Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-08-29
H|RD EDITION
TERRIBLE BOILER ExPLOSION'
A Steamboat Boiler ExplOdes. XIII
ing . Number Of people aud
WOunding 9th ers.

NEW YORK, August ZS.-Ine DOller
of the steamship Riverdale, which plies
between this city and Haverstraw, ex-
ploded this afternoon while the boat
was near her wharf at the foot Of Six
teenth street, North River.
On the arrival of ambulances the
body of Mrs. Sisson, of Tarrytown, was
brought ashore in a boat. Her grand
son, whose name is Chaplin, had jumped
from the upper deck and was picked up
by a tug boat.
Captain Smith, who was in command
of the Riverlale, sta ed that while on
deck he heard a low rumble, and imIne-
diately the boiler blew up and the YES
sci began to sink. He could not ex-
plain the cause of the explosion.
George A. Davis, fireman on the
Riverdale, Mas terribly scalded by es-
Gaping steam. He was picked up by a
tug.
The Riverdale was an old boat and
ran up the river to Haverstraw and
Cornwall.
OF the passengers aboard, some were
blown up with the explosion but from
the best accounts Obtainable their num-
Der was small, as there were few in the
cabins at the lime
No exact idea can at present be gained
as to the number Of lives lost. Accounts
OF the number Of passengers on board
vary from fifty to 200
The engineer was about to enter he
engine room to Slow up, as another
steamboat was at their landing, when
all Ominous rumble was heard proceed
lug from the boiler, and in IA moment "a
terrible explosion occurred, blowing
out the entire inside of the boat and
leaving only helpless, sinking hull
The force of the explosion was down
ward, and apparently the bottom was
blown out, as the vessel sank quite sud
denly. Hardly IL minute elapsed be-
tween the explosion and the sinking III
whirlpool, into which the struggling
swimmers were drawn. The river was
strewn with wreckage-c cabin doors,
beams, boards and furniture floating
about, and proving the force Of the ex.
plosion.
Tugs and small boats put out in
swarms from the New York and Jersey
shores and began the work of rescue
The number saved shows how efficient
their work was. Accounts Of the man
ner Of the explosion differ. Those on
the boat agree that il was sudden and
entirely without warning.
a policeman who has been a boiler
maker, who was standing on shore,
states that his attention was attracted
by the sound Of escaping steam. Look
ing out on the river he saw the River
dale going up the stream partly ell,
veloped in steam that escaped with a
loud roar from her side. He saw peo-
pie rush from the lower to the upper
deck and make ready to throw them
selv.s into the river. The next moment
the explosion came.
The Reliance, a coal tar boat, was
near the Rlverlale when she blew up,
and began the work Of rescuing the
drowning people Her crew drew
nearly forty from the water. Other
steamers and tugs also FASTENED to the
scene, and 20 quickly did they reach it
that it is thought none OF thosc who
escaped injury by the explosion had
time t. drown.
The steam yachts Of Jay Gould and
Mr.. +. 5. Jatfray were lying at the foot
of West Twenty-third street at the
time. Both Mr.. Gould and Mr.. .Jatiray
udtl j uSt RDllt dSllplt W l1t'll lllt dtilAltUl
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 in the work Of giving
aid wherever needed with great zeal.
When their yachts appeared al who
were in sight in the water had been
picked up.
The rescued were taken ashore and
sent to their homes .ln :his city or put
aboard the steamer Crytenah for their
destination up the river. The injured
and dead were taken to the foot Of West
Thirteenth street, where the entire an
bulance force had been summoned. An
unsuccessful effort was made by tugs to
tow the wreck to Jersey City
So far as could be asrertained three
persons were killed and seven severely
hurt, but there may be more bodies in
the wreck.