New-York tribune., 1882-04-08
DISASTROUS BOILER EXPLOSION.
LOSS OF LIFE on A WESTERN sTEAMB0AT-CAUsE
OF EXPLOSION Unknown.

Loss OF LIFE on WESTERN sTEAMB0AT-CAUsE
OF EXPLOSION UNKNOWN.
MILWAUKEE, April IA dispatch from Lacrosse,
Wis. says: At early hour this morning the
boiler of the steamer Bella Mac exploded, near
Brownsville, few miles below this Nty.
steamer left La Crosse for the wreck and arrived
at the scene of the explosion at 7:30 a. m The
Bella Mac was her way up at the time of the dis
aster. and was only ten miles below
the city. Everything was running smoothly
at the time of the explosion. The head engineer
and night watchman had been relieved and had re-
tired for the night. The accident occurred about
1870 a. III. The explosion completely wrecked the
upper works of the steamer. Several persons
killed, and many of the officers and
crew were injured. The crew consisted of
one is dead, three probably fatally injured, and
the others are more or less hurt.
The following is a complete list of the killed and
missing:
Charles r. Martin, son of Mrs. C. b. Lambert, Of
Winona, age eighteen, a negro tender on watch
at the time of the explosion. His body was found
on the wreck about midships, covered with debris
badly cut about the face and horribly scalded. This
is the only body that has so far been
Francis Mcintyre, second pilot. He was
Oft duty at the time of the explosion, and Is sup
posed TO have been drowned.
John Nolan of NcwOreans. fireman. missing.
Swift Bell, deck-hand, missing
George and William McCamish brothers; sup
posed to be drowned.
The injured are: Captain w. w. Gordon, first
pilot he was at the wheel at the tIne of the acci-
dent. lie is badly cut about the head and
bruised on the body generally. He will soon re-
cover. James Tully, of Dubuque. head engineer.
lie was Oft watch scalded about the face and
blown INTO the river. Charles MOnahan, of Du-
buque, second engineer. He was on duty and had
his hand on the throttle Mt the time Of the eXplo-
sion; had his arm hurt and was scalded about
the face. Morris Lesseur, Of La Crosse, fire.
man, on watch. had leg broken and was badly
burned on the back His injuries are probably
fatal. Thomas Rice, of La Crosse, colored tender,
OIL duty. had both legs badly burned. Amputaton
was necessary. He cannot recover Henry Tully,
of Dubuque, brother Of James Tully, was
scaded about the face and hands. Da-
vid McCanlsh, OF Cassvillc, was very
badly scalded and otherwise injured. He will
probably die Richard Wagner, OF La Crosse, fire.
man, of DUTY, was slightly burned William Lach-
lcider, of La Crosse, cook was slightly injured
LOUIS SuelhOhn, of Sheb0S gan County
mate, was scaded and bruised. lie will recover
Lewis Johnson, of La Crosse, boy
had an arm hurt. The injured were
brought to this city and being cared for
The Bella Mac a comparatively new boat, this
being her third year of service. She has always
been considered perfectly safe. She was owned by
Mcdonald Brothers. Of this city, and was valued at
$4,000 The cause of the disaster cannot be
learned. The second engineer says that the boiler
had plenty OF water, and thai at the time OF the
plosion he was carrying about l33 pounds OF steam