The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-30
BLOWN 40 PIECES.

Destruction of the steamer Pilot Near Lake
Vile, Cala.-Tw enty-five of the PasseR-
gers Killed and Wounded.
SAN FRANclsco, May 25.-The steamer
Pilot blew up this morning near Lskeville.
1t is estimated fifteen were killed.
The stern-wheel steamer, Pilot, which
blew up this morning, has been running for
some years past in opposition 70 the steam
ers OF the San FrADcisco aud North Picific
Railroad Company. The explosion occu red
near Lakeville, mile above DonAhue Land
ing on an arm of the Bay known as Petaiams
Creek. The first news of the disaster was
conveyed in the following dispatch:
DoxAHUE, May 25.-A heavy repors was nsA.d
from the steamer Pilot and large escape Of -tHlm
was seen. ] thiI sle has blown up. II looks as
though she had sunk.
A second dispatch came stating that twenty
passengers were aboard, aud it is believed
that several San Franciscoans were among
them. Tne excitement throughout the city
rapidly quickensd in intensity. Notwith-
standing every Biographical effort was put
forth no details could be obtained till near 3
this morning. Then dispatch was received
stating that all the forward part OF
the boat was blown away. The
afterpart iloated 300 yards, and then
grounded on the west side OF the c. eek. Two
| persons were killed, seven wounded and
| eleven ara missing, supposed TO be drowned.
| Mrs. McNtaT is missing but her baby was
| saved The wreck IS almost inaccessible.
| Otfctr5 Of TIE steamer Duuhhue reported
| when passing Donahue Landing they noticed
! the Pilot coming down the creek in mid
/ Cos mel. a few minutes after they saw 40
| sgn OF the incoming steamer. RIm0T
! spread that terrible disaster had occurred.
| and the chief engineer of the D0nabae is re-
ported as having ssid be saw an
explosion or cloud of steam or
/ smoke Immediately following. The Donahue
| drew too much water for navigation above
her landing levee. She did not 20 10 tile
| wreck. q message was sent TO Petsluna
| direcang that a relief train with physicians
and nurses for the wounded be i'm me3istsy
| dispatched 70 Lakeville. When the train a.
. rived the surgeons Oh board found b1 little
| to 90 as Of ali ~ those known aud believed
10 be CD board none but the Captain and two
! others, one the pilot could be found. They
| were discovered iu the fields severely inj II
| cd, the Captain the least OF the three. Ssarc1
was made in every direction ia l0Dg
| tulss the bank, aud one sfter
another, four more were found mOce Or less
| serlousIy injured, some with an arm or leg
broken in the fall. Oae was but s.lsaly iu-
! jured, having fallen ia long tuIe grasses.
Out Of these lie managed 10 sc.amoe on
| higher and dryer ground Had ne beea mOce
severely injured lie would have been drowne /
! at hien tide.
The last reports received show eight were
! killed and seven wounded and tea missing.
Most Of the latter are probably dead, bat the
| bodies have not yet been found The names
of the passengers can not be definitely sscer-
| tanned, as no names were recorded at the
! points of departure. IL is known, however,
! that one family Of twelve on board were
bound for Arizona.
The officers and crew of the vessel were: s.
I ]. Graves, master; Horace Bell, nate; Chas.
Farmer, pilot; A. Howes, steward; -,
! cabin boy; N. Silva, engineer; Thos. Craw-
ford, fireman; Gwynn and Thedder, deck
| hands; Peter McCable OF Richmond, and an
unknown man, shipped yesterday. 1t is
! thought many OF the passengers who escap al
scaiding and maDgliDg were drowned, as the
! boat sunk Immediately after the explosion
The Pilot was owned by Captain Graves,
! fcrmeriy master OF the ship Cong 9eror. Ee
purchased her year ago with hes tFad0 adj
certain other property, for $1,000. Tae ex-
plosiOn is attributed TO defective, boilers.
/ Those who Witnesses the explosion from the
steamer DOnahue, say that IL was almost
funny to see the way the smoke stack went
MP. IL seemed, as they say, to leave the ves-
sci in advance and shoot up in the air over
500 yards, coming dcwn again within few
feet of the vessel.
Later dispatches state that Mathews late
of Sonoma Mountain, on his way to Arizona,
lost four children. Another will die; his
wife is crazy. Hegler who had Just par
chased property here, was killed. The most
extraordinary incident is the finding of Mrs.
Geo. =. McNear, a passenger, about mile
and hall from the scene OF the explosion.
She was standing in the mud, still alive, but
unconscious. II is presumed she strug sled
through the mud and weeds for that O. =
taDce in search of relief. sac was i'm % sGi
ately removed 10 LakeyIlle, but died q IL ~
m nutes Gfitr arrival. She Was niece OF G..
". McEea-, grain merchant. OF this eitg. -.