The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-25
ANOTHER STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
Fearful Disaster at New Lon~
don, Conn.
A GOVERNMENT LIGHTER BLOWN UP.
Three Men Killed and the Officers
ALI Injured.

NEW LONDON, Conn.,, June a. 1872.
A fearful catastrophe occurred here to-day, which
shades every other calamity ut this place since the
burning OF the steamer City of New London. Ter
rible as the latter disaster in most respects,
there az least an opportunity afforded FOR
escape to a number OF persons on board the Ill
fated vessel; but in the present instance the sud
denness of the accident almost precluded the pos
sibility OF escape
THE EXPLOSION.
At about quarter past six A. NJ the steam-llghter
Wallace Captain Thomas A. Scott, of Jersey City,
started with load OF stone from the government
wharf back of the Custom House, for Race Rock,
where the foundation for the new lighthouse Is now
being laid. When about twenty rods from the
dock she exploded her boilers with tremendous
concussion scattering the fragments in all direc-
tons and dealing death and fearful injuries upon
the unfortunate crew. There were on board at the
time thirteen men, all OF whom excepting the cap
tain, were more or less injured-several fatally.
CAPTAIN SCOTT LEAPED OVERHEARD
immediately and escaped with little or no iniurys
Two OF the crew missing, and one, at least, ia
known to be killed. There is hope that the other
was not on board. Fragments OF the boilers were
hurled into the air ana carried a hundred rods from
the scene OF the explosion The tug sunk mmcdi-
aely and boats put or from the shore to the wreck
to render whatever assistance possible. The
injured Of the crew were brought ashore and taken
into the Custom House, which Collector George II.
Marshal converted into an hospital and where the
best medical aid OF the town was summoned to the
aid Of the unfortunate men, The character of the
wounds inflicted is frightiul the hot steam and
fragments of the exploded boiler making drcadfuI
work.
LIST OF KILLED, MISSING AND INJURED.
The following is O list OF the crew, and their njur
res as far as ascertaned:-
Daniel Allison, fireman, killed; and as yet no
traces Of him have been found. He was probably
blown to pieces, as he was in the engine room at
the time. He belonged in Manahawken, N. J.
Lawrence Black, missing. He is also supposed to
have been killed, but there Is a possibility that he
was not on board.
Joseph Waters, steward, Sandy Hill, n. j.; badly
scalded and otherwise injured by contusons
j. W. Crammer, Manahawken, N. j.. leg broken
in two places, badly bruised, but no scalds.
Napoleon Crammer, from the same place; badly
scalded and bruised.
George Brickley spine injured and badly cut
about the legs.
Harry Pasco, New York; legs hurt.
william whitley engineer, Jersey City, fatally in
jured, with scalds and bruises.
Other members OF the crew escaped with com.
paratively slight injury, and none OF them are sup
posed to be dangerously hurt. Everything was
done for the injured that could be, and during the
| forenoon all but the engineer were removed from
| the Custom House to more quiet quarters. The
| injuries OF the unfortunate engineer are OF such
character that his rer.oval was not attempted.
Among those rendering valuable aid were Col
| lector Marshal and the medical fraternity OF New
London. Captain Scott also did everything In hia
| power for his unfortunate crew. A boat from the
cutter James Campbell, Captain warner went to
the assistance OF the sufferers Immediately after
the accident and rendered valuable assistance.
\ the Killed and missing have
not been recovered and the services Of diver
| viii be needed to recover them. The Wallace was
what is called boom derrick lighter, and had two
locomotive boilers on board both Of which blew up.
| There is no cause assigned for the explosion,
The certificate OF the Wallace probably went down
with her; but the following letters, picked up by the
boat OF the cutter Campbell show that she had been
recently inspected =
THE IssrEcrroN CERTIFICATES
Captain r. A. scorr New London, Conn
DEAR SRThc inspecors send word that the Inspections
done Mondy and the documents shall 60 to you at New
London as soon as received send you y2IT snremen
/ per +. II. SMITH.
Capt. r. A. scorr, New London, Conn =
DEAE slEEnclosed please tnd inspectors eertihcats
Yours truly, FRANCIS ii. SMITH.
These letters seem to snow that the boilers Of the
tug were all right last month, and the cause Of the
explosion is, therefore, a mystery. The wreck lies
| on bar, in about ten feet Of water, and can be
raised by removing her load OF stone
! The accident has occasiohed a tremendous excite
| ment here, and the Custom House, docks and other
places are thronged with spectators. II Is thought
now ten A. NJ that the unfortunate engineer cam
not live the day out. Everything that can be done
for the unfortunate sufferers is being done by the
people here.