The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-08-04
DEATH IN TIE BOILER

DEATH IN TIE BOILER
Boiler Explosion on Staten Island |
Loaded Ferry Boat-An Appalling
Scene; Death by Conclusion, Drown
ing, Burning and Boiling-One Hun
dred and Seventy Killed-and Iniur-
ed.
New YORK July 3O-73O P. M-The Staten
Island ferry boat Westfeld, while in her slip
1t Whitehall, and crowded with passengers,
exploded her boiler at l:20 o'clock The con-
,usslon was terrific, shattering the forward
part of the boat and killing and scaIdinq a
great number of people, The hurricane deck
was carried overheard, and fell over a large
number OF persons in the water, who were
drowned The scene was beyond description.
Men were struck dumb by the loss of their
wives and little ones, and women were dis
tracted by having lost husbands and children,
while little children were crying for their
parents who were lost. The front of the boi-
Ter was suddenly blown out, lodging in the
bow, thirty feet distant. The forward part
of the boat, upper cabin and all, was instantly
shivered and split into thousand pieces. AS
an eye witness expresses it, aThe forward part
of the boat was lifted fifty feet in the air, the
smoke stack fell, and then everything was
buried in the hold" Passengers, chairs stools,
horses, benches and life preservers dropped
into the hold at the boiler, which poured out
deadly volume of steam. Many persons
were blown overheard. A father and mother
had their children blown from their arms into
the water, which in an instant was alive with
men, women and children struggling for life.
The after part Of the boat, which had escaped
the force Of the explosion, would have been
safe for the uninjured, but they were panic
struck and leaped overheard without regard
to consequences. Captain UIlman of the new
street police, hearing the explosion was
promptly on hand, and fire alarm was sounded
Dr.Shene was at the scene within ten minutes
well provided with medicines and bandages,
cool and collected. He saved several lives by
his prudence, within twenty minutes Inspec-
tor Jamison was on the ground directing the
efforts Of the police and keeping back the
crowd. The harbor police boat came to the
rescue, and gentleman who was in a row
boat near by saved several lives. The iremen
also went to the rescue, and right bravely did
they work. The debris in the fore part of the
hold was first removed. The cries of the poor
half boiled victims were heartrending. Stim-
ulants were given them as they struggled be-
meath the beams, and oil poured upon their
burns. As fast as the wounded were received
they were borne to the deck of another ferry
boat moored alongside, where they were ten
derly cared for by DIR. Shine. Within twenty
minutes ambulances from the Center street
Hospital were at the wharf, scalded victims
were placed In ambulances and driven to the
hospital at full speed. Private carriages and
express wagons were also brought into requisi-
ton. The insurance patrol wagon bore sever
al loads Of mangled human beings to the hos
pital. Some died on the way, while others be-
came delirous. One ambulenee was filled
with children, whose eyes were closed
and whole faces swollen beyond all recognition
Their feet and legs were cooked and their ten
der muscles laid bare. By four o'clock seven
ty wounded had been received in the Center
street Hospital. Five of them died within an
hour. The scenes here were heart rending.
Twelve dead bedies were recovered from the
boat, four have since been found in the water,
and five died, making so far as known twenty
Que persons killed, nearly all outright. Many
of those in the water clung to the piers till
they were rescued, but others sunk before aid
could reach them. At least thirty-f persons
must have been killed and drowned. This is
the estimate. The wounded will reach one
hundred. Many Of them were placed in car
riages and driven to their homes, drug
stores in the neighborhood were filled with
them. Among the injured was Sheriff Mad
den, Of Brooklyn, who was driven to his house
About fifteen thousand persons gathered at the
battery within an hour after the explosion
john Mayer, pilot, was blown from the for
ward pilot house twenty feet into the air, fall
ing on the boat and escaping without scratch.
John Freeland was captain of the boat, and
Harry Robinson engineer. The latter is a col
ored man, and the Indignation of the passen-
gers against him was tremendous, though his
friends claim that he was not blame. The boi-
Ter was inspected by S. H. Matthias, United
States boiler inspector, on the 10th of June,
and pronounced safe.
