The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-03
THE WESTAELD EXPLOSION,
About One Hundred Victims
FOUR MORE DEATHS.
FUNERALS OF THE DEAD.
Investigation as to the Cause.

New YORK, August 2.-The extent
of the great disaster Of Sunday is just
beginning to appear. The list of victims
fatally injured and those already dead
is now swelled to eighty-four, with
every prospect that it will reach 100.
Bellevue Hospital contains twenty-six,
with whom life and death hangs entire
ly in the balance. Four or five persons
are still missing. The Coroner will to-
day swear in a jury to enter upon the
work OF investigation.
Four more victims OF the boiler ex-
plosion died at Bellevue Hospital this
morning. Th surgeons say that Of the
forty wounded, and now under treat
ment, about one-tourth will surely die.
The body of Bernard Smith, resident
of Brooklyn, was taken from the water
at Staten Island Ferry this morning
and Immediately recognized by his
friends.
The investigation of the cause of the
disaster of Sunday began this morn-
ing. John X. Mathews, Local Inspect
or Of boilers for New York City, was
first examined. He testified that he
tested the boiler Of thew es,field on June
18th and discovered no symptoms Of
detection and considered the boiler per-
fectly safe for some time yet The in
spection was thorough and he gave
certificate OF soundness of the boiler
unhesitatingly. Jacob H. Vanderbilt,
President Of the Ferry Company then
gave his testimony, when the Board ad-
iourned to visit the wreck.
There were few new developments
Yesterday in regard to the Westfield
explosion, and the excitement has
greatly subsided. There is, however,
considerable discussion in all parts OF
the city concerning the disaster. and a
rreat variety of opinions are expressed
as to its cause, but the general feeling is
to wait until the official investigation
about to be made, shall bring forward
all the facts before forming conclu-
sion. There is no disposition to hastily
condemn anyone, but there is general
and earnest desire for all the facts and
for justice.
The sad and solemn ceremony Of bu-
rial, the consigning Of the dead to their
last resting place, was begun yesterday
and was witnessed by many persons
whose hearts were bowed down by
grief.
Although the grapplers and divers
are yet engaged in searching the bed OF
the river for more bodies Of the victims,
no more have been found beside those
which have already been reported, and
it is the opinion of the men engaged in
the work that all the dead except the
remains that have been washed away
by the tide have been recovered.
The official inquiry, under the direc-
ton Of Addison Low, Supervisor Of the
New York Inspection district, into the
condition OF the boiler of the ferry-boat
Westield, commenced this morning, in
the office OF the United States Inspector
of Steamboats,, on Pine street. The
Board Of Inquiry consisted Of Mr..
Leonard A. Bole, Local Inspector of
the district and Hill, of Boston. The
latter was summoned to take the place
of Matthews, one of the Inspectors, who
is also one OF the witnesses. Cap
tain Belknap, Inspector General, was
also present. Mr.. Brown, ,coun-
sellor at law, attended for the
owners of the boat at the opening
INQUIRY. Mr.. Low, addressing the Board,
said they were about to make the most
searching inquiry in the late deplorable
disaster; in order to have it properly
done, and that there might be no room
for the imputation of improper intiu-
ence he had summoned Hill from Bos-
ton to assist Bole, and any one who
looked into the matter must see that 1t
was one Of those things which might
have been avoided. Great responsible
ty rested on somebody. and it was the
duty of the inquiring Inspectors to fix
it, and he would give them every fac
ility and assistance and procure any
witnesses they required.