The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-01
THE FERRY BOAT EXPLO.
SION AT NEW YORK.
Further PaTticuIarS--The Scene De-
SCribed by Eye.WitnesseS.
Investigation to be made.

NEW YoRK, July 81.
COr0ners Keenan, and Young vislteC
the scene u the explosion last evening
Coroner Keenan, viii hold an invesliga
tion. 1t will not begin for several days
perhaps not before next week. II Is
Intended that II shall be searching and
thorough, and tho opinion Of several eX'
perts with reference to the condition oI
the boiler, material ofwhich II was made,
and the amount Of steam carried at the
time, will be obtained. The jury will be
composed Of business men, or practical
mechanics, able to render an intelligent
verdict, according to the evidence, and
place the blame for this appalling calam-
ity whero it properly belongs. The jury
will view the bodies at the Morguo, and
permits will then be given by Coroner
keenan, for their removal by relatives or
undertakers. By order Of the Coroner,
no permits for removal were granted
yesterday or last night No theory Is
offered by the officers Of the company for
the disaster. The engineer of the North
field says that when the Westfield steam
ed out from the island she had four cocks
Of water; and from the fact that only o
slight report accompanied the explosion,
he thinks there could have been but q
small head ofsteam on.
Stevens, Secretary OF the Staten Island
Ferry Company, says that there was
Government safety valve attached to the
boiler. The Collector asserts positively
that there could not have been more than
250 persons on board the boat, tho West.
field being an extra boat, and but few
passengers aware that II had been placed
on the line. Ile holds that II was not
possible for so many TO have been on her
Rs though she had been on a regular trip.
Mayor Carroll, Of Syracuse, New York,
says; II was standing on the main deck
leaning against the rail, reading a nowspa.
per. Mr.. Eckel and Mr.. Sherlock were
standing beside rue, and Mr.. Philllpson
and Mr., Levi were sitting in the forward
cabin. Suddenly there was aterrifc ex.
plOsiOn, the violence Of which hurled me
into the air and fell into the hold among
n confused mass Of dead and dying men,
women and children. l Twas nearly COY.
cred with debris and almost blinded by
dust and dirt. Recovering In moment |
groped my way through tho darkness
and Clambered out without assistance II
seemed as though everything l took hold
of was red hot. My hands were dread.
fully burned, anda Jet Of steam struck me
on the forehead aud some falling pieces
OF wood or iron bruised my ankles as |
was cropping my way out The scene was
frIghtful, and the groans Of the wounded
were appalling. With the explosion the
air seemed rent with shrieks, l finally
made my way through the debris, and as
the cloud Of dust cleared away gained
the deck and was assisted to tho landing.
There was no premonitlOn and no sound
ofescaping steam, but whlleall were gaily
chatting or looking about the explosion
took place, with heavy, rumbllng sound
like tho blasting of rock. / saw people
hurled hither and thither, and then with
INC all was darkness for moment. Ihope
never to behold another such a fearful
scene"