New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-26
r4rA1 ExPLOSIOY on a STEAMER.

FIGHT PERSONS KILLED. TEN MISSING AND SEVEN
WOUNDED IN PETALUMA CREEK, CAL
San FRANCIsco, May 25-The steamer Pilot
t,su M this morning near Lakeville and number
ofnersons we're killed. The Pilot was a stern wheel
steamer. She had been running some years past
IN opposition to the steamers of the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railroad Company. The exP!o-
sion occurred near Lakeville, mile above Donahue
Landing on an arm of the bay known as
Petaluma Creek. The first news OF the disaster
was conveyed in dispatch from Donahue'
saving: a heavy report was heard this
morning from the steamer Pilot ana large
escape of steam was think she IS blown up
looks as though she sunk" second dispatch
came stating that there were twenty passengers
eboard and "a it was believed that several San
Francisoans we're among them the excite
ment throughout the city rapidly quickened
In intensity. Notwithstanding every effort
was made by telegraph no details could be obtained
until 3 d.. when dispatch was received saying:
sAll the forward part of the boat was blown away
and the after part foated 800 yards and tnen
grounded on the west side of the creek. Two
persons were killed, seven were wounded ana
eleven are missing and are supposed to be drowned
Mrs. McNear is missing, but her baby was saVeo'
The wreck is almost inaccessible"
Officers of the steamer Donahue reported
that when passing Donahue Landing they noticeu
the Pilot coming down tho creek III
mId-channel. few minutes afterward 'hey
saw no sign of the incoming steamer. rulnor
spread that n terrible disaster had occurred. Inc
chief engineer of the Donahue is reported
IA having said that he saw the ex-
nlo.ion or the cloud of steam and smoke
Immediately following, The Donahue drew TOO
much water for navi CATION above her landing level
bp ri III IN
sent 10 Petaluma directing that relief train
with physicians and nurses lie Immediately dis
patched to Lakevile. When the train arrived the
surgeons on board found little to do, As OF all those
known and believed to be on board, none but
the captain and two others. one the pilot. could
be found. They discovered in the
fields seriously injured, the captain the least OF the
three Search was made in every direction in the
long grass near the bank aud, one after another,
four more found, all more rr less seriously IN
jured, with an ann or leg broken ,oy
the fail. One of these. MANAGED to scramble
TO higher and dryer grounds. Had he been more
seriously injured he would have been drowned by
the high tide. ~
The last reports show that eight are killed, seven
wounded and ten missing. Most OF inc
missing are probably, dead hd fon Gu5 t TGa
names of the passengers cannot be ascertalned' as
no names weIc recorded at the point of departure.
1T Is knowL, however. that one family OF twelve
persons was on board bound for Arizona.
capped scading and managing were drowned, as the
boat sunk immediately after tho EXPLOSION
The Pilot was owned by Captain Gould.
formerly master of the ship ConqueroT.
together with her trade ard certain other property
for $4,000. The explosion is attributed to detcc-
tive boilers. Those who witnessed the explosion
from the steamer Donahuc. say that 1t
was almost funny to see the way
the SmOke-stack went up. 1t seemed,
they say, to leave the vessel III advance OF the
explosion and to shoot up in the air over 800 yards,
coming down again within few feet of the vessel.
Later dispatches state that Mr. Matthews, late of
SOnOma Mountain, who was On his way 10 Arizona,
lost four children and another will die. HIS wife Is
crazy
Mi HegleT, who had just purchased property here,
was killed 4 most extraordinary incident in con-
nectiOn with the disaster was the finding OF Mrs
George +. McNear. "a passenger. about
mile and a half from the explosion.
She was standing in the mud still alive. but I'M
conscious. 1t is presumed that she struggled
through the mud and weeds for that distance Ia
search of relief. She Immediately removed TO
Lakeville. but died few minutes after her arrival
She was niece of G. w. McNear. a grain merchant
OF this city.