San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-09-06
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Hudson River Excursion Steamsr-Expledes
her Boilers Opposite New York.

New York, Aug. 2S.-About 3 so
this afternoon, the people who were
in the neighborhood of the foot of
Eou,teenth street and North river
we're startled by the sound of an cxplo.
sion coming from the direction of the
river. Looking out in mid-stream,
thew saw the Hudson steamer River
dale enveloped in steam, and, i'll less
tban six minutes afterward, she keeled
10 one side and capsized, opposite
Sixteenth having hoated that Jar.
About fifteen different tugs, from this
city and Hoboken, hurried to where
tbe vessel lay. There were over 100
Messengers ON board when she left
The foot of Harrison street for Haver-
straw, Some of these were hurled
into the air and fell back into the wa
ter. Others were compelled to Jump
into the river to escape the kissing
steam that filed all parts o. +'a veg.
sci, or to avoid going down N.tl Aer.
The cause of the disaster was III
explosion of the boiler, which was
amidships. When the boiler burst,
the air was filled with flying debris
and broken woodwork. The pile
house was snapped like q pipe-stem
and toppled over into the water.
About fifty people were killed, some
blown into eternity and others met
their fate by being drawn down with
the whirlpool caused by the sinking
vessel. Those who were floating or
swimming in the river were picked
up by tugs and row-boats that came
to their rescue.
Of the passengers aboard the River
dale, some were blown up with the
explosion, but from the best accounts
obtainable the number was small, as
there were some few in the cabins at
the time. No exact estimate can at
present be gained as to the number
of lives lost. The accounts OF the
number of passengers vary from $50
to2OO, and the killed from ten to fifty.
There is reason to believe that nearly
all had chance to escape. The
hour at which the explosion occurred,
between $3.50 and 3:45 p. ~, the en-
gineer was about to enter the engine
room to slow up, as another steam
boat was at their landing, when an
ominous rumble was heard proceed
ing from the boiler, and in a moment
terrible explosion occurred, blowing
out the entire side of the vessel, and
leaving only a helpless, sinking hull.
The force of the explosion was down
ward, apparently. The rapidity with
which the vessel sank showed the
bottom to be blown out. Hardly q
minute elapsed between the explosion
and the sinking of the shattered hull
in the whirlpool into which the strug-
Cling and swimming were drawn.
The river is strewn with wreck&go OF
cabin doors, beams and boards. Fur
niture is floating about, and proving
the force of the explosion. Tugs and
small boats put out in swarms from
docks and Jersey shores and began to
work rescuing the drowning passen-
gers and crew. The number saved
shows how efficient their work was.
The accounts of the manner Of the
explosion differ. Those on the boat
agree that it was hidden, and entirely
without warning. A policeman who
had been boiler maker was standing
at the foot of Bloomfield street. His
attention was attracted by the sound
OF escaping steam; looking out on
the river he saw the Riverdale going
up stream, partly enveloped in steam
that escaped with a loud noise from
her side; saw the people rush from
the lower to the upper deck and make
ready to throw themselves into the
river. The next moment the eXplo-
sion came. The Reliance, coal-5ar
boat, was near when she blew up, and
Immediately began the work Of rescu-
ing the drowning people. Her crew
drewnearly forty from the water. Other
steamers and tugs fastened to the
scene and so quickly did they reach
it that those who escaped injury by
the explosion had no time to drown.
The steam yachts of Jay Gould and
E. S. Jaffray were lying at the foot OF
west Twenty Second street at the
time. Both Gould and Jaffray had
Just gone ashore when the accident
occurred. Upon hearing the explo-
sion they turned about, putting out
to the scene of the wreck in their gigs
and ordered their yachts to follow
without delay; both engaged IN the
work of giving aid whenever needed
with great zeal. All who were II
sight in the water had been picked up.