Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-18

Iore entering the trade again. IL is
said that the
BOILERS WERE FAULTY,
And too old for use, but according to
! MIR. Rufus Allison's account they had
not been used more than nine or ten
! years, while the boilers are generally
| considered safe for twelve wears. And
then Capt. Jake Fritts was thorough
river man, and it Is not likely that he
would have risked his own or the lives
OF his crew on any boat unless he had
been thoroughly satisfied that the boil
ers and everything aboutthe boat were
safe. Again, some will charge that it
Is Attributable to the
NEGLIGENCE OF THE ENGINEER,
But he reports that few minutes be-
| fore the explosion he had only ITO
pounds of steam, and plenty of water,
and hence can not account for the &C
cident. He has been on the river a
number of years, and for several years
has had engineers license. Captain
Fritts, himself, understood how to run
an engine, and was a good pilot, hav-
ing license for either position, hence
did not employ but one pilot and one
engineer, relieving them occasionally.
The engineer was "A sober man, and we
have never heard of him being drunk
Indeed, Captain Fritts would not en-
ploy a man whom he did not know to
be perfectly sober. We understand
that Capt. Sam. Harris, the
STATE INSPECTOR OF BOILERS,
Has been sent for, and will examine
into the whole matter. In the mean
time the cause of the explosion will
remain IA mystery, if indeed it is then
unraveled.
WHEN AND WHERE IT TOOK PLACE.
The explosion took place at the
Washington Landing, on the Tennes-
see River. about half way between
Chattanooga and Kingston. The City
of Knoxville had transferred her down
river cargo to the Hugh Martin at
Kingston, aud that boat was on its way
to Chattanooga.
They had landed at Washington
Landing, and were about ready to
leave, when the Captain noticed col
ored man approaching with a bucket
of water. He told him to hurry up
and get aboard as they were ready to
start, and with that he started to-
wards the pilot house
IN HIS SHIRT SLEEVES,
And it was thought that he was about
between the two smobe-stacks when
the explosion took place. He was
never found again, although thor
Ough search has been made Up to
the latest news no discovery was made.
His watch was found on the bank, but
! it was, in all probability. in his cabin
with his coat and vest. The ferryman
says that he saw man
GOING UP IN THE AIR
With his arms outstretched until he
appeared as small as bird, but could
not tell where he landed when he
came down, as he was so
much excited and fragments of the
boat were falling all around that man
would naturally look more after him-
self than any one else.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Only three are known to be killed,
Capt. Jake Fritts, colored man and a
boy standing on the wharf. A survey
or of the Cincinnati Southern was
supposed to be killed, but he was after
wards found, having been blown out
of his berth on the bank. Henry Fritts,
the clerk, was blown into the river ana
had his shoulder seriously injured
John Henson, pilot, was lying in his
berth asleep, and was blown 80 feet in
to the river, and was badly hurt. His
matron was VIM. Hood. The mate
was blown out into the river and had
his leg broke, and serious cash about
the head. One Cfhls eyes is thought
to be out. Capt. Joseph Smith, from
Kingston, was blown out of his berth
and lodged against the hog-chain over
the engine room. Seven or eight deck
passengers and hands were severely in
Ijured-principall broken legs and
arms. Mr.. Graves, his wife and sister,
on their way to Iowa, were back in the
ladies' department and consequently
sustained no injuries of consequence
little shocked. The engineer was in
the engine room and received no se>
rious injuries, being protected by the
freight.
THE WOUNDED
Were at once provided for. Those liv-
ing in the neighborhood of Kingston,
and who could be removed, We're taken
to their homes by the r. NJ. Bishop,
which arrived at the scene shortly af-
ter, and the others were removed to
Washington Court House, a mile from
the landing, and the Court House was
turned into a hospital. Physicians
were at once called in, and all got atten-
tion as soon as possible.
THE WRECK.
The entire forepart of the boat is a
total wreck, and the boat broke in the
middle and sunk in about four feet of
water. The back part of the boat is
not torn up so, the freight being piled
up between the boiler and the engine
room saved the engineer and that end
of the boat, as well as the ladies in the
cabin, who who were right over the
engine room.
THE FREIGHT
Consisted of 400 sacks of corn, 1870 sacks
of -four, 500 or 600 bushels of wheat,
and large quantity of miscellaneous
freight, much of which had been trans
ferred from the city of Knoxville,
which boat we understand is respon-
sible for the same.
HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED.
A courier at once started for Kings
ton on horseback and arrived there
Sunday evening at o'clock, where
the sad news was told to Capt. Fritts'
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