Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-11

on Saturday evening, Inc alarming
news was rapidly circulated that the
towboat Iron Valley had exploded her
boilers when at point in the river
opposite New Cumberland, Hancock
county, sacrificing several lives and
rendering the vessel total loss. The
widest reports were heralded about,
placing the loss of life at from five TO
nine persons, until reliable information
could be obtained. From various
private dispatches and other equally
reliable sources, we are enabled to
present the following
COMPLETE REPORT:
About six o'clock on Saturday morn
ing the Iron Valley left this port for
Pittsburgh, with four barges in tow,
three empties and one OF limestone. She
was in command of Captain William
Prince, with w. w. Wise in charge OF
the wheel and James K. Davis at the
engine. Thomas Prince, son OF the
captain, was clerk, John Gillespie was at
the furnace and some three or four 9TH
ers constituted the crew. A landing was
made at Steubenville, where the barge
of limestone was left and one OF pig iron
substituted, and the boat continued on
her upward wav. At $50 o'clock, when
opposite New Cumberland, about thirty
five miles above here,
TIE BOILERS EXPLODED
with terrific crash, one following the
other in quick succession. The forward
part of the boat was converted into a
total wreck and the fragments scattered
far and wide. One smokestack was
whirled into the air, and, passing over
the town OF New Cumberland, landed
on the hillside, a half mile from the
scene. The other was rent to pieces
and fell into the water. The boilers
were torn asunder, part Of one being
thrown upon the beach in advance, and
the other nowhere TO be seen. The
pilot house was literally blown into
matches, while most OF the after portion
OF the boat was left intact. The hull
sank almost Immediately in nine feet OF
water, at the foot Of the bar.
Fortunately, most OF the crew were
forward on the tow and escaped unhurt.
The ill-starred pilot, Wal. Wise, was
blown to atoms, and will probably never
be found. A young man named Pros
ser, a resident Of New Cumberland, was
in the cabin with Tom Prince, settling
up some business, and both, 1t Is
thought, were almost Immediately over
the boilers when the crash took place.
Prosser was blown into the air and Tell
upon one of the barges, crushed and
dead. Prince must have fallen upon the
water, rs his body has not yet been re,
covered, but he was, beyond a doubt
killed instantly.
The sound OF the explosion was heard
and the shock felt all about the neigh
borhOod, and in short time the banks
were line! with spectators, but darkness
soon lell and curtained the dreadful
scene from sight Everything possible
Was done TO assist the survivors, and
the body OF Prosser was taken to his
home. Davis, the engineer, who was
but slightly injured, claims that the
boilers had sufIicienCy OF water in
them at tine time of the accident. The
cause, then, cannot be told until an in
ves,igation, which will inevitably fol
low, shall have been held.
THE IRON VALLEY
was built at this city in 1873, under
direction OF Captain Thomas Prince, 10y
Wilson q Dunlevy, and was the last
vessel from their yard. The boilers and
machinery were furnished by Messrs
Sweeney & Son, of North Wheeling
The vessel cost $4,000 and was owned
by Thomas Prince, Samuel Kuglen and
William Prince. Two weeks ago, the
former sold out to the two latter, the
boat being then valued at $1,000. Capt
Thomas Prince then bought the Coal
Bluff, No. >, but determining to "un'
load" his boat stock, sold her to Captain
Cole, OF Marietta, a well.known river
man. The Iron Valley carried
No INSURANCE
whatever, and will therefore be a total
loss.
At this writing nothing additional has
been received from the wreck. The
IIeatheringtOn passed down, but had
learned nothing on account OF the dark
ness which enveloped everything.
John Prince went up Yesterday on the
Nail City and Samuel kuglen on the
Katie Stockdale. Inspector Wilson and
Capt. Tom Prince will 20 up on the early
train this morning, and will bring down
full particulars in the evening.
Last evening We called upon Capt.
Hiram Young, one OF our Local lnspec-
tors. to hear what he might have to say
or theory to advance on the subject. He
had received no information beyond that
in the Sunday press.
"What do you know OF her boilers,
Captain"
They were subjected to the required
test on the 2nd of last May, and which
was very satisfactory. The fact that
she was running was a sufficient guar
antee that her boilers were all right.
"IIave you any theory in regard to
the cause of the explosion
To this question, the Captain re-
sponded very emphatically, as follows:
"Ifthe causes OF explosions had not
been reduced TO a science, | might as
well resign my position. Explosions
never occur from an excess of pressure,
but alrdyS from lack OF water in the
boiler. A rupture may follow from
heavy pressure, but that is quite differ
ent from an explosion. have seen
ruptures and know the difference. But
such an explosion as this is dllrdw
caused by want OF water in the boilers
The law is based on that fact, and if it
were not so, the law is useless. have
always said the same thing in my re-
ports, some eight of them, aud when
the time comes TO change my reports,
then it is time for me 10 resign
LATER.
Since writing the above, we learn that
CAPTAIN William Prince and his brother
John have arrived from the wreck. No
trace of the missing bodies can be found.
and il is their opinion that they were
blown to pieces. Captain Princes YER
sion OF the catastrophe is in accordance
with the above account.
A Shortened Course.
On Saturday morning, when the
telegraph announced through the press
of this city, the extraordinary time made
in the regatta on the Hutton course,
many doubts were expressed on the
of things. The apparent
mystery is explained by the following,
from yesterdays Pittsburgh Leader: