The daily gazette., 1880-12-22
AN ENGINEERS DEATH.
EXPLOSION OF THE TUG MARTHA's
BoILER-THE ENGINEER KILLED.

EXPLOSION OF THE TUG MARTHA's
BoILER-THE ENGINEER KILLED.
The tug Martha laid at the Pusey,
Jones & Co. Is wharf, this morning, all
ready to be overhauled and laid up
for the winter. A few minutes before
seven o'clock she was boarded by the
engineer, Theodore Miller.
What occurred during the next twen-
ty minutes will never be known. The
fire was gong as usual under the
boiler, and it is probable the engineer
stirred it up and put on the draft for
the purpose of getting up steam.
About quarter past seven O'Clock, the
workmen in the yard were startled by
heavy explosion from the Martha,
and one of the men on the steamer
Arbutus on looking up. just caught a
glimpse of the tugs boiler and smoke
stack disappearing in the water in the
middle of the Christiana. At the
same time shower of splinters and
broken timbers around the yard fur
ther indicated the extent of the explo-
sion.
The workmen at once rushed to the
wharf, and found the Martha bad
wreck. The boiler and the two heavy
beams by which it was fastened to the
boat, had disappeared. Half the deck
was torn up, the engine room was de-
nolished, and the pilot house blown to
pieces, the roof being hurled into the
yard, about twelve or fifteen feet from
the wharf. Mud and water were
splashed over the boiler shop, and had
it not been for the fact that the tide
vas low, which caused the boat to lay
under the wharf, much Injury might
have been occasioned in the yard.
The boat presented a strange sight,
Only the ash pan of the boiler was left,
the pipes were broken and bent, the
timbsrs splintered, and the engine
knocked out Of gear. Just in front of
the engine lay the
BODY OF THE RNGINEKR,
Theodore Miller. 1t was instantly
taken out and placed on the wharf,
but life was found to be extinct. 1t ID
probable his death was instantaneous
with the explosion of the boiler, and
that he never knew what killed him
The engineers death was the only
casualty, but a man named Lynch, an
employ6 of the boiler shop, was struck
in the back of the head by a flying
piece of CRATE bar, and SO severely cuI
that he had to stop work.
Under the forecastle of the tug ear
OF green paint b ID been stored. Aftel
the explosion the paint was founC
| r,ooraI alrpA tha fana nf tha Wha ri
for space of several feet.
FEARFULLY DIsFIaURED.
The body OF the dead engineer wal
removed to the undertaking Office OF
| John b. Martin. No. 221 Shiplcy ST..
where it was examined by DR.. Ogle.-
| The face, neck, shoulders and Dreas
were fairly covered with little cuts ant
| gashes inflicted by flying pieces 0
/ coal, and his flesh was terribly scalded
lis neck was broken, and also his lef
arm, between the elbow and shoulder
Miller was "a years Of age, and re
sided with his father at 1108 Popla
street. He was man of fine physi
que and splendid appearance, as wei
as of excellent character and deport
| ment. He was unmarried.
CAPT. DowNINa's ESCAPE.
Capt. VIM. N. Downing, Of the tui
Martha, was only saved from sharing
the engineers fate, by an accident tha
happened TO him yesterday, at his res
idence, No. 422 E. Fifth stree. ID
was on ladder cleaning the snoy
from his shed roof, when the ladie
slipped and he fell, severely straininI
his leg and back. 1t was his usua
custom to be on tho tug by seven o.
clock, but this morning, on account O
his accident, he did not feel very well
and remained at home until 8 O'Clock
otherwise, in all probability he woult
have been on the boat when the ex
plosion occurred.
THE MARTHA
is one of the tugs engaged in towing
on the Christiana. She is 45 feet lonl
by IL feet beam and is comparativel,
new boat. Her hull was built il
Bordentown, N. j., in June, 1879, ant
was supplied with the engine and boil
or of the old tug Martha. The boiler
at this time, was given a thorougl
test. and was pronounced to be in tn
best possible condition. It was an UP
right boiler, feet high and 81 feet il
diameter. 1t was further inspecte
last July and again found to be In
first class condition.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
is a mystery and will remain SO unit
the boiler is recovered. 1t is suppose
that the lower head blew out, whic
forced the boiler upward through th
deck, and out into the stream. Tn
engine and pilot house were hurled i
the opposite direction, upon tn
wharf.
The tug was owned by Messrs. +
Barry, Geo. W. Bush and Charlie
Warner.