The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-15
TIE WESTFIELD AGAIN.
Almost Another Holocaust on One Of the Staten
Island Ferryboats- Ladies Seriously
Hurt-A Steam Pipe Bursts and
Creates Panic-A Meeting To
Be Held To Let the Company
Know Men Are Not Cattle
The Westfeld Still Running.

The wholesome horror engendered in the
public mind against ferryboats In general by
the holocaust board the Westfeld, IN July, 1871
was apparently productive OF some good, inasmuch
as it brought about thorough examination OF
these Uwhited sepulchres." They say, Before the
storm there comes calm, and 1t may be SAID with
equal truth, "After the storm there comes calm"
for this has been eXemplifed in the case OF the
westneld and several other events which have
frightened the public into action for It's own pro-
lection. After all the ferrybOats leaving New
York had been examined and the public
satisfied, nothing more was done and
ferrybOats were left to work out their
own salvation. The average passenger who
believes 1.-The lightning never strikes the same
place twicer would have suspected any boat on the
river to, explode before the Westneld, he having
great faith in the laws of compensation. Notwith-
standing this pleasantly
DELUsIvE BELIEF,
an accident happened on the Westheld yesterday
which might have been almost serious as its pre-
decessor In TACT, IT is almost miracle that no
lives lost, as there were on board, at the time
OF the disaster no less than two Thousand persons
The ferry officials protest an amusing ignorance
OF any accident on their boats and, with ministe-
| rial ceuntenances and conhdence-insprin3 ges-
! lures tell the HERALD reporter that the story of
4 the explosion was false in every particular, and
that they could not for the life Of them, tell why 1t
mad been circulated.
gentleman who was on the westneld on her
eight O'Clock trip from Staten Island gave the fol
EXPLOSION OCCURRED.
few minutes after the Westfeld left Tompkns-
ville-nearly opposite the Light House-a whistng
noise was heard in the lower part OF the boat, ana
in a few minutes all the ladies' who were in the
| lower saloon. came Running up stairs screech!ng
| and painting TWO ladies' from TOmpknsville
tainted Those who were in the upper cabin did
not know what was the mattcr; but The excited
manner OF those from below raised visions OF the
| last catastrophe this boat, and forthwith
! every one ran Tor the deck some making their
| exits through windows and others through
i
| thighs attempted to get through window with a
basket half as large as herself; Her strenuous
\ made most graceful bow with her heels while
4 poised on her head on the deck outside: On re-
! was minus the body OF her basket She then at
| tempted TO get back through the window, which,,
4 by this time crowded with others anxious to
I get out and here she made determined stand, in
4 ssting that she would get in. How well she sue
ceeded the reporters informant did not state Tor
! he ran TO the railing and dropped his little son
down on the main deck and followed him. The
little boys leg was broken ana the fathers ankle
/ In me lam that followed the alarm several ladies'
were crushed; some, whose names could not be
obtained, were seriously bruised, and returned
with their friends on the next boat ron New YORK.
MEN JUMPED FROM THE BOAT
but were taken in again by the deck hands, feeling
| rather chilly alter their bath.
the cause OF the excitement was that some OF the
rubber packing on the pipe JOINT was blown out,
which allowed the steam TO escape, making hor-
ribe noise. The steam was turned or and the
I Westhed continued on her way TO new 1olk Wltu-
/ out further mishap. When she arrived at her sip
| in whitehall street several persons were crushed
! against the ratings by the swarming crowd, eager
/ TO leave the omened tub. and had there been any
\ heavy wagons on board some lives must certainly
have been lost.
The Westhed made her usual trips during the
day. but she carried more freight than passengers.
on one Of her trips she lett the slip with but few
passengers while there fully 300 IN the walt
ing room whose destination was staten Island.
A MEETING TO BE HELD.
wealthy and influential resident OF staten
/ ND INN no N
the intention OF many OF the leading residents OF
\ the island to try and make the company provide
SAFE and comfortable boats for the transportation
pi their passengers. and In they failed to DO
j TINS 10 have their clarIer hrOken.