Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-06-30
Further Details of the May Queen Ex-
plosion Saturday.
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
A Cracked and Rotten Boiler and Grim
inal Incompetency.
THE DEATH TRAPS RETAINING.
Grave Doubts Expressed as to Other
MinnetOnka Boats.
THE CONDITION OF THE VICTIMS.
All Alive and Apparently Recovering
Excepting Engineer Haines.
lSpecial Telegram to the Globe. |

Special Telegram to the Globe.
EXCELSIOR, June 29.-The feeling Of in
tense sorrow and gloom that followed the
frightful disaster of yesterday, was partially
dissiPated to- day when the inhabitants OF
Excelsior and surroundings were informed
through the very complete account givsn in
this mornings GLOBE, that none of the pas
sengers on the Inflated boat had been killed
outright, while the list of actual
casualties was smaller than many supposed.
Full details of the horrible explosion have
been industriously collected to-day, and in
order that the readers of the GLOBE may
properly understand and appreciate the ma
ture and extent of the disaster, an extended
and Clrcumstantial account of the unfortu-
nate affair is herewith given. The May
Queen, commanded by Capt. Rockwell,
started from Excelsior on all excursion trip
about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, having
on board the
FOLLOWING NAMED EXCURs1ONIsTs:
Isaac Dean and wife, of Mankato.
Miss Anna Huff and her sister May,
Mounds City.
Mr.. and Mrs D. D. Walker, BERTHE Walk
or and mother of Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Beakey,
st. Louis.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. M. Hawthorne and child,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Wright Hawthorne and
two children.
Mrs. S. B. Coudrey, of Faribault.
Mr.. John Giles, of Belle PLANE.
Mr.. F. +. Haines, engineer of the May
Queen
After plying the lake for some time the
May Queen drew up at Rockwell's island,
situated at the upper part of Lake Mime
tonka, about ten miles from Excelsior. A
short stop made at the island when
Capt Rockwell stepped on the bow Of the
boat and gave the command to start, about
twenty minutes to ~ o'clock. One revolu-
ton of tho wheel was made, followed by q
was heard, followed bya
DEAFENING REPORT,
succeeded by the rending of timbers and the
crash of falling debris.
The scene now as compared with that of a
moment before was horrifying and startling
in the extreme, while the contrast was thrill
ingly unique, repellent and amazing. When
the command to clear was given, the bright
sunshine fell on a scene of picturesque and
incompatible natural beauty. The low
forest trees that skirt the borders of the
lake were famed by delight
fully refreshing summer breeze, while
the quiet surge of the waters was contrasted
by the ripping laughter of bevy of radiant
children.
A MIR. Tate, of Milwaukee, sat fishing a
few rods from the boat, and the listless rod
fell into the water in obedience to the as
founding crash of the explosion. Capt. Rock
we'll, who had cheerfully shouted the COM
mand moment before, was lifted from bis feet
and carried to the discarded hull of an adjoin-
ing tug-boat, while Mrs. Walker and family,
who were only separated from Capt. Rock
we'll by the cabin, partition, were carried some
distance from the boat and landed in the
water. Immediately after those present had
sufficiently recovered from the shock to re-
allZe the
FORCE OF THE CALAMITY,
willing hearts and hands were at work to
care for the victims and to alleviate their
sutIerings.
No thought was. at first taken of the origin
OF the explosion, nor was any attempt then
made by those present to seek for cause,
the first efforts being solely confined in
ascertaining the nature and extent of human
suffering DR.. Perkins, who had been fish
ing near by, was early on hand, and FORE
most to render skillful aid to the injured.
The following ladies and gentlemen, pas
sengers on the boat, who escaped without
serious injury aside from the nervous pros
&rofio 1>x,
with the residents of Rockwell island, we're
active and interchangeable in giving assistance
to tho wounded: Mr.. and Mrs. D. M. Haw-
thorne, Mr.. and Mrs. Wright Hawthorne,
Mr.. Walker, Mrs. Coudrey and Drs. Perkins
and Sewall.
The names of the wounded are as fol-
lows: Capt. A. H. Rockwell, commander of
the May Queen; w. F. Haines, engineer;
Isaac Dean and wife, Mrs. D. D. Walker,
Mrs. Beakey, aud the Misses Huff. Capt.
Rockwell and Engineer Haines were picked
up in an ap arently ifeless condition and
taken to Capt. Rockwell's residence on the
Island, where they were properly cared for,
the full extent of their injuries being given
below.
The remaining passengers who we're
wounded were taken to hotel situated on
the bluff short distance from where the ex-
ploslon took place, where they were given
medical aid,and the attentions Of kind friends
was rendered During the afternoon Mr.. and
Mrs. Dean, Mrs. Beakey and Mr. and Mrs.
D. D. Walker were conveyed to Excelsior,
the Misses Huff being taken to their home at
Mounds City.
Five of the nine sufferers, including Mr..
Walker, who was slightly bruised on the
limbs, are comfortably quartered at Excel
sior,. under the medical supervision of
DR.. Eli Small, and with ono exception the
parties are all doing we'll.
Mr.. Isaac Dean sustained s, we're bruisa
on the thcrax and slight injury to the left
eye, his condition to-day being quite easy,
With every hope OF q speedy recovery.
The injuries sustained by Mrs. Dean, aside
from prostration caused by the shock, were
exceedingly slight, ana her health to- day is
rep orted almost as well as usual.
During, the Excitement it was thought that
MIR. Walker had escaped without injury, but
subsequent examination showed that he had
sustained several painful bruises On the leg.
Mr.. WALKERS STATEMENT.
AE. D, D. Walker and family, of st. Louis,