The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-29

strewn with wreckage, cabin doors. beams
and furniture, proving the force of the ex-
plosion. Tugs and small boats put out in
swarms from the New York and the Jersey
shores and began the work of rescuing the
drowning passengers and crew. The num-
Der saved shows how efficient their work was.
Accounts of the manner of the explosion
differ Those on the boat agree that 1t was
sudden and entirely without warning. A
policeman, who had been a boier-maker,
was standing at the foot of Bloomfield. street,
and states that his attention was at
tracted by the sound of escaping steam.
Looking out on the river, he saw the
Riverdale going up stream partly enveloped
by the steam that escaped from her side; he
saw people rush from the lower to the upper
deck and make ready 10 throw themselves
into the river. The next moment the ex-
ploson came. The Reliance coal-tar boat
was near the Riverdale when she blew up
and Immediately began the work of rescuing
the drowning people. Other steamers and
tugs hastened to the scene, and so quickly
did they reach it that it is thought none of
those who escaped injury by the explosion
had time to drown.
The steam yachts of Jay Gould and f. S. Jaf-
fray were lying at the foot of West Twenty
third street at the time. Both Gould and
Jatfray had just gone ashore when the acci-
dent 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 with zeal in the work of giving
aid wherever needed. When their yachts
appeared, all who were in sight had been
picked up. The rescued were taken ashore
and sent to their homes in this city, or put
on board the steamer Christinah for their
destinations up the river. The injured and
dead were taken to the foot of West Thir-
teenth street, where the entire ambulance
force of the city had been summoned An
unsuccessful effort was made by tugs to tow
the wrecked hull to the New Jersey shore,
but was finally abandoned.
THE KILLED AND INJURED.
Following is a list of those known to be
killed or injured:
Mrs. Julia sisson. aged sixty-eight, of
Tarrytown, N. Y. Mrs. Sisson was on the
son, W. P. Chaplin, when the explosion oc--
their home in Tarrytown Mrs.
Sisson was thrown into the water and
drowned. Her grandson jumped overheard,
and her aged husband was pulled through
window of the sinking boat by men on enc
OF the tugs that came to the rescue. Mrs.
Sisson's body was recovered.
Thomas Gregg, aged eighty-two years. Of
1,606 Water street, this city. Mr.. Gregg was
on his way to Dobbs's Ferry. His body was
found wedged in on the port side of the
work. When extricated he had long
been dead, having been held fast under
water. His body was taken to the
morgue, where it was identified by his
son Michael. Mr.. Gregg was in
the company of an ex-sea-captain
f1culty, after seeing the raft he had made out
of benches swamped by the inconsiderate
haste of three dudes" as he called them.
These are the only ones positively known
to be lost.
John Crevat fireman, is missing, and is be-
Heved to have been killed.
1t is feared that others who have not yet
been reported were also lost, but their num-
ber is not large
Following is q list of injured:
George A Deymes, age twenty-four Gre-
man. He was rescued, but is so fearfully
scalded he cannot live. He is in st. Vim
cents Hospital, and is delirious and at the
point of death. In his lucid moments
he stated there were about 100 passengers on
board, and he knew nothing of any
trouble until he found himself drowning.
Orville Gardner the evangelist, aged fifty
six, of 349 South Second street, Brooklyn.
He was scalded over the body. and taken to
the New York Hospital. He was on his way
to join his family in Yonkers. His injuries
are not fatal.
Thomas ]. Sauls, aged thirty-six, of 292
Summit street. Brooklyn, found on board,
John Salier, aged forty-fve, mate of the
Riverdaie, of Haverstraw, right thigh broken;
reported doing we'll.
William P. Henry, aged eighteen, of 127
Varick street, this city. oiler on the steamer,
hands and feet burned.
Israel Lazarus deck hand, of 72 Mott
street, this city, badly bruised.
James Tobin, of Yonkers, aged thirty-four,
end Nelson McGee, pilot of the Riverdale,
also OF Yonkers, scalded and bruised. They
were taken to their homes on steamer.
John Moran is reported by the police as
injured, but they do not know what became
of him or who he is. He is not at any of the
hospitals.
Tomorrow the wreck will be raised and
towed ashore, where full examination can
be made. The officers of the steamer do not
believe any more bodies will be found in it,
but there is no certainty that this belief is
well founded.
STATEMENT OF THE ENGINEER.
The engineer, w. Tallman, who escaped
with few bruises, said he could not ex-
plain the cause OF the accident by any theory
whatever The boilers were new four years
ago when the boat was en-
trely rebuilt and reftted. He
was about to enter the engine-room to
gives the signal to slacken speed, when he
was hurled through the door. and the
next moment he found himself lying on the
roof of the cabin, directly under the
shaft. The explosion occurred, he said,
without the slightest warning, and was ap-
parently the result of some hidden defect.
A moment previous he had looked at the
steam gauge and found it to register twenty
three pounds. When the boat was inspect
ed, last June, her allowance was fixed at fifty
pounds to the square inch.
The Riverdale was built thirty-five years
ago, and was first called the Peter G. Coffin,
afterwards named Alexis. and after that
Riverdale. Her machinery and fit
tings were those of the old. Broad
that hlnun nm in In