The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-29
STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
A Passenger Boat on the Hudson
Bursts Her Boiler
The Thrilling Spectacle as Viewed from
the Shore.
Several Lives Lost--Others Badly
Scalded.

NEW Iohh, aug. Io-lnspoCbor AnofHo re-
ceived dispatch this afternoon stating that
the excu' sion steamer Rivsrdale had blown up
at the foot of 10Th street, North river, and
calling for all the smbulances in the city.
Later.
The Riverdale started up the Hudson on her
trip t. Haverstraw at o'clock p. m with fifty
passengers on board, from the foot of Harrison
street. When opposite the foot OF 18th street
her oilers exploded. Eye-witnesses on the
shore saw what seemed to be the whole inside
of the vessel fly into the air with a
report like the discharge of cannon. The
shell Of the hull careened over, but continued
up stream from the momentum of its own
speed, until 1t went down bow first at the foot
of 10Th street. About 20 of the passengers in
the steamer, including everybody in the
cabin, were blown up in the explosion. The
rest seized life preservers and jumping oyer the
rail into the river we're picked up by number
Of boats that Immediately put out from the
New York and Jersey shores to their assist
ance. How many were saved and how many
drowned and killed is as yet entirely un-
known. The most conflicting reports are in
circulation. Not more than ten lives are posi-
lively known TO be lost. Among those who
were blown up and badly scalded is said to be
Gardiner, the evangelist. On the arrival of
the ambulance the body of Mrs. Sisson of Tar
rytown wss brought ashore in boat. Her
grandson, named Chaplin, jumped from the
upper deck and was picked up by tugboat,
This was the only body recovered at o'clock,
half an hour after the explosion. Capt. Smith,
- Al. III
that while on the deck he heard low rumble
and Immediately the boilers blew up and the
vessel began to sink. He could not explain
the cause of the explosion. Tugs are now
cruising about the scene. George A. Davis, a
firema n on the Riverdale, was terribly scalded
bp escaping steam. He was picked up by a
tug boat The Riverdale was an old boat and
ran up the river from this city to Haverstraw
and Cornwall.
Later Reports Not 50 Bad.
Accounts of the number of passengers on
board vary from 80 to 200 and of the killed
at from to 6. There is reason to believe that
nearly all had chance to escape. The hour
at which the explosion occurred wss between
$50 and 3.45 p. m. The engineer was about
TO enter the engine room to slow up, as another
steamboat was at their landing, when an omi-
nous rumble was heard proceeding from the
boiler and IN a moment terrific explosion oc-
Cured, blowing out the entire inside of the
hull.
The force Of the explosion was downward
apparently, the rapidity with which the ves-
sci sank showing that her bottom was blown
cat Hardly minute elapsed between the
explosion aud the sinking of the shattered hull
in whirlpool into which the struggling swim
mers were drowhed.
The river was strewn with wreckage cabin
DOORS beams, boards and furniture, floating
about and proving the force of the explosion.
: slppa On ~ hoo r.ttO
tha New Bork and Sersey shore and began the
work of rescuing the drowning passengers and
crew. The Reliance, a coal boat was near
the Riverdale when she blew up, and imme-
diately began the work of rescuing the drown
ing people Her crew drew nearly 40 from the
water. Other steamers aud tugs also fastened
to the scene and SO quickly did they reach it
that il is thought none OF those who escaped
Injury by the explosion had time to drown.
The steam yachts of e. S. Jsffrey and Jay
Gould we're lying at the foot of West 23d street
at the time. Both Gould and Jaffrey had
just gone ashore when the accident occurred
bearing 81 s6e sns sxpoSen 81 s wfheg fheg m their
gig and ordered their yachts 10 follow them
without delay. Both engaged in the work.
giving aid wherever needed with great zeal.
When their yachts appeared all who were in
signt in the water had been picked up. The
rescued were taken ashore and sent to their
homes in this city or put on board the steamer
Crystentah for their destination up the river.
The injured and dead were taken to the foot
OF West 18Th street. The following iis the list
known to be killed or injured: Mrs. Julia Sis
son, aged 68, of Tarrstown. Mrs. Sisson was
seated on the lower deck with her husband,
Charles SIsson, and her grandson, w. 3.
Chapin, when the explosion occurred. They
were going to their homes in Tarrytown. Mrs.
Sisson was thrown into the water and
drowned. Her aged husband was pulled
through the rear WINDOW OF the sinking boat
oy a crew of tug; Thomas Gregg aged 80;
Mr.. Gregg was on his way to Dobbe Ferry.
His dead body was found wedged III on the
port side of the vessel between the rail and
joiner work. When extricated he had long
been dead.
These are the only ones positively known to
be lost. John Crevet, fireman, is missing,
and is believed to have been killed. 1t is feared
that Others who have not yet been reported
were also lost; but II Q number is not believed
to be large. The injured are Geo. A. Deymes,
aged "a, fireman, who was rescued, but SO
fesriuly scalded that he cannot recover. He
stated that there were about 100 passengers on
board, and he knew nothing of any trouble
until he found himself drowning Orvile
Gardner, the Evangelist, aged 56, of Brooklyn,
scalded all over his body. lie was on his way
to join his family in Yonkers. His injuries are
not believed TO be fatal. Thomas j Sauls,
aged 36, Of Brooklyn, was found on board bad
ly scalded on head and arms. Nicholas Salair,
aged 46, mate of the Riverdale, of Haver-
straw. right thigh broke but reported doing
we'll. William r. Henry, aged Is, oiler on the
steamer, hands and feet burned. Israel La
garces, deck hand, badly bruised. James
robn, aged "a, OF Yonkers, and Nelson Nc
Gee, pilot of the Rivefdale, also OF Yonkers,
were scalded and bruised. They were taken
to their homes on the steamer Chystenah.
John Moran is reported as injured, but it is not
known what became Of him or where he is.