The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-05
AsrEAmBOAr HORROR.

The Boiler OF the steamer "RiverdaIe"
Bursts-FifIy Persous Lose Their Lives
The killed and Injured
New YORK, Apg IS AT about ten min
ates to this afternoon. people who were in
the neigh borhood of the foot OF Fourteenth
street and North River were startled by the
sound of an explosion coming from the d.
Tection of the river. Looking out in mid
stream they saw the Hudson steamer, River
dale, enveloped in steam. Less than five
minutes afterward she keeled to the side and
cspsized opposite Sixteenth street, she hav-
ing fioated that far. Instantly about fifteen
different tugs steamed fIom this city and
Hoboken to where the sunken vessel lay.
There were over 100 passengers on board the
Riverdale when che left the foot of Har-
rison street for Haverstrsw. Some of
these were hurled into the air and
then fell back into the water.
Others were compelled Jump into the river
to escape the hissiDg. scalding steam that had
filed all parts OF the vessel, or to avoid going
down with her.
The cause OF the disaster was the explosion
of the boiler, which was amidship. When
the boiler burst the air was flied with flying
debris and broken woodwork and the pilot
house snapped like pipe stem and toppled
over into the water. About fifty people lost
their lives, some being blown into eternity
and others met their deaths by being drawn
down with the whirlpool caused by the sink
II of the vessel Those who were floating
or swimming about in the river were picked
up by the tugs and towboats that came to the
IL. -
in by the boats. Mrs. Slssin, of Tarrytown,
y. Y, an unknown man, whose body was
taken to the Morgue, q boy whose identity
has not been ascertained, were also taken to
the MOTgue.
Policeman Michael Killilea, of the Charles
Street Station, was the first to help the
wounded fireman, George Dimes, on shore
nom the bUat the foot of Twelfth street
Il never saw a man in such suffering" said
he ffcer, land | hope l may not witness
ano her such q sight again. The poor fellow
QuiJmed and his flesh was peeling off in
listers l called At once On The ambulance
diver nearest me and had the unfortunate
nan sent to ST. Nincents HOssItal L thea
went in search of ether injured persons, and
when l came to the foot OF Fourteenth street
{ saw a man pulling rapidly 10 the wharf.
His boat contained the oOdy of a woman
whose ]. 2. were evidently broken. Sac must
rave been crushed b. falling Hmbe-s while
sitting on the deck, and then blown over
oaTd."
o. the passengers aboard the Riverdale,
one were blown up with the explosion, but
r. m the beSc accounts ootaiusOie the num-
Der Ves small. as there weTefew IN the cab
the time No exact idea can at the present
te "a ned ss To the nua Der of passenger on
heard or the number of lives lost. Accounts
f The number of pesser gsTs vary from fifty
20 eco and Of the killed from ten 10 fifty.
The most trustworthy accounts place the
number of killed from three 10 six
There is rea on to believe that nearly all
he'd chance TO escape. The hour a. which
he explosion occurred vas between $3.50 and
3:45 The engineer was about 10
enter the engine room to slow up as
another steamboat was at their landing when
an cminious rambling was heard proceeding
from the boiler and ~ a moment a terrible
explosion occurred, blowing out the en- ire
u SIDE OF Ihe vessel and leaving only help
less sinking bull The force OF the eXplO.
sion was WI ward apparently, the "a pidjty
with which the vessel sank. showing that
the Or tom was blown ont Hardly minute
ELAPSED between the explosion and the sink-
ing CT the vessel in 2 whirlpool into which
the struggling swimmers were drawn. The
river was streWn with wreGksge. Cabin doors
beams and furniture were floating about
and proving the force of the explosion. Tugs
and small boats pat out in swarms from the
New York and Jersey shores, and began the
work OF TesCuiDg the drowning passeng gers
and crew. The number saved shows how
efficient their work was