The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-28

count. Anyway, ne got INTO Ine "ateI,
and managed TO clear himself from the col
ored men who were struggling there. After
swimming for n little while 4 rope was
thrown him, and he was pulled ashore.
One Of his hands Is badly burned and torn
by the rope.
The second officer was but little injured.
The Quartermaster, William Bohannan,
was running the donkey-engine when the
explosion happened. He set the pumps TO
work and got ashore, not, however, until
he was severely burned on the right side
and face.
All the officers and crew were shipped in
Baltimore.
OFFICIAL REPORT.
Nr. p. III. Adams, the general claim and
forwarding agent OF the Piedmont Line at
West Point, came up to Richmond yester-
day to make report to Colonel Talcott.
Most Of our facts were obtained from him.
Mr.. Adams and all the officials have been
very active in caring for the wounded and
in affording information TO the distressed
inquircrs who had relatives and friends at
work at West Point.
WEST POINT PEOPLE.
The West Point people, apprised by the
explosion and the ringing OF the fire-bell
that something startling had occurred,
abandoned all their Publications and crowd
ed to the wharf. They rendered all the as
assistance they could; but little beyond
caring for the wounded was possible. Med
ical assistance was promptly summoned
for the wounded, and promptly responded
TO. Colonel Talcott sent TO West Point a
quantity Of lint desired to dress the burns.
After the extent OF the calamity was
known all places Of business in West Point
were closed, and the day Of ieasting and
pleasure was turned into one OF sorrow and
weeping.
THE WRECK.
Leaving her wharf, the West Point first
drifted across the river Pamunkey) and
grounded on the New Kent flats. Later,
under the influence OF wind and tide, she
drilted back 10 the West Point side two
miles above the town, and grounded oppo-
site Mr.. Beech's house. where she settled
and broke i'm two.
When Mr.. Adams left West Point yes
terdav. she was still burning. Boats had
approached her sufficiently close during
her driftings and subsequently to ascertain
that there could not possibly be any living
person aboard.
As soon as possible efforts will be made
TO get at the bodies, but it is hardly to be
expected that anything more than charrcd
bones will be found.
The ship will be very nearly total
loss.
OTHER FACTS.
The West Point was bran new ship;
her last was her second trip.
There were probably twenty-five men on
board when the disaster occurred.
There was q considerable quantity OF
powder IN the cargo, but it had been I'M
loaded IN hour before there was any trou-
bic.
William Green (colored), one Of the
wounded, was brought up to the city yes
terday by Mr.. Adams. None OF the other
wounded desired to come. Green was
badly burned on The face and hands.
The explosion is described as having
been as loud as the report of cannon.
The worl. OF discharglng cargo was going
on at the forward hatch, while cotton was
being loaded between decks at the after
part OF the ship. Fifty-seyen bales had
been put on board OF these four were
saved. Some of them were thrown into
the water to the drowning men.
The mess-boy killed is supposed to have
been in the cabin.
There were upon the arrival OF the ship
at West Point 800 barrels OF gasoline and
kerosene oil i'm the cargo, but the gang had
been at work i'm the hold one hour and
forty minutes. and several hundred barrels
must have been gotten out before trouble
came.
There is one account which says that
Jarvis, who had been in the boiler clean
ing it, came out lamp in hand just as the
explosion occurred.
That light and the fire in the donkey
engine, unusually well protected, were the
only fires about the ship.
YOUNG KERsE.
Eddie KerSc was the son Of Mr.. Robert
Kcrse. formerly member o. the City
Council. who lives in the lower end OF
Rockets. He was about twenty-one years
of ace. and had served a term as apprentice
i'm the navy. and been honordbly dis
charged. He had been employed at West
Point only a few weeks.
Mr.. and MrS. kersc. mother and father
Of d ceased. went down TO West Point
Monday evening, hoping to recover their
sons body. They returned here yeSter-
dav. Their trip was altogether fruitless.
Nothing can be- dOBc looking To the rc-
coycry Of any Of the remains until the fire
inthe ship has burnt itself out, or rather
burnt out for want OF material to work on.
GREENS STORY.
The colorcd man Green, who was
wounded nj the explosion, and who came
ND from West Point yesterday morning,
is now located on Fifth street, Fulton. lie
knew Young Kerse well, and he maintains
that the explosion originated with barrel
Of gasoline or oil i'm kerse's hands. Green
and Ker>e were not in the hold; they were
at work at the hatch between decks. The
weight Of evidence so far adduced goes to
show that the explosion occurred in the
hold: the starboard side was blown of low
down. Possibly at the great outburSt OF
flame. part OF which found vent at the
latches. the barrel in Kerse's hands might
have been fired; and il 50, it was that
which Green saw and which ne wrongly
thought the origin OF the explosion.
In due time, no doubt, some inyestisa-
ton will be made which may develope the
cause OF the trouble, but at present II only
seems certain that il was not caused by fire
from the steamers boiler, for man had
lust come ont OF that; nor from the IRE III
the donkey-engine, ,or that was intact and
working the pumps after the explosion;
nor from lamps in the hold, for none were
allowed there. ~ to what occurred in the
hold there is no man left TO tell. Probably
the explanation, il known. would be very
simple. II may have been from sponta
neous combustion; il may have been from
the thouehtless lighting Of match. or it
may have been from some barrel falling
and creating ignition.
TIE INSURANCE.
The following, teegraphed the Dispatch
from Baltimore, gives information as to the
insurance on the steamship:
The West Point was insured fof $40, ,OOO-
in the National Of New York, Peabody OF
Baltimore, British America OF Toronto,