The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-22
on TIE NEW STATE.
Collapse OF n FIue--Several Persons
ScaIded--AH Excursion spoiled.

oCulutussAu EACuAAA0A eVVAEus
The steamboat New State LETT cur
wharf yesterday morning at about halt
past nine o'clock, with about one hundred
and finy excursionists on board, for
Steubcnville on pleasure trip. The
boat was leased by Adam Kalbfeisch,
and the affair was under his management.
He has been having like excursions for
some Sundays past Ailer leaving the
wharf the boat steamed up the river,
making tolerable fair time, but had only
proceeded as far as the Water Works
whena crash was heard, and the steam
came rushing from the rear OF tho boiler,
making u noise that brought TO the river
bank hundreds OF people in few minutes.
On board all was confusion, as there were
but few who had any idea of the nature
of the disaster, and all that could be
learned of II was from the steam, which
was escaping in such quantities asto shut
off all communication between the bow
and stern OF the boat, save perhaps in the
cabin where there was only small pro-
portion of those on board, In moment
the passengers were divided into two
groups, one on each end Of the boat;
and thus they stood huddled together
with apparently no effort being made by
any one to land the boat The wheel con.
tinucd to move for some minutes alter the
accident, md by the time it stopped the
boat was about opposite tho LIST Ward
school house, but rs soon rs the wheel
had stopped The current started her back
down the river, slowly at first, but faster
and faster. In this way they driItcd until
nearly back to the water works, before
any one thought OF getting line ashore.
A yGwl was then put off with a line,
which was made fast, but by this
time the boat was going ut Il rate
Of six to eight miles an hour, and the
line parted without greatly impeding
the speed Of the boat but il had the
effect Of bringing her nearer shore, and In
contact with u raft, which WIS struck
pretty heavy, and rs she swung alongside
Of il large number Of passengers lcaped
to II and then ashore. Another line was
Immediately put out and made flst, which
had the effect of bringing her to u stand
still at the foot Of Jefferson street. AS
soon US she came within good jumping dis.
lance Of the shore, II large number Of the
passengers, who by this time were pretty
badly scared lcaped ashore, and in n mo.
ment nearly all were OIL.
On examination 1t was found that the
cause Of the trouble was the COlapsing Ol
a llue At the time Of the accident she
was carrying about 14O pounds Of steam
which Is the maximum allowed by her
license. We were told that the llue had
been patched at the place where
1t gave way, but that II was
considered rs sound MS the balance Of
them. A young man by the name oil
Chas Prayer was either thrown over.
board or through excitement jumped over,
Immediately alter the accident. lie was
picked up bya yawl and brought safely
on shore. Chris. Troll, Fred. lIoscnIeldt
and Chas. Russ were sCaldcd by the
escaping steam, the former pretty severely
about the face, neck and hands A lady
by the name OF Mute, living in Centre
Wheeling, was one Of the first TO- Jump oil
when the boat ncared the shore, and in
consequence spraincd her ankle pretty
severely. We know Of no one else being
at all injured save the clerk Of the boat,
who had his fingers slightly mashed by
being thrown down during the excite.
ment During the entire day rllmors Of
all kinds were flying through our city
greatly exaggerated, but the above can be
relied upon as d true statement