The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-30
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF A sTEkmTUG.
Extensive Damage ON ShOre-A Lake City
Treated TO a Mild Earthquake Expert
From the Oswego Advertiser, Sept. ISL

Treated 10 Mild Earthquake Experi-
encc. r
From the Oswego Advertiser Sept, ISL
About ten minutes past four O'CLOCK this morning
the whole city was aroused by most terrific report
and concussion that shook buildings to their founda
lions and ratified windows and crockery ware like
verltable shock of an earthquake. Everybody was
abroad at early hour anxiously inquiring the ma
ture Of the alarming event The Intelligence was
crculatedhat the steamtug George J. Dodge had ex-
ploded her boiler while lying at the wharf In front
Of the CoIm6ia Eleyator on the east SIDE Of the
injury to lie or limb had attended the disaster.
glance at the peighborhood OF the explosion, and
almost anywhere on the principal streets on the west
side OF the river Indicated widespread destruction
OF property. hl.
night the captain and engineer being ashore, and
the only persons remaining on board were James
Burns, the fireman; Penfeld, deck hand, and the
tween three and four O'Clock Burns started up the
fire In the furnace, as he accustomed 10 do and
From the circumstances there can be no doubt tha;
the occasion was lack OF water In the boiler, the
small quantity which 1t contained being speedily
generated into the dangerous explosive gas OF ten
fold more force than steam. Who was responsible
for such culpabe negligence as this appears to have
BEEN the parties who owned or run the tug are
better entitled to explain than us, The
upper portion OF the tug at least was blown into
atoms and Burns relates thar he was sitting in the
himself nounderfng In the water some yards out In
the river. without any clear comprehension OF the
one Of the most astonishing presentations that ever
happened. Mr.. Penfeld and his wife, who were
Selves IN the water ana were rescued by men from
neighboring vessel and found to be entirely uan-
jured. 49,.
assembled through the southwest corner OF the Col
umbia Elevator, tearing away large section OF the
building and splintering the t1mbers into match
material The damage to the elevator t. nv viii amount
The great destruction elsewhere wrought was on
the west side Of the river the lofty elevators break
ing the force OF the conclusion on the east side
few windows were broken in different stores East
First street, but the damage was light
ON West First street on nv water street on the west
was almost complete In some buildings, and the
damage extended from Seneca to Bridge streets.
In instances the whole front windows OF stores,
sashes and ALL were entirely smashed and numer-
GUS parties have sustained damage to considerable
large piece OF timber, part Of one Of the knees
OF the tug, found First street. IN front Of the
Palladium ONCE, and small fragments have beeu
found as far away as Fifth street.
The starting bar Of The engine, bent out OF shape
and which weighed twenty.four pounds, was thrown
high stores on the east side Of First street and passed
through the front OF William Blackwood's grocery.
making clean sweep Of windows and sash, knock,
ing showcase and Its contents into chaos. and
bringing up against the head OF barrel OF vinegar
in the rear OF the store.
large piece OF iron went through the roof of the
damage to the building.
A piece OF timber was thrown through the side OF
Mr. Asnley's hotel, on Water street, smashing
shelves ana crockery ware and destroying clock
in the dining room. Another piece Of timber struck
Mr. Ashley's buggy, which was standing In the
street. and made complete wreck Of the establish
ment. The worthy landlord relates that the uproar
Occasioned no little CONSERVATION In his hotel, and
a few moments afterwards one or two travellers
came down from their rooms with their vases in
hand and inquired the next train was about start
long list of parties who have suffered more or
less damage by the explosion could be made up and
which would include most Of the occupants Of build
inc Orth nj
to Second street. People who were sleeping within
those limits state that the conclusion was tremen.
Quake Ua It must be considered fortunate that the
disaster occurred at an hour when the streets were
entirely deserted as It could hardly have been pos.
sble In the day time that such an explosion could
| have failed Of fatal results.
Many splinters of the tug have been picked up to-
day on the streets and In the dooryards on the west
| side, and water pail, somewhat battered, was
found on the roof of building on Water street.
inc IN has cabin N within few feet nom the bow Of
| the Dodge, relates that the shock Of the explosion
| completely overwhelmed him, and he was unable
\ to collect his senses for some moments, wnen ne
came up and assisted In rescung the parties in the
| water. The stern OF the Sea Gull was slightly
| morning fragments OF the tug were seen noatng
over the spot where she sunk, while pieces OF her
wheel and large fragments OF boiler plate, torn IN
ragged strips were found lodged among the tlmbers
| OF the elevators.
Space would not permit us TO recount the profu-
| sion OF incidents, many of them very amusing, re-
lated in connection with the disaster.
The proprietress Of an establishment on Water
| street. who appears to have ready comprehension
from past experience had the rrOnt windows OF her
| place blown H. ana shortly after came running up
to the station, crying "Police, police there they &c
| round the corner ~
| guest OF one OF the hotels on the east side had
requested TO be called at ave O'Clock In The morning
! and being aroused by the explosion, with O
| rafting OF windows and wash pitchers he sprane
| out of bed promptly, calling ont to the supposed
| porter, THAT will do; you needn't make sucn q
| id noise about it.o
| drowsy citizen on the west side was shook into
| Consciousness by his wife with the alarming piece
| Of information that burglar had Just fallen down
the kitchen stairs with the sewing machine yes,
declared the exasperated lady, ~ knew 1t would DC
| So coming home at all hours OF night as you do
| and leaving the doors wide OPEN" The citizens
| says it was the heaviest blowing up he has expe
I rienCed for some time.
| The Dodge was owned by the Frost Brothers ant
Mr. Thomas Dobbie, and was valued at about 81, 600
she will prove a total loss insurance not being re
| coverabe.
/ srRANGLED BY D0G.-A few days since as Q
| peddler was entering the premises OF citizen OF
| Montgomery county, he was attacked by mastiif,
who sprung to his neck and got such hold that Tue
| poor man strangled to death. He was found lying
| In tho ward. his neck presenting q hOrTQ appear