Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-06
STEMBOAT EXPLOSION.
Three Persons Killed and Sever
al Injured.

DETROIT, Mich, September 5.-The
excursion steamer Alaska, OF the De-
troit and Put-in-Bay line, while few
miles from the mouth of the river, in
lake Erie, on her way down, at eleven
o'clock this forenoon, exploded the
dome OF her boiler, instantly killing
both engineers and one deck hand and
seriously scalding ten other deck hands,
two fatally, but of the large number
OF passengers only one was injured, and
that slightly. The steamer City OF De-
troit, but short distance from the Alas
ka at the time OF the accident, immedl-
ately went to her assistance and took
off the passengers and crew OF the steam
er to Ameersburg, near the mouth OF
the river. Only the upper works OF the
steamer suffered. the loss is not known
at present
The Alaska left here at Q o'clock this
morning with full crew, excepting
chief engineer Wray, who was sick and
remained at home. The passenger list
was quite light, owing to the cool
weather. After stopping at Amberts-
burg for coal, she put out iuto Lake
Erie. A few miles from the mouth OF
the river, and just off the bar point, the
captain passed the engine room and no.
ticed that the steam gauge showed forty
two pounds OF steam. A few minutes
later a dull thud was heard, followed
by heavy conclusion and a tremen-
dOus rush of steam. Ii was soon ascer-
tained that the steam dome had eX-
ploded, tearing out the interior of the
boiler. The steam filed the fire and en-
CINE rooms and the main deck. Engi-
neers John and Charles A. Stevens and
fireman John Boyd were missing, and
it is supposed that they must have been
horribly scalded and jumping over
board the bodies Immediately sank.
One OF the deck hands was badly
scalded, and in his frenzy to escape
sprang into the water, but was picked
up by a small boat Immediately after.
The steamer City of Detroit was short
distance behind the Alaska and went TO
her assistance, towing her to Amherst
burg, where she was met by the United
States steamer Fessenden, which
brought her 10 this city,
arriving here this evening with
the wounded, who were all removed to
the Marine Hospital, where everything
possible was done to relieve their suffer
ings.
The following is list of the wounded
Alvin Clark, clerk. scalded about the
face; VIM. HOrning, passenger, of Cata-
waby Island, horribly scalded about the
face and hands, and one eye apparently
burned out; James Clark, (colored) deck
hand, hands and face severely burned;
Chas. Talbot, (colored) deck hand hand,
badly scalded; Sohn Johnson, (coloredl
cook, skin of face all peeled off, and
hands and arms badly scalded; Amos
Burgess, (colored) cook, head, hands
and arms badly scalded; Joseph
Wier, (colorcd) deck hand, horribly
scaled in the face, the skin all pealed off
and the flesh apparently boiled. John
5. Key and Geo. Gibson, colored deck
hands, were considerably burned about
the face and hands. One lady had her
hands considerably cnt by trying to
escape from the cabin through broken
window. The Alaska is a new boat and
was owned bv W.. o. Ashley and j. j.
Clarke of this city. The amount OF
damage sustained by the explosion can
not be given as yet, but will probably be
about $1,000 or $4,000.