The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-06
THE RIVERDALE DISASTER.
List of the Killed and Wounded.

NEW YORK, August 29.-Crowds of
curiosity seekers gathered on the
wharf to-day in front of the spot
where the Riverdale sank yesterday
and watched the boats plying around
the wreck, picking up whatever
fioated. No bodies have been found
since yesterday, and the belief
strengthens that there are none in the
wreck, or only two or three. The list
of missing is being gradually filed
out; those supposed to have gone on
the steamer, or who were really pas
Sengers, are heard from as safe in this
city or at their homes up the river
The full extent of the calamity has
been stated. The wreck will be taken
to Jersy Flats, where search can be-
made for more bodies, if any are there.
Three injured men are doing well in
the hospital. Rev. Hewitt Gardner is
seriously scalded, but may survive.
The following is list of those killed
and injured in the disaster to steamer
Riverdale yesterday: Mrs. Julia Les
son, aged SO, of Tarrytown, New
York, drowned; Thomas Gregg, aged
80, fatally crushed; John Cravat, fire
man, missing, believed killed;
Geo. Deymer, fireman, scalded to
death; Orville Gardner. the evange-
list of Brooklyn. scalded, not fatally;
Thos. Sauls, Brooklyn, scalded fatally;
Nichols Sailair, mate, thigh broken.
The following are missing: Mrs.
Longstreet, Mr.. Archibald and Mr.. N.
G. Cornell, Mrs. Emily Mardoff, of
Hoverstraw; Abram Tomkins, of
Tarrytall. and three ladies who were
with him, w. w. +. Tippey, Pala-
sades; Menstram House, ex-senator
Robert IL. Strahan, Mrs. Langfore and
daughter, of Tarrytall; w. W. A.
Harris, superintendent of the Belt
railway; Moses Long, of Yonkers,
and Mr.. Rose, OF Sing Sing. Senator
Strahan was not on the steamer River
dale.
Of the passengers aboard the River
dale some were blown up with the ex-
plos;on, but from best accounts OBJ
tainable the number was small, as
there were few in the cabins at the
time. No exact estimate can at
the present e gained as to the num-
Der of passengers on board or the
number of lives lost, but accounts of
the number of passengers on
board vary from 150 to 200,
of killed from ten to fifty. The most
trustworthy account places the num-
Der of killed from three to six. There
is reason to believe that nearly all had
a chance to escape. The hour at
which the explosion occurred was be-
tween $3.50 and 3:45 p. m. The en-.
gineer was about to enter the engine
room to slow up, as another steam
boat was at their landing, when an
aminous rumble was heard pro-
ceeding from the boiler and in
moment the terrible explosion
blowing out the entire side of the
vessel and leaving only the helpless
sinking hull. The force of the eX-
plosion was downward apparently, the
rapidity with which the vessel sank
showing the bottom was blown out.
Hardly minute elapsed between the
explosion and sinking of the
shattered hull in whirlpool,
into which the struggling swim
mers were drawn. The river was
strewn with wreckage OF cabin
doors, beams and boards. Furniture
was floating about. proving the force
of the explosion. Tugs and small
boats were put out in swarms from
the dock, and Jersey shore. and began
the work of rescuing the drowning
passengers and crew. The number
saved shows how efficient their work
Twas. The accounts of the manner of