Mr.. Robinson, engineer, makes the follow
ing statement: 81 live in Stapleton. Am
about fOrty-fYe years of age. Have been an
engineer for twenty years. Have been en-
ployed by the company for sixteen years.
got a certificate and passed examination. /
did not bring my certificate to the company
for the company did not require one on this
ferry. had entire charge of the Westfeld
This boat Is half hour boat, run on Sundays
between regular trips. 1 was on the boat
when the explosion took place. I had Just
come off the dock and it was then fifteen
minutes past one, I went down into the fire
room. One Of the engineers, Patrick Finni-
gan, was in the room. faid: patrick, how
IS the waterT and he replied: "All right"
At this time I approached the boiler and tried
'he third cock. Ifound that the water touched
he third cock. The boiler has only three
,ocks. then went up to the engine room,
md, passing the door, went in. I found the
boiler carried twenty-seYeu pounds of steam.
then went on the dock. Two minutes after
went again on the boat and into the pilot
house. The Captain was in there at the time.
ust as was going down stairs into the en-
yine loom the explosion took place. From
where stood knew 1 could get through the
ioor, so l saw the fremen, Robert Crosson.
coming up the trap. The boiler had been in
lse nine years. 1t was considered a GOOD one.
cannot say what caused the explosion. The
ooIer had patch on the cylinder part, where
he explosion occurred. The boiler was over
lauled last winter. In fact, the boilers of both
he Westfeld andNorthfield were. 1 Iexamined
he patch last Thursday 1t seemed TO be in
Tery good condition. 1 went on duty at
welve o'clock noon. I relieved the engineer.
Robert Brown.
Robson appeared perfectly sober, all rumors
o the contrary notwithstanding. He cave his
tatement of the affair IN a cool and collected
The excitement in all the lower wards of
he city, Brooklyn and Staten Island is intense
md the streets are thronged with anxions
rowds Extras from the Sun and Times al
ices, with full details of the affair, were pub
ished about dark.
One OF the two fremen on board the boat.
lamed Robert Crosson, In the fire room at the
ime of the explosion, says that fifteen min
ties before the accident he was on tbe cvIin-
ler, then went to one of the cabins for n drinI,
# water, and then entered the fire room
While here he heard kissing noise proceed
ng from the rear to the boiler, and went IN
ee the cause. He had gone but half wav the
ength Of the boiler when he found tbe stearo
o dense he could go no further, and turned 70
ONE back, when he was struck in the face bIy
flying splinter and knocked down. He moda
is way to the deck as fast as possible. This
lssIng noise which he heard must have heen
he starting OF the plate of the patched boiler
nd the hrst premonltion of impeding disaster
cursory examination OF the boiler, as it rest |
IN the bottom OF the boat, revealed the fact |
hat the explosion occurred at the rear. and |
hat piece about four feet long and two faat
ride was torn out of the Jacket and thrown a |
istance of about one hundred feet on to tbe |
oek Of the barge Office. Another and larger |
ortion of the boiler was thrown forward In
the bow Of the boat.
Another victim of the accident is Antories
Ieacci, partner of Garibaldi in the candle fac
NY at Clifton, Staten Island. The DOOR man
as shochngly bruised, ,and cannot move with
1t suffering the greatest agony. He was
lrne to his residence by his friends, when his
lysician pronounced his injuries undoubted-
fatal. Meacoi sacrificed all his wealth in
eGanbaldi movement,in succoring poor Ital-
n Immigrants who came to this country.
e was Garlbaldi's most intimate friend and
wiser. He was man of great ingenuity.
e secured seventeen different patents for i'm
ovements in candle making machinery, and .
ID elaborated a system of speaking tube tele-
Apply by which he proposed to enable anti
dal nations to converse together. Signor
sacci leaves a large circle Of friends to mourn
J loss,