The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
EXPLOSION IN TIE BAY.
Bursting Of the Boiler of tho Tug
boat Ph2nix.
Seven M1en Blown Into the Air.
Ono TNan Lost.

AZ about nine O'Clock yesterday morning, whio
the tugbOat Phoenix was steaming through the
Narrows, near Sandy Hook, having In tow the ship
Hudson, from London, the boiler Of the tugboat
burst with terrible force. The hull was completely
shattered, and sank short time after the ex-
poson. The fireman. Henry McDermort. having
been blown into the air. fall among large mass OF
floating Ice, which quickly closed over him, and he
must undoubtedly have perished, as nothing has
since been seen OF the body. The remainder OF the
crew mlracalOusly fell upon the deck OF the boat.
from which
FEARFUL SITUATION
they were rescued by the small boats from the ship
they were towing into the harbor.
The hands on board the tugboat Baxter inferring,
from the report made by the exploding boiler, what
had occurred, the tug went to the assistance Of
the unfortunate crew, took them on board
ana brought them up to town. One of the Hudson's
boats which was despatched to the steamer Ocean
queen, which happe-ed to DC passing the scene Of
the disaster just after Its occurrence brought back
the surgeon, who dressed the wounds OF the suffer-
ers ana accompanied them to the city. He found
that some OF the men were seriously, II not fatally,
injured.
When the wounded men were taken TO the Sea-
mems Retreat at Staten Island they were refused
admittance by the people In charge OF that institu-
as all the tug owners in the harbor OF New York are
taxed certain amount annually for the support OF
this hospital.
The following Is
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT
MY name is Patrick Monks. / live at No. SO
boat PhGnlx Of New York. At The time Of the
explosion was outside OF Sandy Hook bar with
my tug. having the London packet Hudson in tow
O'Clock. was standing In the pilot house at the
time. All OF sudden was pitched up into the air
thought the pilot house had been blown overheard
ana under ii, so scrambled to get OH the top and
found that the pilot house had overturned and had
was the engineer. He got badly scalded about tna
about the ribs He was in the engine house at the
time. The boiler new one, by Neatie "
Leary. OF Philadelphia, two years Old. We had
a low head of steam on and had only started the
sup about fifteen minutes. The ship Hudson low
cred boat and rowed to our assistance. A man
who was beside me IN the pilot house, named Philip
Ryan, scrambled up the side with and he got his
head hurt. We had seven men on board when the
explosion occurred. Several pllotboats, tugboats
and yawls came alongside;and SIX were rescued, ls
follows
Captain Monks, leg broken aud face bruised.
Henry Neary, engineer, scalaed about the head
ana injured internally.
Philip Ryan wheelsman. head badly cut.
Aymes Neary, fireman, badly injured; got aboard
Hudson.
Andy -, deck hand, badly injured on head
benjamin Conagu cook two legs broken and Jaw
smashed
One man is missing Jimmy McDermid called Jim
my DucKs), belonging to Staten Island. He was
fireman on board, and has wife ana seven children
az home Captain fennessey, Of the schooner. who
was sailing by at the time, says ne saw man blown
up IN the air and Ial IN the water. This must have
ffGenfx was one Il the pest towboats in the
city OF New York. 1t sunk about tiIteen
minutes after the explosion. There was
plenty OF water IN the boiler. The cook and
the deck hand went to Bellevue Hospital. The others
went home. have been injured on the right cg
and cut on the head. owned quarter OF the YES
sci and the engineer owned One-eignth. Mr. Chap
man owns an eighth; Mrs. Van H0ulton widow,
owns One.haf. II mas COST US $4,000. There IL no
insurance. The surgeon OF me Ocean Queen was
sent on board the Hudson, and lie came up the pay
with the tug Edward Baxter. Captain Smith.
and dressed our injuries.