The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-08-25

bell and Riley Burton.
To-day a number of citizens and
physicians, with a number OF ladies,
went to the wreck, ten miles below here
on the steamer Phil Allen, to render all
needed assistance. AS yet it has been
impossible to get a list Of the killed, as
the back cabin, with the office, was
blown to atoms.
LATER.
From the officers OF the steamer Wolf
now on the steamer Julia, we learn
few facts regarding the explosion not
mentioned previously. Captain Garter
who is badly burned on the back, thighs
and hands and who was injured about
the head somewhat, but who is doing
well and in all likelyhood will soon re-
cover from his injuries, states that
when the explosion occurred he was in
his room in bed, but didn't hear the
noise of the guage cocks as stated BY g
former dispatch. He was blown come
sixty feet in the air straight up, and fell
upon the forecsstle just forward OF the
steps where the burning air from the
ex ploded boilers had full play on
him, and that lie was rescued
from his perilous position by colored
chambernaid, Lizzie Thompson, who
not only carried him from the debris
and burning air, but rescued and per-
haps saved the lives OF three other Of
ficers; Carter, Donohue and Eddie
Widen; by eXtricating them one after
another from their positions, and her
self escaped unhurt. These noble acts
Of the colored heroine, deserve more
than passing notice, and to her the gents
named, informed me that they owe ev-
erything. Donohue's leg WAS not
broken, as first stated, but merely
spraned, and he with Captain Carter,
are doing splendidly on mattresses IN
Julias cabin.
Lizzie Thompson attending upon
both, night and day. Eddie Widen was
in the pilot house when the crash came,
as also was Pilot John Carnahsn, both
of whom suffered some. Eddie has q
sprained arm and Carnabau a bad cut
over his right eye. Both are up and
about. Clerk Widen had his leg hurt
.lud is bruised about the head but other
wise is all right. Bower, fret pilot, was
.rst going off his watch and had turned
ne wheel over to Donahue and was
wing down on bench when the explo-
sion occurred Upon awaking he found
pile OF debris covering him,
the, texas having been lifted
badly and carried intothe air some die"
tance and landed with almost q COM
plete somersault at the stern OF the
beat with all the crew that we're in it
at the time. II. F. McCafery, stew
ard, acted nobly in his endeavo7s to
save life, and was of much assistance 10
the Clerk, Mr.. Widen in extinguishing
the fire that caught in the wood and
coal bunker5. As near as can be ssCer-
tanned there were seven whites and
eight negroes lost. Scarcely one OF the
passengers or crew would have been
left TO tell the tale had
the boilers exploded when full
of steam as it was, each Of them
let 20 at the same instant and no piece
OF either is left that will weigh three
hundred pounds so strong was the pres
sure. But strange to say no one was
injured by flying fragments. The mud
drum also exploded and was blown to
shreds, which proves beyond q doubt
that the water in the boilers got below
the lower guage cock.
Full ten or fifteen minutes before the
collapse occurred, in fact, the steward
states that he tried the hot water
cock in the kitchen, and got nothing
but steam. The chambermaid tried the
laundry faucet five minutes before the
explosion occurred with the same re-
suit. She started then to inform the
captain OF the fact, but changed her
mind and did not 60. The second engi-
neer, John Depler, who by his careless
ness and neglect u.hered 80 many souls
into eternity, was seen to try the gauges
and then run to the side OF the boat
and jump into the river, and was seen
by parties on shore swimming down
stream, and towards shore before the
accident occurred aud without doubt |
escaped to the woods. lie has p wife !
aud children living in St. Louis and up
to the time OF the disaster was Consd- !
cred q careful and competent nan. As
far as known the loss Of life amounts |
to seven whites, named IN previous dis
patches, and eight negroes. Those now |.
on the Julia and going to St. Louis are
the Captain, first clerk, eecond pilot, |
cabin crew and Mrs Frisbe and daugh-
ter, and Miss Fields, of Shreveport |
On the way to Burlington the conduct |
OF the officers is spoken Of in the high
est terms by the passengers aud the |.
officers state that but for the GOODNESS |
OF the passengers they all would have
been lost.
At the time the Wol! exploded her T.
three boilers she Was in the middle OF |
the stream just north of St. Francis !
river with a light cargo, in fact nothing |
but few bales OF cotton and light |
freight, and all or nearly all her caoin |
passengers having flashed dinner some |
time before, were sitting on the boiler
deck, these included with those already |
named, Miss Fields and Mrs. Frisb,e !
aud daughter, ten years old, from
Shreveport, and Mr.. Nelson, of this city, |
making the cabin list number fourteen
souls, FIVE ladies' six men and three
children. While they were talking a
heavy rain storm came up and they
were about to start for the cabin when
with a terrific crash the three boilers
exploded simultaneously. The deck on
which they were opening and part OF
them were thrown sixty feet in the 81.
coming down in the river among the .
debris and falling timber from the (
wreck, while those in the at cabin or
near the partition Of the boa: were 10:
injured.
Amonpt the suryivin- nezsprCe-= ~ q,