The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-08-08
a TERRIBLE DISASTER.
EXPLOSION OF A E'ERRY-HeAT
a Erig!atsla Less OF Eise--EisEl!y
Persons KILLED and Drowned
nesiUndre0 and Twenty yGum.
espf

Persons killcSa and EbEOxyned--
One Hundred and iTsyentySyGuIA
ded.
New YORK, July 3l-7 80 P. M-The
Staten Island ferry y-boat We tGeld, while
in the slip at Whitehall, and crowded
with passengers, exploded her boiler at
l 30. The concussion was terrible,
shattering the forward part Of She boat
and killing and scalding a great number
Of the people. The hurricane deck was
carried overheard and fell over Il large
number Of persons in the water, who
were drowned. TIE scene is beyond
description. Men are struck dumb by
the loss Of their wives and little ones,
and women are distracted by having lost
their husbands and children, while little
children are crying for their parents who
are lost. The front of the boiler was
suddenly blown out, lodging in the bow,
thirty feet distant. The forward part
of the boat, the upper cabin, and all was
instantly shivered and split into thou
sand pieces, as an eyewitness expressed
it. The forward part Of the boat was
lifted fifty feet into the air; the smoke
stack fell, and then everything was bu-
ried in the hold, Passengers, chairs,
stools, horses, benches, and lire-prescr>
vers dropped into the hold fronting the
huge boiler, which poured out deadly
volume of steam. Many persons were
blown overheard A father and mother
had their children blown from their
arms.
The water in an instant was alive with
men, women and children struggling for
life The afterpart of the boat, which
had escaped the force of the explosion,
would have been safe for the uniniured,
but they were panc-stricken and leaped
overheard without regard to consequen
ceS.
Captain Ullman, of the New street po-
lice, hearing the explosion, was prompt
ly on hand. The fire alarm was sound
ed. DR.. Shine was at the scene of dis
aster in minutes, well provided with
medicines and bandaees. Cool and cal
culated, he saved several lives 10y his
prudence. Within twenty minutes In
spector Jamison was on the ground di-
recting the efforts of the police and
keeping back the multitude. Many per-
sons were drowned. The har0or police
of the boat service came 10 the rescue, land
some gentlemen who were in rowboat
near the Battery saved several lives. The
firemen also went to the rescue, and right
bravely did they work.
The debris in the fore part Of the hold
was first removed. The cries of the
poor half-boiled victims were heartren-
ding. Stimulants we're given them as
they struggled beneath the beams, and
oil poured upon their burns. AS fast
as the wounded recovered they were
borne to the deck Of another ferry boat
moored alongside, where they were ten
derly cared for by DIR. Shine. Within
twenty minutes ambulances from Center
street Hospital were at Whitehall. The
scalded victims were placed in ambulan'
ces and driven to the hospital at full
speed. Private carriages and express
wagons were also brought into requisi
ton. An insurance patrol wagon bore
several loads of moaning human beings
to the hospital. Some died on the way
and others were delirious with pain
One ambulance was filled with children
whose eyes were closed and their whole
faces swe!led beyond all recognition
Their little feet and legs were cooked
and their tender muscles laid bare.
By four O'Clock over seventy wound
ed persons had been received in th'
Center Street Hospital. -Four of then
died within an hour. The scenes here
were heartrending. Twelve dead bodies
were removed from the boat, four have
since been found in the water, and five
have died, making, so far as is known
twenty-one persons killed nearly out
right. Many of those in the waite
clqng to the pieces until they were res
cued, but others sank before aid coult
reach them. At least thirty five persons
must have been killed and drowned
This is basing it on the lowest estimate
The wounded will reach one hundred
Many of them were placed in carriage
and driven to their homes. Drug store
in the neighborhood were filed with then
Among the injured was Sheriff Madden
who was driven to his residence.
Over $4,000 persons gathered at tn
Battery within an hour after the explo
sion. John Mager,th pilot,was throw
from the forward pilot house twent.
feet in the air, falling on the boat, ant
escaping without scratch. John Free
land was the Captain of the boat, ant
Harry Robinson was engineer. Th
latter is colored man. and the indigna
ton of the passengers against him i
tremendous, though his friends clair
that he is not to blame. The boiler wa
inspected by John H. Matthews, Unite
States Boiler Inspector, on the 18th o
June, and pronounced safe.
STATEMENT OF THE ENGINEER,
Robinson, the engineer, makes tn
following statement: 81 live in Staple
. ton, Staten Island; am about forty year
of age; have been an engineer for twen
ty years; have been employed by tn
company for sixteen years; l got m
, certificate and passed an examination;
did not bring my certificate TO the com
pany, for the company did not requir
one on this ferry; had entire charg
of the Westfeld. 1t is half-hour boat
run on Sundays between regular trips
l was on this boat when the explosion
took place. l had just come off dock
1t was then twenty-five minutes pas
: one. went down into the fire room
One of the engineers, Patrick Finnigar
was in the room. / said: "Patrick
how is the water" and he replied, GA
right" AT this time l approached tn
boiler and tried the third cock. Ifoun'
that water touched the third cock. Th
boiler has only three cocks. l the
went up to the engine room and passe'
the door and went in. l found that tn
boiler carried twenty-seven pounds o
steam. l then went on dock. Tw'
minutes after went again on the boa
and into the pilot house. The Captain