The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-09
AN APPALLING EXPLOSION.
IHE RED JACKET BLoWN UP Ann
SUNK NEAR STATEN ISLAND.
The Pilot, C.pt.iu, Ensi.eer. Firem... .ss

The Pilot, Captain, BnGineer, Rtremsn. snS
Four Of tho Grow Ktlled-The Captaiu's
wife the only surviver-Twe Canal Beats
sank Csnstcrnstien In Tettcsviiie.
The most terrific boiler explosion that hss
spread dssstsr on tbs waters Of New York Bay was
that carly yesterday morning 10 Princes Bay. be-
tween Tottenvle. Staten Istand and the little vii.
lsge Of Perth Amboy, n j. IL involved the instant
destruction Of several lives, and the utter wreck Of
Of the finest and largest steam freight propellers
owned BY the New Jersey Transportation Company.
and the sinking Of two canal boats, deeply loaded
with valuable freight The weknowa double.
pipe propeller Red Jacket her usual trip frou
South Amboy 10 New York. with eleven heavily
laden canal boats In tow, on Wednesday night, and
hsd safely pursued her course across Princes Bar
and entered the mouth OF Staten Island sound whea
her immense boilers exploded with tremendous
force, carrying death and destruction with It's uri
ing fragments. The terrific conclusion shook the
houses and shattered the windows In Perth Amboy
and Tottenville Tho sleeping iahabitsnts wore
rudely awakened from their repose by deionstios
like tho loudest clap OF thunder, and = temuous
movement OF their residences that at suggested
AN EARruoUAKu.
No such phenomenon hal evor before heen crpe
rienccd by the quiet dwolcrs on Staten Islsad
Sound, and naturally CONSERVATION was spread 10
every household People rushod from their beds "a
the air IN their night garments, without wait
Ing for further developments. Tho panic wss geu
eral an the scene appalling but II passed OF 10
few moments, as q second " shake" did not occur.
aud people became cool and collected, and inquired
ofeach other the cause OF the tremendous shock. q
was soon apparent. The remains OF mon vert
fou nd on shore, and the
TERRIFIED CANAL BOAT nKS
fastened TO the beach to tell the story OF N,
hNrr f,a nls,is ff,nh h,al
vivors OF tho doomed propeller the folio wing story
OF tho explosion and Its dreadful result, was 60
thered
The Red Jacket was quietly ste,ming along, with
out tho slightes, effort to make better time, fai
as Is known, and is reasonably supposed, since she
had eight or ten hours TO make thirty miles, whom
her boilers exploded, blowing on aud throwing 70
great distance the light upper work that com
posed her house deck. and al the same time
bowine out the sides OF her hull, giving ingress 20
tho wnter. which flowed In like a mill race. The
propeller was wrecked, and almoet instantly stop
REQ In her course. She trembled and surgod
lew moments, and then went to the bottom loavins
her bows, surinounted by fag-stan above water
CAPT. SMITH WAS INSTANTLY KILLED
By the explosion, and Robert Brown. pilot. met
tho engineer from his posItios near the engine 500
boilers, was OF course killed, and his body wat
hurled 70 the deck OF OF the canal boats In tow,
horribly mangled and torn to pieces. The IRE
man, = Strong, wns instantly killed by 9 frsg.
ment. -Four OF the crew were either killed b.
the explosion, or were 80 scalded By the escaping
| steam Ias TO be incapable OF escaping from the
wreck, and doubtless went down TO wstory
grave.
The captains wife miraculously escaped, and was
rescued in an almost frenzed state when taken from
Two canal boats were sunk by The explosion. b.
the sinking propeller. but all on board we're saved
rus RED JACKET
Vas only year old. She was vaued at sbou
| 1000, and Is partially insured.
/ he A( tba min N a