Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-28
STEAMER DISASTER.
A LARGE VESSEL DESTROYED BY FIRE.
The Boiler EHpIodes and Heavy Cargo Of
Oil Becomes Ignited-Nneteen Lives
Lost-Description of the Scene
Daily Fire Record.

R1CHMoHu. Va. December 27.-An c1plo-
sion occurred yesterday at West Point, Ea.,
on the steamer West Point, plying between
that place and Baltimore, which resulted in
the total destruction 81 Two hnnt and the
tiCulars have been received: The West
Point arrived at her wharf Sunday after
noon, but the diSCharging OF her cargo was
not begun until yesterday at noon. After
the hands had been engaged nearly two
hours a terrific, but as yet unacCountcd for,
explosion took place near the forward hatch
blowing out the starboard side of the
steamer and almost instantly cnvcloplng
the forward part OF the vessel i'll iiames.
There were twelve cOlOrcd men i'll the for
ward hold. all Of whom were either Killed
by the explosion or burned 10 death. Five
other men Jumped overheard and four were
drowned. When il was found there was
no hope Of saving the steamer she was cut
loose and the tide driltcd her two miles up
Pammkcv river, where she continued 10
burn until everything combustiblc was des-
troycd and her iron hull was broken in
two amid ship. Among the killed were L..
s. Bradford, chief steward. First officer
Peter Gcoghcgan, Of Baltimore, was blown
overheard but Was saved badly burned.
Uuartermaster Vim BohannOn, III BALI
more was seriously burned. OF the nine
teen lives lost eighteen were c0l0red anu
three others were injured.
The boat cargo was made up OF mlscei-
laneOus freight, among which were several
hundred barrels of OIL sixty Of which were
gasoline.
The OH Becoming Ignited.
the flames spread with such friGhtful rapid
ity that there was no chance OF saving the
vessel nor any one on board even il there
l.. 1,trt ha
forward portion of The deck and gteat
part of the starboard side were thrown out
and there is no doubt that all in the hold
or near the forward hatch were instantly
Killed The four men drowned formed
fnur-iifths Of the gang slowing cotton IN
the aft hold. As soon as this gang heard
the explosion and saw the rapid spread 0l
the fire, they, together with the boy assist
inc them. made for the starbOard port and
plrInred into the river. Just then the large
hatch slid off the deck, and, falling upon
them, disabled four, so they sunk a. once.
The fifth saved himself by swimming back
10 the wharf. while the boy succeeded i'll
getting on q floating hatch and was recoY-
cred by boat from the shore. The names
of the four drowned men were Jennings,
TAYLOR. StarKc and Filler. The cause OF the
rXnlosiOu is As vet mystery. The OH
company, which runs its West Point line
in connection with the Baltimore steamer,
who arrived to-day from West Point state
they were utterly unable to account for the
disaster. They say the only fire on board
was under the boiler which runs hosting
engine. and the engineer running 1t re-
mained at his post and and was unhurt.
The hole had been opened nearly two
hours when the explosion occurred 50 The
Theories of boiler or confined gas explosion
air done away with
John JurOiS, fireman, was in the main
boiler cleaning it out, and he Of course had
light. and this was the only light known
to have been on board. The steamer West
Point was built at Baltimore, and cost
$4,000. This was her second trip. She
took the place of the steamer Shirley,
which. together with the wharyes at West
Point. were destroyed by ire on November
23, 1880 and portion uf the Shirley 5 iron
plating were used In the construction oI
the West Point, all the upper works of the
Shirley being burned in Baltimore on De
Cember %. 1877.