger. Andrew Finch was taken 70 the sailors snug
Harbor Hospital and his fracture or the leg attended 10
with promptltude. The remaining victims Of tho
accident were conveyed to the Long
Island College Hospital ana DGs sPonn n anu nonry s.
night at the hospital Dr. Spohn spoke OF both men az re-
naming in very critical condition that OF Benla,ns
10 scads and wounds OF the arms and body,
Capt Dakns has received very severe scalp wounds and
IL is feared that his left has injuries than
may deprive him of its Benjamin Fisher does nob
appear TO have been injured so greatly but MS state
Dr. SpOhn much anxiety, and should his derum con
tinue, apprehensions OF fatal result are enerinet-
Both mems hands are dreadfuy excorlated Inelr whS
were attendance them almost overcome by the hnS
lOokedf0r misfortune which has oyertaken them Mono
Of the other married The wreck OF the tug ~
complete The head OF the boiler was blown through its
bows, and the boiler itself was thrown back son1
ten feet carrying In its course part OF the desk
Of one Side of the boat II was discovered that the boiler
very old and that OF the IA braces were de-
fectve six Of this number showing traces OF previous
fractures Capt 6las Dakins was both owner and cap
TAIN and his insurance having out some few days ago.
his loss may be estimated at $50 TO 5000 Strange t
say, the bark Gangerrof escaped scatheless She wad
tOwed to PerrepOnts wharf at the foot Of Congress
where she hes The Gangerrof was commanded DyN
Capt Roubson and had just arrived from Bordeaux Tie
condition In which the braces OF the boiler were u.s.
covered seems uDaccOuntabe, the engines cf tho
James A. Wright rebuilt IN 1867 by Naie levy
will Be held on the body Of the fireman, AlOnIO Dver
by Coroner Warren