Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-08-05
NEW YORK.
A Terrific Explosion.


| The Steamboat Westfield Jloacn TO atoms-
! Eight Hundred Presons on bourd-Men,
Woman and Children hurled IN the Air-
The Scene Battles Description.
NEW YORK, June 30.-One of the most
horrible explosions that ever happened in
this vicinity occurred this afternoon at
Staten Island ferry, foot of Whitehall street.
The steamboat West!ield was lying at the
| dock just ready to start for Staten Island
on the 1.30p. IN. trip. About 800 passen-
gers were aboard and number of carriages,
wagons, &c. The first bell had just rung,
when a terrific explosion took place, and
the scene of confusion and horror which
enpued battles descristion. The boiler
burst, carrying away the entire portion of
the steamer in front of the steampipc and
scattering the debris, on all sides. Men,
women, children, horses wagons, boards
and Chairs were hurled in the air at q ter
| rificed rate. Nothing escaped that was
on the forward portion of the boat. The
passengerin the rear rushed for the land
ing enmasse, but very few escaped without
some injuries. The scene was frighttul,
and many tainted away from fear. Bodies,
debris, and portions of the wreck fell among
the passengers, and increased the confusion.
Many people fell in the river, and being
unable to help themselves were drowned.
The boiling water which was driven from
the boiler scattered in oil directions, scald-
ing those who were unable to get out of its
reach. The wind was blowing inward at
the time forcing the water toward the
stern of The the boat, where the greater
portion of the passengers had fled to.
The bodies of the injured were taken TO
the 1st precinct station house, to the Park
hospital and to Bellevue. The greater
number were taken to the Park hospital,
which was soon filled, and the doctors in
charge were forced TO send the remainder
to bellevue. The screams of the wounded
were heartrending, and ut the hospitals
the scenes were terrible to behold. The
wounded were lying everywhere, some in
beds, some on blankets, while others were
walking around groaning, moaning and
crying.
Tie doctors and surgeons were constant
ly engaged in allaying the pain of the
wounded, and have had an extraordinary
time of it. The vicinity of the hospital
was filled with people; some who had lost
their children, others their husbands, and
others still drawn merely by curiosity.
Later Particulars.
When the explotion took place, the front
of the boiler was suddenly blown out and
dashed forward, by the force of the steamer,
thirty feet etdstant, where it imbedded itself.
The forward portion Of the steamer was
instantly shivered into q thousand pieces
and sank down. The smoke stack giving
way at the same moment an immense
| volume of steam commenced to riso from
the hold in front of the boiler. A moment
after the eXplos ion the water was alive
with struggling human beings, men, wo-
men and children. Many leaped overheard
being panic c-strcken, and thinking to save
themselves from further evil. Some were
saved by boats which happened to be in
the vicinity at the time Of the explosion.
Cries of the victims who were scalded by
the immense volume of steam and boiling
water which issued from the hold in front
of the boiler were heartrending. Ilarbor
police, iiremen and ambulance department
removed them to the hospitals, after plac-
ing temporary dressings upon the wounds
of those most seriously hurt. Many died
on their way Othc hospitals, while others,
becoming deirious from the extreme pain
| they suffered, were placed in beds in the
| hospital wards in n raving condition.
One ambulance held number of young
children, Whose disiigurcd little faces and
closed eyes presented pitiablc and touch
ing sight. Their injuries placed them nj
most beyond n possibility of recognition.
! Many of the persons thrown into the
water by the explosion saved their lives by
.clinging to the piles till help arrived, when
they were takin OIL in boats, but others,
whose injuries were more severe, lost
strength, and sank, in view Of the spccta-
tors Oh shore.
Drug stores in the ncighborhood of the
scene were filled to the doors with the
wounded sufferers, and numerous medical
men rendered excellent service in assisting
| to relieve.
Immediately on the explosion becoming
known, immense crowds gathered in the
vicinity of the Battery, and before half
an hour elapsed over Ii 900 people had as
scmbled, Many of these had relatives or
friends on board the westiield and anxious.
! fearful inquiries were made ON every side
to ascertain the fate of those. Immense
crowds also assemble around the hospitals,
bcsieglng the officials with inquiries as TO
those within. Coroncrs heenan and
Young Were at the Battery within few
minutes after the explosion, and the ivtter
! took charge Of tho steamer aud give orders
that she should not be removed from New
York until an investigation be made.
There are, rs far as can bo ascerlained,
3S dead, l3oiwhom have been recognized,
and IL is supposed over 200 wounded, many
of whom will die.
NEW lORK, August IA corrected
list makes the dead from the expl, sion Oh
the Wesllcld 20, and wounded l22. DR.
Van Dcwater and Dr. bruce, surgeons of
the Centre Street ll1pital, give the opinion
that OF the luOor llJ persons whom they
had undgr treatment moro than two thirds
( will die.
Dragging for bodies at the seeno Of the
explosion Was resumed at day brak, but up
a.. la 4
4 bcarhas been discovered Ia Oregon this
year, which was pliitclly whlle excepting
that its long ears ald slIeak down its
back were black, Nothing olthe Kind was