The New York herald., 1879-08-28
SCALDED TO DEATH.

THE FIREMAN OF THE TUG ESSEX KILLED BY THE
EXPLOSION or THE BoILED-THE ENGINEEn
DANGEROUSLY INJURED.
The boiler OF the tug Essex exploded two o'clock
yesterday morning at the dock foot Of Clinton street.
causing tho death Of the fireman. Leander Fuller.
and dangerously scalding Joseph senery. the enei-
neer. At the time Of the explosion there four
men on board the tug-the engineer tho fireman. the
pilot. William Hogan. and the cook. Thomas Dun
nigan. The Essex has been employed in the He'll
Gate towing feet. and at the time ct the accident
WAS getting up steam to proceed to the foot
Of Pike street to take In water. It ap-
pears that the pilot was in the aft
part of the cabin asleep. the fireman standing be-
hind the boiler aud the engineer in the boiler
when the crash came. The steam drum was blown
clean or the boiler and through the aperture there
by caused. and through the broken back connec-
ton. the steam escaped in dense cloud and poured
into tho engine room. feeble moan from the de-
molished boiler room told the story of tho irenan's
sunorings. The pilot was comparatively uninjured.
but for the moment he was prosrated by the shock.
Hearing the moans Of the fireman he went to his
rescue and succeeded utter running great risk, In
carrying Fuller place of safety. - like
The cook escaped uninjured.
DEATH THE FIREMAN.
The wounded men, whose cries and piteous ap-
peas for assistance were heartrending. removed
in ambulances to the Chambers Street Hospital.
whore Fuller died about six A. NJ The engineer
so badly scalded about the face and neck that his
features were terribly bloated He subsequently
taken to the New 1ork HOSPITAL, Wnen condition
was reported to be precsrious. Ho Is twenty-five
years Of age and resides vt No. II Henry street. Full
Ter was about thrtytwo years old and lived at No.
80 East Broadway. The hreman's young wife learned
Of his terrible tate shortly after his DEATH and her
paroxysms OF grief were heartrending to witness.
Deputy Coroner Miller viewed the remains OF the
fireman, and. after hearing the testimony Of tho
attendant physician as to the of death, granted
burial certificate.
Before the removal Of the engineer to the New
York Hospital he said there was plenty Of water In
the boiler and not over forty pounds Of steam ON
when the explosion occurred. In his opinion tho
ofthe explosion was the 'back action" caused
by tho rushing OF cold water from the steam pipe
into the steam drum. The particular cause of the
explosion could not be ascertained. The pilot
states that there water left in the boiler
after the accident to show that the fault did
not lie there. The valves aud other apparatus for
gsuging the height of the water in good work
ing order and properly recorded the pressure Of
the steam.
The master Of the steamtuQ is Mr.. David Harris.
the tug being the property OF the Central Railroad
Of New Jersey. She was built in Newburg IN 1894.
her burden being "a. .63 tons. Her certificate of in
spection Is signed by j. b. Webb inspector Of hulls,
and Alexander Cauldwell. inspector OF boilers and
states that she was inspected November III. 1878.
The certificate allowed sixty pounds pressure to the
square nch but she carried forty pounds.
The license of the engineer is signed by John K.
boats Of 100 tons burden and under. He has the
reputation Of being capable and careful man.
Mr.. Matthew's OF the Board OF Local Inspectors Of
Steamboats,. visited the tug yesterday and from his
examination and statements made to him he is Of
opinion that the explosion must have been caused
by low water in the boiler An official inquiry will
be made by the Board of Inspectors.