The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-09-02
THE CHAUTAUQUA DISASTER.

cfdents--Cause of the Explosion.
The Jamestown On. Y Journal gives
the following particulars of the explo-
sion of the steamer Chautaugua
THE EXPLOSION
occurred about 20 minutes after 6
o'clock and after the steamer had been
at the dock about ten minutes. No
warning was given A simple arising
of the iron, cloud of darkness envel-
oping the scene, and, with a terrific re-
port, tie whole bow of the boat was
torn to splinters, the stern rent into
fragments, and the water and land for
90 rods around covered with fragments
of broken timbers. and here and there
a mangled and bleeding form. The
boiler was rent into fragments, every
part of it being blown out of the boat,
and only two or three pieces being
found. One of the pieces, the front of
the boiler, was blown about ten rods to
the front and left of the wreck, cutting
tree about one foot in diameter half
through in its passage.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
Among the many miraculous escapes
of the passengers from death or injury
was that of Mr.. Dan p Eells, who sat
between the two warehouses on the
upper deck. He was sitting by the
side OF Mr.. Alvin Plumb, and when the
explosion occurred says that he was
very gently impelled a short distance
back, so family that he scarcely felt the
impulse. He was not even thrown from
his chair until after the explosion, when
the supports from beneath being re-
moved let the deck ''cave in" He
then GIT up, and turning round, saw
Mr.. Plumb lying over the edge of the
deck 4e bought him dead, and
turned to see whereabouts his wife and
child We're. His wife, seeing him on
the deck from where she lay, asked
him if he were hurt, and he responded
No, the poor woman cried "Thank
God and sank back PROSTATE Mr..
Eells is man of cool nerve, and rem
dersd great assistance at the wreck, and
in Irmovlng bodies from the debris.
Asecond and even more miraculous
escape was in the case of Mr.. Ben. Gar
| field He was standing in the extreme
/ bow Of the boat, and was blown about
! ten rods through the air, landing on
call tours in the mud aud flags, with
only a severe cut on the left hand. He
picked himself up and started on dead
run for where, he knew not. He soon
came to his senses, however, and re-
| turned and assisted in the removal of
/ the wounded.
DR.. 4. S. Richardson, of Bemus
/ Point was standing on the deck behind
the wood-pile, and distinctly heard the
iron tear, followed by cloud of dark
ness. He says that he instinctively
shut his eyes, expecting to be scalded,
! but the wood-pile saved him He was
thrown about twenty feet backward ~
to the rushes, and as the vacuum filed
he was drawn toward the boat. and over
the body of Capt. Murray.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The most terrible event connected
with the explosion was in the case of
the party under the guardianship of
| Mr.. Eells. For some time past his
family have been stopping with Mrs.
Hopkins, of Westtield, a relative of his
wife. On Saturday he came from
Cleveland to spend the Sabbath with
his family, intending to return on Mon
day. Being earnestly entreated by his
friend and daughters, and his family,
to remain over one day longer and visit
jamestown he finally consented, taking
passage IN the Chautauqua Monday
morning. OF that party of seven pleas
ure-seekers, who visited our town yes
terday noon, full of life and hope, only
three now remain, and two of those are
IN critical condition.
The case of Mr.. and Mrs. Cochrane,
T. !. '
all. Both young people, in the full en-
joymeht~ of life, they left their home
Monday morning for trip over our de-
lightful lake As the boat landed at
the dock the husband sat near the cab
in reading a book, and his wife stepped
up to him and playfully snatched the
book from his hand, saying, If you
won't go to the bow Of the boat with
me, you can't read, " and turning on her
heel, walked to the railing, and leaning
over, watched the process of loading
While thus situated the crash came
and one was taken and the other left
she, no one knew where, and he pacing
the boat and wharf almost frantic with
grief All night long this poor heart
broken man was searching the wreck
and surroundings, anxiously looking for
his lost wife.
And still another pitiful case is that
of Mrs. Perry Akin, and her mother,
Mrs. Devereaux. They had been in
town nearly all day, and were on their
way to visit a brother and son, an in
mate of the asylum at Dewittville-his
reason dethroned, the result of starva-
ton in Il rebel prison during the late
rebellion
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION.
At the hour of writing the cause OF
the explosion is enveloped IN mystery.
Capt. Murray says he was in the en-
gine-room but short time before the
boat ran into the dock, and the guage
showed 60 TBS of steam. He spoke to
his fireman concerning the water and
was assured that she had three cocks.
Cautioning them to use extraordinary
care, as the engineer was absent, he
went On deck to superlntend the land
ing. His statement is fully corrobora-
ted by the acting engineer, who says
: the water was up and only so lbs OF
steam. On the other hand, Ben. Gar
field, who sat before the furnace drying
his boots when the boat touched the
wharf, says the gauge showed 70 lbs OF
steam
Another gentleman, who passed the
gauge when the boat was lying at the
wharf says it marked 80 pounds. The
boat was at the wharf some ten min
utes before the explosion occurred, a
strong fire in the arch, as is usual while
lying at dock, the pumps still, and I'M