The New York herald., 1879-09-23
FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.
FOUR MEN INSTANTLY KILLED AND ONE Sc
RIOUSLY INJURED.

hiOUoLI lNJUhED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
CHICAGO Sept. %. 1879.
This forenoon. on Lake Michigan. and just off the
city. terrible disaster occurred. one whose fatal
results exceeds anything that has occurred in this
vicinity for nine years. By it four human beings
were blown to atoms. two families bereft of
protectors and two recently made wives made
widows. and last of all. screw propeller
in an instant sent to the bottom Of the lake, while
only one man. who was on the Ill-fated craft was
left to tell the story of the catastrophe, and
his statement Is SO meagre that very little more
than conjecture can be arrived at concerning the
cause Of the disaster The particulars OF the awful
affair necessarily lacking, every person con-
nected with 1t who in any way able to explain
the situation scattered to the four winds by the
terrific force of the escaping steam. Those who were
on neighboring craft at the time and who were
conversant with the operations of the ill-fated
tug up to the time of the explosion, give
these statements:-The tug Charles W. Parker.
Captain Robert Leary, Of the Vessel Owners
Towing Company's line, left her dock at the
foot of Franklin street at five O'Clock this morning.
in company with the tug E. P. Ferry. and some
other craft of tho samc line bound for the lake to
look after tows. The special destination Of the
Parker and the Ferry to the north. as they had
been directed to intercept ana bring into port the
barges Of the propeller Favorites tow, which left
Menomenee at two o'clock Saturday morning.
heavily laden with lumber for Chicago. long trip
was necessitated before the two tugs
up with the objects Of their search, and it
after eight O'Clock when they given
a line away north Of the city, and commenced
leisurey to pull for home The Parker took hold Of
the barge s. A. Woods and started ahead. the Ferry
taking another vessel. following Immediately after
her.
THE EXPLOSION.
Nothing worthy Of note occurred until the Parker
and her consort were off Lincoln Park ut about half
past nine O'Clock, when the noise of tremendous
explosion rent the air. and the people the barge
and tug Ferry saw through the deep fog which pre-
vailed at the time pieces of the wreck Of what
had been but moment bofore the tug Parker.
flying through the air. The hull of the Parker went
down like shot, while dark mass fell ON the
ters about the distance Of half block away from
the spot where the explosion had occurred. Tho
Ferry at dropped the line Of her tow and made
for this object. which proved to be Henry MCGUIRE
the Parkers deck hand He was still alive. but terri
bly, lacerated On the left side of his head deep
CASH. resembling hole bored obliquely into the
fesh was discovered Splinters were sticking into
all parts of his body Nevertheless, he
conscious and owing to the careful attention that he
received from the crew OF the Ferry he was soon
able to talk little, bnt could toll very little about
the accident. In fact he hardly guessed what had
occurred.
MaUIRE's STATEMENT.
He said that he was sitting at tho extreme stern
end of the boat. when he felt himself lifted up by
irresistible force and thrown violently into
the water where he picked up. To the fact that
he sitting far away from the boiler is ascribed
his miraculous escape. Nothing Of the
other members Of the ana the impression is
that their bodies were torn into fragments.
THE KILLED.
Those known to be killed are:-
ROBERT LEARY. captain of the boat.
WILLIAM BURTON steward.
JOHN CALLAGHAN. engineer. and
JOHN +. ROGERS, fireman.
Robert Leary was married and leaves q widow and
one child. William Burton, the steward, was mar
ried. He leaves wife, but no children. John Cal
laghan, the engineer. single man and lived in
this city. John p. Rogers, the fireman. was q single
man and also resided III this city,
The tug Ferry brought MCGUIRE to port
at half-past ten A. N. He was ut placed
in a hack and driven to the Marine Hospital. His
wounds are not necessarily fatal. but that he will
live Is fact that is by no means assured. The
of the life saving service at manned their
life boat and started out for the Of the disaster
to fnd what they could of the dead men. The
life boat itself in mourning on account of the
accidental drowning Of of its crew. who fell off
tho pier near the life saving station last night.
VESSEL.
The tug Charles W. Parker was a screw propeller
of thirty tons burden. She built at Buffalo in
1870 and was valued at about $1,000. She always
looked upon very stanch craft. and the accident
to-day Is not easily accounted for. She in
spected by the local steamboat last spring
and her boilers pronounced to be In first class
shape.