The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-06
LAKE DISASTER,
Explosion of an Excursion steamers
Boiler.


DETROIT, September 5,-The excursion
steamer Alaska, OF the Detroit and Putin.
Bay Line, when a 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 deckhand
and seriously scaldfng ten other deck.
hands, two fatally, but Of the large mum.
Der OF passengers only one was injured,
and that one slightly. The steamer City
Of Detroit, which was but a short distance
from the Alaska at the time oil the Rccis
dent, Immediately went to her assistance
and took of the passengers Of the steamer
10 Ameersburg, near the mouth OF the
river. Only the upper works OF the steam.
er suffered. The amount OF loss is not
known at present.
Tho Alaska left here at 0 o'clock this
morning with full crew, excepting Chief
Engineer Wray, who was sick and remain
ed at home. The passenger list was quite
light, owing to the cool weather. After
stopping at Amherstburg for coal she put
out into Lake Erie. A few miles from the
mouth Of the river and Just off the bar
point the Captain passed the engine room
and noticed that the steam gauge showed
forty.two pounds OF steam. A few min,
uteslater o dull thud was heard, followed
by a heavy conclusion and tremendous
rush OF steam.
It was ascertained that the steam
dome had exploded, also tearing out the
interior OF the boiler. The steam filled
Na HHaa nd R1 Il
Engineers John and Charles A. Stevens
and fireman John Boyd were missing, and
1t Is supposed that they must have been
horribly scalded and jumped overheard
and their bodies Immediately sank.
One OF the deck hands was badly sCald-
ed and in frenzy to escape sprung into
the water, but was picked up by small
boat shortly after. The steamer City OF
Detroit was short distance behind the
Alaska and went to her assistance and
towed her to Amherstburg, where she was
met by the United States steamer Fes-
senden, which brought her to this city,
arriving this evening with the wounded
who were all removed to the marine
hospital, where everything possible was
done to relieve their sufFerings.
The following is a list OF the wounded:
Alvin Clark, clerk, scalded about the face;
VIM. Horning, passenger Of Catawaley
Island, horribly scalded about the face and
hands and one eye apparently burned
out; James Clark (colored) a deck hand,
hands and face severely burned; Charles
Talbot (coloredl a deck hand, face badly
scalded; John johnson, the colored cook,
skin Of the face all peeled off and hands
and arms badly scalded; Amos Burgess,
also colored cook, head, hands and arms
scalded; ]. Wier (colored) deck hand badly
scalded in the face, skin all peeled of and
flesh apparently boiled. John Sekey and
Geo. Gibson, ,colored, deck hands were con-
siderably burned about the face and hands.
One lady passenger had her hands con-,
siderably cut by trying to escape from the |
cabin through broken window.
The Alaska is new boat, owned by W.
0. Ashley and ]. P. Clarke, of this city.
The amount Of damage sustained by the
explosion cannot be given as yet, but will
probably be about eight or ten thousand
dollars.