The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-31
A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION,
Steamer Westfeld Blown Up.
Eight Hundred Passengers
on Board.
A SCENE OF HORROR.
The Killed and Wounded.

teTrloie explosions tnit ever happebes
in this vicinity occurred this morning a
Staten Island Ferry at the foot o
Whitehall street. The, steamboa
Westfield was lying at the dock ready
to start for Staten Island on her l:3(
P. NJ. trip. About eight hundred pas
sengers were aboard and a number O.
carriages, wagons, &c. The first bel
had just been rung when terrible ex
plosion took place, and the scene o.
confusion and horror which ensued
battles description. The boiler burst
carrying away the entire portion of the
boat in front Of the steampipe and scat
tering the debris on all sides Men,
women, children, horses, wagons, boards
and cbaises, were hurled in the air at
terrific rate; nothing escaped that
was on the forward portion of the boat.
The passengers in the rear rushed for
the landing en- masse, but in the hurry
few escaped without sofhe injury. The
scene was indeed frightful and many
tainted away from fright. Bodies, debris
and portions Of the wreck fell among
the passengers and incresed the con-
fusion. Many people fell into the river
and being unable to help themselves
were drowned. The boiling water
which was driven from the boiler scat,
tered in all directi ons, scalding those
who ware unable to get out OF its reach.
The wind was blowing inward at the
time forcing the water towards the stern
Of the boat where the greater part OF
the passengers had fled. The bodies
of the injured were taken to
the precinct station houses and
to the Park Hospital, and to Bellevue.
The greatest number were taken to the
Park Hospital, which was soon filled,
and the doctors in charge were forcedto
send the remainder to Bellevue. The
screams Of the wounded were heart
rending, and at the hospitals the scenes
were terrible to behold. The wounded
were lying everywhere, some in beds,
some on Hankets, while others were
walking around, moaning groaning and
CRYING. The doctors were constantly
engaged in allaying the pain of the
wounded, and had an extremely busy
time Of it. The vicinity OF the hospital
was filled with people, some Of whom
had lost their children, others their huS,
bands, and others still who had been
drawn merely by curiosity. At the
Battery the crowd was very large, lining
the shores. The ferry house was be-
sieged by the eager and excited crowd,
which was continually increasing since
the news had spread abroad. An alarm
of fire was raised and the eng ines ar
rived, but there was little need OF their
services, other than to assist the wound,
ed and to search for bodies. Carriages
and ambulances were ready to carry the
unfortunates, as soon as found, to the
hospitals. The Westfield, at least the
larger portion of it, was lying on the
dock adjoining the Custom House barge
office; the pilot house was hurled away
and the debris foated on the water.
Innumerable rowboats hovered around
the vicinity, picking up the ruins. The
Westfeld was very old boat, but had
recently been refitted During the war
il was purchased by the United States
Government and used as a transport
and when the war closed it came into
the hands Of the Staten Island Ferry
company. She did not carry as many
passengers as on previous trips, as the
explosion occurred at time when there
was not a very large number OF pas
sengers.
When the explosion took place the
front of the boiler was suddenly blown
ont and dashed forward by the force OF
the explosion into the bow OF the
steamer, thirty feet distant. 1t im6ed
ded itself in the forward portion OF the
steamer, instantly shivered into thou
sand pieces and sank down. The smoke
stacks giving way at the. same time,
an immense volume OF steam COM
menced to rise from the hold IN front
of the boilers. A moment after the
EXPLOSION, the water was alive with
STRUGGLING human beings, including
women and children. Many leapedi
overheard, being panic stricken ana
thinking to save themselves from iur'
tber evil. Some were saved by ooa's
which happened to he in the vicinity al
the time of the explosion. Cries OF
the victims who were scalded by the
immense volume of steam and boiling
t.xater which issued from the hold ! IN
front Of the boiler were heartrending'
The harbor police, tiremen and amon'
lance department removed them to hos
pitals. after placing tempory dressings
upon the wounds Of those most seSerely
hurt Many died on the way to hospl
tolls while others becoming deIirious
from the extreme pain they suffered
were placed in beds in hospital WARDS
in a raving condition. One ambulance
held a number Of young children whoss S
disfgured little faces and closeu eye
presented a pitiful and touching slget
Their injuries placed them almost De
yond possibility OF recognition.
Many Of the persons thrown into the
water by the explosion saved themselves
by grasping poles till helparrivsd, wher
they were taken off in boats, but Others
whose injuries were more serious, los
strength and sank in view OF the spec
tators on shore The drug stores in th'
vicinity Of the scene were soon filled t
the doors with wounded and suffering anc
numerous medical men rendered excel
lent service in assisting to relieve them
Immediately on the explosion becom
ing known, immense crowds gathered
in the vicinity OF the Battery, and be
fore half an hour elapsed, over ffteer
thousand people had assembled. Man!