New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-29
EYE.wITNEssEs OF THE EXPLOSION.

who lives Iii HODOkcn, was OH u Chi'SV"P'NA
ferry-boat in the middle oflthe river when the
explosion occurred. He said to TRIBUNE reporter: :
Il was locking at the Riverdale when the boiler
blew up There did not appear to be many people
on the boat at the time and We were near enough 10
the boat to see she outlines of persons distinctly
saw no bodies in the air. What noticed was frag-
ments of wood or iron hurled to a considerable
height and clouds of smoke or steam from the MD
die of the steamboat. moment after saw the
explosion heard dull report. There was only
one such sound. When the steam cleared ht'ie
observed that the forward part af the steamboat
was ,jnking I noted the time and it was $3.50
D. m Flames dared out at the sides of the SINKING
vessel but the appeared to remain well out oil
water. For five inmates or moro
the boat kept floating going in that
time from Twefth-st. to about flfteeDth-sI,
so far as could judge. Then the bow sank out of
spnt and the boat rolled over on Its side. There
was TUG boat near the vessel the explosion oc-
cnrrcd and the gboat alongside OF the RIVER
dale for two or three minutes before the steamboat
sank"
GOING To TIE RESCUE,
Captain Robert Il. Farrell, of the hrc-boat Zophar
Mills. was stationed at pier No. AZ. North RIVER,
when tho explosion took place aud immediately
FASTENED to the scene Of disaster. He SAID we
heard only dull, booming sound, large tongue of
the pilot hoase and part of the deck were hurled
several wards into the air. Only few moments
eiapsed before the Zppnar Mills reached the River
dale but as we approached, she lurched forward.
burying her bows deeply in the water
and before we could reach her had keeied over,
exposing her port side upon which were cllrglng
several of the surviving passengers and crow. Tie
huge rent torn IN her side by the explosion must
have taken in tons of water IN the few moments
consumed in reaching the wreck. and we instantly
lowered two lfe-boas and succeeded IN resculng an
old man who had became damned between the rail-
ing and some partially detached barrels. He was
completely exhausted and never spoke, though we
made every effort to revive him. Probably he re-
ceived Injuries from the floating barrels, and lie
died few moments after we lifted him
from the wreck. Thomas Farrell was
picked up at about the same time
bv the other life-boat and had escaped with
no injuries beyond some trifling bruises lie was
able to walk when we landed. and went to his home
in Brooklyn. Thomas Joseph Saul was also rescued
by one of our boats he was greatly exhausted, be-
sides suffering terribly from severe scads about the
face and limbs. He nearly unconscious when
the ambulance arrived. As nearly as | can tell 1t
was $40 p. IN. when We left the pier Tor the scene
of the disaster, aui III five minutes twenty or
thirty steam-tugs and inuumerable small boats
were thrOngIng about The sunken vessel, ana rapidly
picking up the survivors of the passengers and
crew."
Michael Leary was working on the wharf just
heIow Little West Twelfth-st. as the Rivcrdale
came I'D the river When she was Just below the
p,er he saw a cloud of steam burst out. and leaning
on his spade he waited to what would follow.
1ba steam increased in volume and at the same
time the walkIng-beam Of the engine began to stop
A moment later. as the boat was about opposite
where lie Stood the explosion occurred, ana Leary
SAWS that lie saw the smokestack and pilot
house and dozen people tossed up into the ar and
fall back again into the steam and into the nyer.
He ran up to the West Thirteenth-st. Slip where
the derrick boat Independence was lying, load
ing a boat with stone. He shouted to the
derrick men, but they had Already
seen the accident and were hurrying
under the direction of Captain Gotham TO give help
Captain Gotham had seen the whole occurrence
from the deck Of the derrick boat. He first saw the
Rlyerdale when It was opposite Bogart-st. Al that
time he saw there WAS something wrong with It,.
The expansion Joint suddenly began to emit
steam His conclusion was that one OF the
boilers had given out. He reasoned that IL
q small hole bad opened in one OF the boilers the
steam would rush out he saw 1T dong ana drive
every one out OF the enginc-house Captain
Gotham Immediately started to give help All
the time the Rivcrdale was sinking bow foremost,
ord Canaan Gotham saw "A man cut OIL at the DOW
Ginning the flagstaff. AS the water rose
about the flagstaff he climbed higher Presently
the flagstaff disappeared and the man was leIe
struggling in the water; a moment alterward III"
boat put out and rescued MN.
THE VIEW FROM THE SHORE.
Joseph Winter. the superintendent OF the blec'ric
Candle Company, at FOurteenth-st. ana thirteenth
ave-. vas looking from the window III the THIRD
story of the building at the time of the explosion.
al noticed the Riverdae out in the stream" he
said to the reporter, "and l was about
turning away when boy at an
other window called my attention
TO the movement of the people ON her. Almost the
same instant there was cloud shot up from her,
and could see the pilot house 90 up IN the ar l
could rot say whether any people were DoWn up
Win IT. IL only lasted second, aud didn't even
know it was an explosion untl saw '11 ,s On
board all rush 10 one side. linen inc tugs Oh
the river began to sail IN around the hlVerdale anu
pretty soOn-I should think IN about 1--WE minutes
sue gave a dive aud seemed 10 pilch 10 oow
| fra mi the stern kept above the water. coulu
zee the Jcople getting of from her INTO ono OF tno
tugs aud some OF them could see had jumper ihto
"" One of the workmen in Delamater's Iron Works,
| who was standing at the Junction Ot L weIIIh anu
We.tsIs AT the time of the disaster, sald: nap
| nened TO be watching the kiverdae as size came up
In the middle OF the stream, ana saw leh VI oVoih
| shooting out somewhere aihiu5hipS Az VIC ' III
| time sne began to whistle. But tne sounu i"x -
| scarcely began when it was drowned III klnu vi
roaring noise and at the time the JeI Oh ste
was swallowed up IN a column which seemed 10
cana ont ali over the middle of the boat Then the
ton of the boat appeared to be lifted INTO the ar.
| IL did not peem TO be thrown mp. but to go qulte
sIowy at first and then Ii all broke up INTO spiintets
| mi through the CT. uds of steam saw at least
! three peops IN the air. Then the boat swung over
an that saw the full face of her decks and should
have judged there were nearly 100 people Oh ,bsn
| They were AL fpnnIDg about at nrst, Dut then 1
saw them gong back toward the stern ana tno
| %,Svs slowly lisar D, arcd under " ater."
| INCIDENTS OF HE DISASTER.