The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
The Vessel Completely Blown to Pieces,
and Eighteen of the Thirty Passen-
gers on Board Killed.
Some Extraordinary Incidents of the
Force of the Explosion.
Three Men Killed and Others Injured by
an Explosion at Bismarck-A Freight
Train Drops from a Bridge.
STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
Loss of the Pilot, of San Francisco, and
Eighteen Lives.


Eighteen Lives.
SAN FRANCISCO May 25.-The steamer
Pilot blew up this morning near LakevilIe.
She has been running for some years past
as opposition to the steamer of the San Fran
cisco q North Pacific Railroad Company.
The explosion occurred near Lakeville, a
mile above Donahue Landing, on an arm of
the bay, known as Petaluma creek. 1t was
stated that she had twenty passengers aboard
and it was believed that several San Fran
ciscoans were amongst them. The excite
ment throughout the city rapidly quickened
IN intensity. Notwithstanding every tele-
graphical effort put forth, no details could
be obtained till near this afternoon, then
dispatch was received stating that all the
forward part of the boat was blown
away, while the after part hoated 300 yards
and then grounded on the west side of the
creek. Two persons were killed, seven
wounded and eleven are missing, supposed
to be drowned. Mrs. McNear is missing, but
the baby was saved. The wreck is almost
inaccessible. A message was sent to Peta-
luna directing that a relief train with physi-
clans and nurses for the wounded, be imme-
diately dispatched to Lakevilie. When the
train arrived, the surgeons on board found
little to do, as of all of those known and be-
lieved to be on board none but the Captain
and two others, one the pilot, could be
found. They were discovered in the fields
seriously injured the captain the least of the
three. Search was made in every direction
in the long tules near the bank, and, one
after another four more were found more
or less seriously injured some with an arm
or leg broken in the fall. One was
but slightly injured having fallen
in the long tule grasses, and out
OF these he had managed to scramble
to higher and dryer ground. Had he been
more severely injured he would have been
drowned at high tide. The last reports re-
ceived show eight killed, seven wounded
and ten missing. Most OF the latter are prob
ably dead, but the bodies are not yet found.
The names of the passengers cannot be def
nitely ascertained, as no names were record
ed at the points oil departure. 1t is known,
however, that one family of twelve was on
board, bound for Arizona. 1t is thought
that many of the passengers who escaped
scalding and nangling were drowned, as the
boat sunk Immediately after the explosion.
The Pilot was owned by Captain Graves,
formerly master of the ship Conqueror He
purchased the vessel a year ago, together
with her trade and certain other property,
for $4,000. The explosion is attributed to
defective boilers. Those who witnessed the
explosion from the steamer Donahue say
that it was almost funny to see the way the
smoke-stack went up 1t seemed, as they
say, to leave the vessel in advance and shoot
up in the air over 300 yards, coming down
again within few feet of the vessel.
Late dispatches state that Matthews, late
of Sonoma mountain, on the way to Arizo
ma, lost four children another will die, and
his wife is crazy. Hegler, who had just pur.
chased property here, was killed.
The most extraordinary incident was the
finding OF Mrs. George P. McNear a passen'
ger, about mile and half from the scene
of the explosion. She was standing in the
mud, still alive but unconscious. 1t is pre-.
sumed she struggled through the mud and
weeds for that distance in search of relief.
She was Immediately removed to Lakeville,
but died few minutes after arrival. She
was niece of G. w. McNear, a grain mer-
chant of this city.