The Republican journal., 1872-04-18
Disastrous Tugboat Explosion.

A terrible tugboat explosion occurred
in the North River, near the Cunard dock,
Jersey City, at halt-past five O'Clock Fri
day afternoon. The tugboat Daven-
port was proceeding up the river to the
California dock, having alongside in tow
the four canal boats Rachel King, William
Lord, A. A. Potter and Gautier. The
second and third named were next to the
tugb0at on either side. Just as the boats
were passing tho Cunard dock the boiler
OF the tugboat exploded, sweeping into
the air not only the fragments OF the boat
but the engineer. $ Dexter; the fireman
c. Snyder, James Caullield, and a boy.
whose name IS unknown, AS well as a
boy who was standing on the Rachel King.
and known as "Joe" All these were
drowned. little son of Captain Rock
well, who was on the same canal boat.
was also blown overheard, but was res
cued
When the air was cleared Of smoke and
fragments not a timber OF the tugboat
could be seen except spinters floating
here and there The boats Lord and Pot
ter sank 10 the waters edge, while the
other two tloated as before.
Fortunately for the captain Of the tug,
Frank JaycoX, he was on board the Rachel
King when the explosion occurred. and he
was accordingly saved
Isaac Earles, son of Captain Munro
Earles, of the boat Lord. was thrown
down with great violence by the concus-
sion, sustaining severe decorations on the
face and head. but his injuries are not
considered dangerous. He was attended
10y Dr. Gregory
The unfortunate lad who was blown off
the Rachel King had only been on the
boat about six weeks. His mother is in
Liverpool.
None ot the bodies had been recovered
when darkness set in. Isaac Earles is
the only man living who sustained any
injuries.
The shock of the explosion was telt for
a distance of eight blocks from the dock
The Washington Hotel, on the corner of
Hudson and Grand streets, actually trem-
bled, and the residents of several houses
in Hudson street describe the shock as re-
sembling an earthquake. One of the Jer-
Sey City ferry masters states that he saw
the mass Of debris rising into the air. and
he at once exclaimed that every person on
board was lost Mr. John X Darrag
ma shops in Hohoken, was moving out to
the end Of the Cunard pier, with the in
tenton Of going aboard the William Lord
to see his uncle, Captain Earles, when
the explosion occurred When the smoke
cleared away he saw nothing between the
canal boats but waste He feels thank
tuI 70 Providence that he thus escaped a
dreadful tate by about ten minutes.
The effects Of the explosion on the canal
boats We're very singular. Although not
one Of Them sank they were more Or less
shattered. Those next the tugboat had
portions of their sides carried off The
son Of Captain Rockwell was thrown in
to the water by the conclusion, although
be was On the outer boat-the Rachel
King 50 was the Inflated boy "Joe, $
belonging To the same boat But the
most singular circumstance connected
with the explosion is the reaction that
followed The shock, and which the be-
widered survivors are unable to account
for Stools and benches We're blown from
the outer boat, Rachel King. to the inner
boat. William Lord while on the other
hand, a Box containing three-quarters of
"a ton of coal, was blown otr the William
Lord and across the next BOAT into the
river.
The search for the bodies will be con-
tinued to-day. The inquest will develope
some facts of intense interest 70 the pub
H'. The ola story OF "a rotten boiler
viii be certainly repeated There is one
vitai point ton the Corouer's iury to d.
gest The tugJoat was sold about ten
months aZo for 5000 at Sherif's sale 10
Peter Darling. ant he soon after sold II