Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-29
STEAMER DISASTER.
Explosion on a North River Excursion
BOat-The Vessel Sank-COnfiictfng Ae-
counts Regarding the FatalIties-gay
Gould 10 the Rescue-List OF Killed and
Injured.

Gould to the Rescue-List OF Killed and
Injured.
LsrBcrAL BY TELEGRAPH TO rHR RECORD uSIoS.l
New YoRK, August 2Sth.-A terrible dis
aster occurred at the foot Of Sixteenth street,
North river, this afternoon. The excursion
steamer Riverdals burst her boiler and sunk.
Over so lives were lost. The police were
Sixteenth street.
DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE.
New YoRK. August 2Ssh AT about ten
minutes to this afternoon people who were
in the neighborhood of the foot of Fourteenth
street and North river were startled by the
sound OF an explosion coming from the direc-
ton of the river. Looking out in mid
stream they saw the Hudson river steamer
Riverdale enveloped in steam, and in less
than six minutes afterwards she keelsd to one
side and capsizsd opposite Sixteenth street,
she having foated that far. Instantly about
fifteen different tug steamers from the city
went to her relief. There were 100 psssen-
gers on board the Riverdals when she left the
foot Of Harrison street for Haverstraw. Some
of these were hurled into the air and then
fell back into the water. Others wers COM
PEELED to jump into the river 60 escape
the kissing, scalding steam, that filed
all parts Of the vessel, or TO avoid
going down with her. The cause of the dis
aster was the explosion of the boiler, which
was amidships. When the boiler burst the
air was filed with flying debris and broken
woodwork, and the pilot-houss snapped like
pipe-stem and toppIed over into the water.
About fifty people Loaf their lives. Some
were blown into eternity, and others met
their deaths by being drawn down with the
whirlpool caused by tie sinking Of the vessel.
Those who were floating or swimming about
in the river were picked up by the tugs and
rowboats that cana to the rescue.
KILLED AND INJURED.
Three bodies were also brought in by the
boats-Mrs. Sisson, of TAyrytowD, N. Y;
an unknown man, whose body was taken TO
thu Moreue boy, whose identity has not
been ascsrtained, also taken to the Morgue
The injured sre Howard Gardner, of Yonk-
ere, n. Y; taken to the New York hospital
John Kelly, deck hand. of Englewood, n.
j.; arms broken taken to the New York
hospital. John Moran, deck hand, of Will
iamsburg, N. Y; legs and side crushed
taken tic the New York hospital. Thomas
J. Saul. passenger, of 274 Somers street.
Brooklyn, soalded; taken to the New York
hospital. John Satire, mste of the vessel
left thigh badly crushed taken to the New
York hospital. John Cites, of this city, aged
"a; badly scalded in an extremely critical
condition /; taken to the New York hospital.
The fvemen Of several engines and hook and
ladder companies stationed nesrest to the
scene of disaster vera called out, without
their apparatus, however, and did good ser.
vice, 80 did also members of the steamboat
squad.
PoLIoFAAN's STATEMENT.
Policeman Michael KilliIea of the Charles
street Station, was the first to get the
wounded fireman Adams on shore from the
boat at the foot of Twelfth street. II never
saw man in such suffering" said the off
Ger, ''And hope I may not witness another
aueh a. sight. The poor fellow squirmed, and
his flesh was coming off in blisters. called
at once TO sn ambulance driver nearest me,
and had the unfortunate man sent to St.
Vincent's Hospital. l then went in search
of other injured persons, and when came
to the foot of Fourteenth street saw man
pulling rapidly to the wharf. His boat con-
tanned the body Of woman, whose legs were
evidently broken. She must have been
crushed by falling timbsrs, while sitting on
deck, and then blown overheard"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
NEW York, August 28sh.-of the passen-
gers aboard the Rverdale, some were blown
up With the explosion, bat from the best &C.
counts obtaiuabls the number was small, as
there were few in the cabins at the time. No
exact idea can ct present be gained as to the
number of passengers on board or Che num-
Der of lives lost. Accounts of the number Of
passengers vary from so TO 200, and of the
killed from 20 to so. The most Trustworthy
accounts placs the number of killed at from
TO 6. There is reason 20 believe that nearly
all had chance 60 escape. Ths engineer vas
aboat to enter the engine-roou to
slow up, as another steamboat was at
their landing. when q rumble was
heard proceeding from the boiler, and in a
moment " horrible explosion occurred, blow
ing ou5 the entire side of the vessel, and leav.
ing only helpless, sinking hull. Tugs and
small boats put ont in swarms from the New
York and Jersey shores, and began the work
of recovering the drowning passengers and
crew. The number saved shows how efficient
their work was. TIE Reliance, coal-tar
boat. was near the River3ale when she blew
up and Immediately began the work of rescu-
ing the drowning people. Her crew drew
nearly forty from this water. Other steamers
and tugs hastened to the rescue, and so
quickly did they reach it that it is thought
none Of those woo escaped injury by the ex-
plosion had time to drown.
JAY GOULD TO THE RESCUE.
The steam yachts of Jay Gould and E. s.
Jaffray were lying st the foot of West
Twensy-third street at the time. Both
Gould and Jafray had just gone ashore
when the accident occurred. Upon hearing
the explosion they Immediately turned about,
putting out to the scene Of the wreck in their
gigs, snd ordered their yachts to follow
without delay. Both engaged in the york of
giving aid wherever needed with great zssl.
When their yachts appeared all who were in
sight in the water had been picked up. The
rescued were taken ashore and sent to their
homes in this city, or pu. on board the
steamer Christenah for their destination up
the river. The injured and dead we're taken
to the foot of West Thirteenth street, where
the entire ambulance force of the city bad
been summoned. An unsuccessful e 5rt wss
made by tugs to tow tbs wrecked hall to the