Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-13
THE TIGRESS DISASTER,
Further Particulars.


St. John, Newfoundland special has the
following:
Since her return from the expedition in
Baffin's Bay, in search of the Buddington and
the Inflated Polaris, the Tigress has been
considered a sort of marine prodigy, an object
of reverence to fishermen hereabouts, owing
to her marvellous escapes from the bergs and
hurricanes which she then encountered en-
the northwest coast Of Greenland. After the
Polaris matter had been disposed of, she was
fitted out for seal fishing trip and was re-
when the terrible disaster already reported
deprived her of all steam facilities.
This Friday morning had an interview
with Capt. Bartlett of the whaling steamer
Panther, which brought the intelligence. He
did not think there was any doubt but the
Tigress would reach land in safety, as he did
not believe tire vessel was materially injured
by the bursting of the boiler. Captain Bart
let's statement:
On Friday. the Sd inst, the Panther was in
Ion. 81. Is west, lat. 1929 north, on her re-
turn to st. John. The lookout reported the
steamer apparently moving only under sail.
AS we approached her it was discovered that
she had her flags at half mast. Subsequent
ly, and after signalling her. ordered boat
to be lowered and went on board myself,
when discovered her to be the Tigress. Her
captain and chief officers were on deck when
l went on board. I was then informed that
on Thursday, April 2d, at two o'clock in the
afternoon, the Vessel was shaken all over ty
q terrible explosion of her boiler, which crea-
ted great terror and confusion, as the escaped
steam completely enveloped every compart-
ment below. In consequence, all steam faciIi-
ties had been destroyed, and they had been
under sail against a head wind for twenty
four hours. When reached the deck of the
Tigress, observed number Of men engaged
in carpenter work, making number of pine
boxes. l asked what they were for, and
learned that they were designed for receiving
the bodies of the unfortunate men who had
been killed by the accident.
The Captain of the Tigress said the wealth
was drsadfully cold, with stiff breeze blow
ing and heavy swell on. A number of the
men had gone below after their watch and
had turned IN on top of the boiler for the sake
of warmth. Nineteen of the crew were repos-
ing in this manner when the crash occurred,
and some of them were scalded beyond rec
ognition. The CONSERVATION was fearful. The
two engineers on duty at the time were both
killed.
We left them On the afternoon of the Sd,
making for land under sail and promised TO
report the disaster Immediately on our arriv-
al. l did not ascertain the names of the men
as all of the officers of the Tigress appeared
in great grief aud could give but few particu-
lars.
The above is Captain Bartlett's simple
statement. Since leaving him have learned
that the Tigress had arrived off the coast and
put into Bay Roberts, where in all probabii-
ty she will land her dead and wait for assis-
lance to reach this place, and then we shall
probably receive fuller details.
New York, IL. A Herald special from St.
Johns, Newfoundland, gives the statement
OF Capt. Isaac Bartlett, commander of the
Tigress to her owners. Capt. Bartlett says ::
son Thursday the second of April, at z.
NJ, was standing on the bridge. The YES
sci at that time was slowly steaming through
the ice. All at once saw smoke and steam
issuing from the engine room hatch in great
violence. Personally had felt no shock and
was not aware of an explosion having occurred
until l saw the men rushing up through the
hatcAes. Some one exclaimed, " the boilers
have burst" Amid the scene of excitement,
men ran hther and thither, partly from sur
prise and partly from terror. Three men
jumped overheard but they were subsequent
ly rescued and taken on board the vessel. Ten
men were killed instantly, and eleven others
died in great agony the day following. Among
these were the first and second engineers
The first engineer was native of Dundee,
and the second, named Booth, belonged in
Philadelphia. All the evidence could gath
err from the stokers, coal beavers and assis-
tant tends to show that the fame sheet and
tube plate gave way.
The shock was felt below the deck very
much. as the explosion tended downward. |
am unable to give the specific cause of the
explosion. AT the time the guage indicated
sufiiciency of water, but it is supposed that
the guage was out of order. The boiler was
built in the Philadelphia by Neefe Levy,
and in January last was tested for 100 pounds
pressure to the square inch, the test being
made in the presence of the first engineer and
myself. On the day after the explosion the
steam guags indicated sixty pounds pressure,
and on the day previous there was pressure
Of eighty pounds. All the men killed were
on the top of the boiler at the time. They
were mostly men of poor circumstances, and
leave Borrowing families, for whom j. is pro-
posed here to get up subscription.