The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-15
TERRIBLE TUG. BOAT EXPLOSION.
The Boiler of the Tug william Wells Explodes
and Kills -Four Men-Another Badly Wounded
-LOHE. R25.OOO,

The Boiler OF the Tug william Wells Explodes
and Kills -Four Men-Another Badly Wounded
Loss, $4,000.
Yesterday morning, at about o'clock, most
terrific explosion startled the residents of Bergen
Point and Staten Island, jarring the buildings in
the immediate neighborhood, and arousing from
their beds the inhabitants of the two shores for
miles around. The tug-boat William Wells,
which was lying at the dock on the Jersey shore,
just opposite the Sailors Snug Harbor, exploded
her boiler, and was torn to pieces by the acc-
dent Besides the loss of property four lives
were sacrificed, and one other person was ser-
ously scalded.
The tugboat left New York on Wednesday
evening to go to Elizabethport where IL was to
take O boat IN tow back to this city. At the
point named opposite the Snug Harbor the
boat was stopped and tied to the dock for the
night, the crew taking their rest in the cabin.
THE CREW.
The crew was composed of five persons-
Maurice Roche, the pilot-who with q Mr.. Ker-
rim, of Brooklyn, owned the craft-Walter Scott,
engineer; Charles Mcknight, fireman; William
steward. The pilot slept in the pilot-house, the
steward in the hold the other three in the cabin.
When the explosion came, the men, it is sup
posed, were sleeping, and unconscious of
their doom. The bursting of the boiler
mel, tearing the little boat asunder, and
instantly killing the captain, fireman, and deck
hand. Scott, the engineer, was terribly mutt
lated, but survived until o'clock yesterday
morning, when he died at Bellevue Hospital to
which he was taken at daylight. The body of
Mcknight was recovered by the affrighted resi-
dents of the town, who tlocked to the scene of
the disaster, and, after long search, the body
of Roche, the pilot, was also fished from the
water. Both were badly mutlated, their limbs
having been brokengand the flesh torn and dis
figured. The body of Nolan the deck-hand,
could not be found.
ONE MAN SAVED.
The steward, young Roche, was the only one
of the crew who escaped with his life. His
preservation was due to the lucky accident of
his being compelled to sleep below the deck.
The explosion carried away the deck, and every
thing above him. His injuries, which are seri-
GUS, consist of wounds caused by the scalding
water. He was brought to No. 72 Lib
erty street, in this city, where our reporter
visited him yesterday afternoon, obtaining
the above facts. The engineer, according to
young Roches statement, retired to his berth
without turning off steam, the explosion being
caused by the consequent exhaustion OF water.
The boiler was blown to fragments, and pieces
of the iron and woodwork of the boat were
thrown hundreds of yards from the spot where
the craft lay. The water was covered with
floating fragments of the wreck.
LUCKY YUARREL.
The stewards life was saved by dispute with
his father. The latter desired to sleep in the
pilot house, and ordered his son to go below,
not even permitting him to sleep in the cabin
with the rest of the crew.
Mr.. Roche, the pilot and part owner of the
vessel, resided at No. 73 Willoughby street,
Brooklyn, to which place his body was taken.
He had been for twenty years pilot and captain
of tug-boats and had amassed a considerable
fortune. He was man of sober and industrious
habits member of the Masonic fraternity, and
was much respected. His funeral will take place
on Saturday.
The tug-boat, which was worth $25, ,000 was
fully insured. An inquest will be held on the
bodies of the victims of the disaster.-N. Y.
World tO-0dy.