Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-01-23
BOILER EXPLOSION AT HONG KONG.

BOILER EXPLOSION AT HONG KONG.
Terrible Scenes Of Suffering Among the
Scalded Passengers Of a Chinese
steamship.
China Mail.
"A fearful accident occurred this
morning shortly before eight O'Clock on
board the steamship Yesso (Captain
Ashton belonging to Messrs. Dop~las
Lapralk q Co. The steamer had Just
arrived from the coast ports, and was
oelng safely moored alongside the
wharf. The passengers were all pre-
parlng to leave her, when a loud re-
port was heard and the vessel was
shaken from stem to stern, while large
volumes of steam issued from the fore
hatch and engine-room. A scene of
CONSERVATION and dismay followed, and
as many of the Chinese passengers AS
were able rushed on deck, all who were
forward having been more or less scald
ed. 1t was easy to perceive what had
occurred, and it only remained for the
officers to do what they could to alleyi-
ate the sufferings of the unfortunate
passengers. AS soon as the steam had
cleared away most horrible sight pre.
sented itself. Men were seen Crawling
along the decks fearfully disfigured'
some of them having the skin literally
peeled of their bodies. A large supply
OF OIL was at once procured from
Messrs. Lane, Crawford 4 Co.'S store,
which, together with lint, was literally
supplied to all; chairs were ut once
procured, and the poor patients were
sent as fast rs possible to the Civil Hos.
pltal. Chair after chair was brought on
to the deck Of the steamer, and the
wocful appearance of the poor crea-
lures was most pitiable; many of them
were lifted into the chair a helpless
mass of scalded quivering flesh, and
there was dazed look of unconscious
ness ON many of their faces. Captain
Ashton and the other officers OF the
ship, the police and several gentlemen
did their utmost to facilitate their re-
moval, Dr. Adams being in att ndance
to superintend. After the living were
seen to, the dead were taken up, to the
number of twelve. Most of these
must have been killed instantly, to
judge by the positions in which they
were found-they were nearest to the
fore-hatch when the steam from below
forced itself upward, lifting the hatch
OIL and carrying all before it. One was
found sitting on his luggage, cross.
legged, leaning against the bulkhead,
others were lying on mats and many
had been manned by pieces Of splinter.
cd wood. Strange to say, there was
one family that escaped unscathed
their miraculous escape being in q great
measure due to the presence of mind
of the woman, who shut the door OF
her cabin and this excluded the steam
Two women also, from presence OF
mind or terror, wrapped themselves in
their blankets, and thus saved them.
selves from being scalded. After the
removal of all the unfortunates. the
deck was found strewn with skin Of
legs, feet and hands which had
fallen off entire The number of per
sons scalded is about eighty, including
four Of the crew. OF these sixty-four
we're sent to the hospital, twelve were
dead, and the remainder were only
slightly hurt. The only European in
jured was the second engineer (Mr. w.
Haggat, but his injuries are not con-
sidered serious. The cause of the cata-
strophe was the blowing out of the for
ward end of the starboard boiler, but
we have not learned full particulars
and, probably never will. The boiler
has, we believe, been in use only three
years and seven months.
the steam was, we understand, being
blown down at the time of the explo-
sion, and it is said showed pressure of
not more than fourteen pounds. OF
this, however, at present we need say
nothing. The result of the explosion
was that the upper half of the forward
end Of the boiler was blown away; the
bulkhead made Of diagonal planks and
portions of tea packages being strewn
about the hold. One Of the beams OF
the ship was damaged, having evident
ly been struck by the iron when the
explosion took place. 1t is curious
circumstance that the forward deck, i'm
mediately above the forehold, is seldom
occupied by passengers; but on this
occasion it was the central scene of the
disaster.
The police were most assiduous in
preventing robbery. AT the Govern.
ment Civil Hospital nearly all the navy,
military and civil doctors in the colony
were hard at work, and the Jail Hos.
pital had to be awaited of. Admiral
Hilyar very promptly signaled for med
ical assistance from the ships Of war
and we understand that II. E., the Gov.
ernor visited the hospital, were the
sufferers were being attended to. A
number of the men are at the Tune
Wan Hospital. Several Of the patients