The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-06
FATAL EXPLOSION.
The Steamer RiverdaIe Blown Up in New
York Harbor-Four Persons Known to
Have Been Killed, and Many Others
Were Badly Injured.

Tho Steamer Riverdale Blown Up in New
York Harbor-Four Persons Known to
Have Been Killed, and Many Others
Were Badly Injured.
NEW YORK, Aug. 29.
Several persons were killed and the river
steamer Riverdale sunk by boiler eXplo-
sion Tuesday afternoon. The boat, which
ran between New York and Haverstraw, on
the Hudson, left her dock at the foot of
Harrison street, North River, at o'clock,
and steamed rapidly up the stream. She
was to have touched at the foot of 23d
street for more passengers, and her course
was laid about three hundred yards from
the New York shore. When between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets her boilers
exploded with terrific force, killing three
persons and wounding eight Others. After
the explosion the boat drifted UP to the
foot of Sixteenth street and there sank.
The explosion was seen by few riyernen
and tug crews who were watching the boat
when the accident occurred.
There was loud report, the smoke
stack, pilot-house and the body of a man
were seen flying through the air, and then
clouds of escaping steam hid the wreck
from view. PEOPLE along the sh@e went
to the steamer in row-boats and tugs, and
the police We're instantly informed of the
accident. The Office of charities and cor
rections was notified by telephone, and all
the city ambulanceS were sent to the foot
of Sixteenth street. The widest and
most exaggerated reports were circu-
lated, and the number of killed and
wounded was placed at upwards of one
hundred. The river front in the vicinity
with people, and while but few of the scores
said to have been killed were brought
ashore, it was averred that dozens had been
drowned. There were about fifty passen-
gers on the Riverdale when she left the
Harrison street landing, and majority OF
them were on the after-deck.
AS soon as the explosion occurred scene
Of the widest confusion followed. The
Captain, j. P. Smith, who was uninjufei,
rushed to the after part of the boat and told
The half frantic passengers that If they would
| only keep quiet for few moments they
would all be rescued. The steamer was
observed to be settling forward and it was
evident that hole had been torn in hel
bottom and that she would sink. The gang
plank was run out into the river and half q
dozen men jumped upon it, sinking it below
| the surface of the water. They were quickly
| transferred to the numerous row boats
| which by this time had reached the wreck
| The tug Zophar Mills WAS one of the first
boats to run alongside the Riverdale and she
| took on board the greater number of the
| passengers.
The body of man, apparently abou
seventy years of age, was found crushed be
tween the rail and a pile of debris on the
forward deck. He had evidently been in
stantly killed. The body was not identi
fed.
The body of an elderly lady, subsequently
| identified as Mrs. Charles Sisson, of New
York, was also taken from the forwart
deck.
| Fireman Charles Dymes was hurled b.
the force of the explosion through the sid
of the boat and out into the water. He wa
| horribly scalded, and when picked up his
skin peeled in shreds from his head, necl
and arms. He was conscious and his suffer
ings We're intense. He was taken TO tn
New York Hospital and it is believed h
will die.
Pilot Nelson Magee was hurried thirt
feet from the pilot-house into the river, ant
when he was picked up it was found tina
both his legs were broken.
John Salair, the mate, stood almost dl
rectly over the boiler when it exploded. IL
was thrown into the river and sustained ;
simple fracture of the thigh.
Howard Gardner, of Williamsburg, wh'
was on his way to Yonkers to conduct re
| vival meeting, was badly Scalded, and it i
| feared that he will not recover.
William II. Henry, aged eighteen, al
oiler, was scalded, but his injuries are no
serious.
Thomas Saul, of Brooklyn, passenger
was scalded about the neck and feet, but
Is thought he will recover.
Edward Tallman, the engineer, was sc
verely, but not fatally, scalded.
The following is list of the killed:
Mrs. Charles Sisson, aged sixty-eight year:
Tarrytown; Thomas Gregg, sixty years, 81
| Water street; an unknown man; Mr.. Charlie
Sisson, WHO was on the boat W tn his wife,
| missing, aud is undoubtedly dead.
The injured are:
Nelson Magee, Haverstraw, pilot; Edwar
Tallman, engineer; Henry Mosher, Peeksk l
porter; John Sa air, mate; William HI. Henry
oiler; I no mas Saul, Brooklyn; Howard Gart
| ner, Youkers; James Clark, Sc Goerch street
w. B. Chapman, YonkerS; Dennis Egan, 81
West Twelfth street; George A; Dymes. fire
| man, Haverstrnw; James Tobin, Yonkers
] Israel Lazarus, u Mott street.
The dead were taken to the morgue an
the injured to st. Vincent's and the Me-
York hospitals.
The engineer was about entering the en-
gine-room to slow up, as another steamboa
was at their landing, when an ominous rum
BILE was heard proceeding from the boilel
and in a moment the terrible explosion OF
Cured, blowing out the entire inside of tn
vessel, and leaving only the helpless. sinl
ing hull. The force of the explosion wa
downward, apparently, the rapidity wit
which the vessel sank showing that the bo
tom had been blown out. The river wa
strewn with wreckage-cabin doors, beam:
boards and furniture floating about an
proving the force of the explosion.
Accounts of the manner of the eXplosio
differ. Those on the boat agree that it wa
sudden and entirely without warning. !
policeman, who had been boiler-make
and who was standing at the foot of Bloom
field street, declares that his attention W;
attracted by the sound of escaping steam
Looking out ON the river he saw the Rive
dale going up stream, partly enveloped
steam, that escaped with loud roar frOl
her side. He saw people rush from th
lower to the upper deck and make ready
throw themselves in the river. The ne,
moment the explosion came.
The steam yachts of Jay Gould and E.
Jaffrey were lying at the foot of Twent
third street. Both Gould and Jaffrey ha
just gone ashore when the accident o.
Cured. Upon hearing the explosion the
Immediately turned about, and, putting oil
to the scene of the wreck in their gig
ordered their yachts to follow without d
lay. Both engaged in the work of givir
aid wherever needed with great zeal. Wh'
their yachts appeared all who were in sig
in the water had been picked up.
An Inoidapf in SfncE Snacu1afinu