The daily gazette., 1883-08-29
A BOILER .EXPLO OSION.
THREE KILLED AND EIGHT
WOUNDED.
A DEATH-TRAP ON THE RIVER.
niiraculous Escape of Most of the Passen-
sers-some OF the wounded Likely to
Die.

New York and Haverstraw, on the Hudson
river, left her dock at the foot of Harrison
street, North River, at 4 O'Clock this after
noon, and turned up the river. The boat
was to have touched at the foot 0f Twenty
third street for more passengers, and her
course was laid about 800 yards from the
New York shore.
When between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets, her boiler exploded with terrific
force, killing three persons and woundipg
eight others. After the explosion the boat
drifted up to the foot of Sixteenth street and
there sank. The explosion was seen by a
few rivermen and tug boat crew4 who were
watching the steamer when the accident oc
Cured. There was a loud report the
smoke stack, pilot house and the body of a
man were seen flying through the air, and
then clouds Of escaping steam hid the wreck
from view.
People along the shore went to the
steamer in rowboats and tugs, and the
police were instantly informed Of the acct
dent. The Office of Charities and Correc-
tion was notified by telephone Of the explo-
sion and all the city ambulanceB were sent
to the foot of Sixteenth street. The widest
and most exaggerated reports of the catas-
trophe were circulated, and the number of
people killed and wounded was placed at
upwards of so. The river frpnt in the
vicinity of where the explosion occurred wss
thronged with people, and while but few Of
the scores said to have been killed and
wounded were brought ashore, it was
averred that dozens had been drowned.
There were about so passengers on the
Riverdale when she left the Harrison street
landing, and majority of them were seated
on the after-deck. As soon as the explosion
occurred scene of the widest confusion
followed. The captain, Mr.. j. F. Smith, of
| Nyack, who was uninjured, rushed TO the
after part of the boat and told the half
frantic passengers that If they would only
keep quiet tor lew moments they would be
| all rescued.
SINKING OF THE WRECKED VESSEL.
The steamer was observed to be settling
forward, and 1t was evident that a hole had
been blown In her bottom and that she
would sink. The gang plank was run out
into the river, and half dozen men Jumped
upon it, sinking it below the surface of the
water. They were quickly transferred to
the numerous rowboats which by this time
had reached the wreck
| The tug Zophar Mills was one of the first
boats to run alongside the Riverdale, and
she took on board the greater number of the
passengers.
| THE KILLED.
Those who were killed were:
Session, Mrs. Charles, of Nyack, an
eldely lady. Her body was taken from the
forward deck.
Gregg, Thomas, 50 years of age. His
body was found crushed between the for
ward rail and pile of debris bn the for
ward deck. He had apparently been in
stantly killed. The body was not identified.
CreVet, John, fireman, missing and be-
lieVed to be killed.
| THE WOUNDED.
| The following is the list of the injured:
Dymes, Charles, fireman. He was hurled
by the force of the explosion through the
side of the boat and out into the water. He
was horribly scalded, and when picked up
the skin peeled in shreds from his head,
neck and arms. He was conscious and his
sufferings were intense. He was taken to
the New York Hospital, and it Is believed
| he will die.
Magee, Nelson, pilot; was hurled 30 feet
| from the pilot house into the river, and
when he was picked up both OF his legs
were found to be broken.
Salair, John, mate. He stood almost di-
| rectlv over the boiler when 1t exuloded He
was thrown into the river and sustained a
| simple fracture of the thigh.
Gardiner, Howard, of Williamsburg, N.
T.; on his way to Yonkers to conduct re-
vival meeting, was badly scalded, and it is
feared that he will not recover
Henry, William, aged IS, oilet, scalded,
but his injuries are not serious.
saul, Thomas, of Brooklyn, passenger;
was scalded on the neck and feet, but /; is
thought he will recover
Tallman, Edward, engineer; severely, but
not fatally, scalded.
Lazarus, Israel deck hand, ~ Mott street,
New York; badly bruised.
THE HULL OUT OF WATER.
The dead were taken to the Morgue and
the injured to st: Vincent's and New York
hospitals. The Riverdale sank within 10
minutes after the explosion took place. Her
bow settled until the forward rail was under
water, and then with a plunge forward she
sank, turning over as she went down.
The steam yachts of Jay Gould and Mr..
E. s. Jattray were lying at the foot of West
Twenty-third street at the time. Both Mr..
Gould and Mr.. Jatfray had just gone ashore
when the accident occurred. Upon hearing
the explosion they Immediately turned
about, and, putting out to the scene of the
wreck in their gigs, ordered their yachts to
follow without delay. Both engaged in the
work of giving aid wherever needed With
great zeal. When their yachts appeared all
WHO were in sight in the water had been
picked up.
Mrs Julia Sisson, aged thirty-eight. who
was killed, was seated on the lower deck
with her husband, Charles Sisson, and
grandson, W. B. Chaplin, when the explo.
sion occurred. They were going to their
home. Mrs. Sisson was thrown into the
water and drowned. Her grandson jumped
overheard and her aged husband was pulled
turouSh rear WINDOW nj the sinking boat.
Mrs, Sisson's body was recovered and taken
ashore.
Another one OF the xii ed, Thnnas Grrry.
Of Water street, this city, W.s an|his wty to
Dobbs Ferry. His dcli h0iy was io,ni
wedgcd in on the port sid ~ iht vessel be-
tween the rail aud 10 i,iu,r watk. whoa
,XtiiCdird he had log brat. i, nd. layiro
been held ias under Hatt-r HlsIhuy was
taken to the Morpue, wheia. il va identified
by his son. Mr.. Gregg was IL the cnmpruv
oil al ex.sea captain NAMED Vaoi his, who
escaped with some difficulty aiirr seer,.. a
raft he had maze out Of benrhee and iurn,
tur sy'amped by the inconsdrra,e ,e haste Of
three "dudes, AS he called thcm
The cause of the explosion is unknown
The engineer and the fireman saw that there
was no unusual pressure ai stuau, .howu by
the gauges. 1t is probable han ,he boiler
was detective. The Riyereale was a var1
old boat, built 25 or 30 yeats AFRO Wbs1
new she was named the s'Peller ID. Conn y
Si She was reouiit ana renamed the "Alexls."
She was rebuilt second time and ebristened
the "Riverdale' John B. Vorbik. of Tarry-
town, one of the passengers, said that he
hon trhk l.