Daily globe., 1883-08-29
north RIVER HORROR.
An Excursion Steamboat Bursts its
Boiler and Sinks.
TWENTY TO FIFTY LIVES LOST.
A Scene Of Horror Which Beggars
Description.

A Scene of Horror Which Beggars
Description.
New YORK, Aug. 2S.-At about
ten minutes to four this after
noon, people, who were in the neighbor-
hood of the foot of Fourteenth street and
North river, we're startled by the sound of
an explosion coming from the direction of
the river. Looking out in midstream they
saw the Hudson steamer Riverdale envel-
oped in steam. In less than six minutes
afterward she keeled to the side and cap
sized opposite Sixteenth street, she having
foated that far. Instantly about fifteen
different tugs steamed from this city and
Hoboken to where the sunken vessel lay.
There were over 100 passengers on board
the Riverdale when she left the foot Of
Harrison street for Haverstraw, and some
of these were hurled into the air and then
fell back into the water. Others were COM
PEELED to jump into the river to escape the
| sissing, scalding steam, that had filled all
| parts of the vessel or to avoid going down
with her.
The cause of the disaster was the ex-
plosion of the boiler, which was amidships.
When the boiler burst the air was filled
with flying debris and broken woodwork,
and the pilot house snapped like pipe
stem and toppled over into the water.
About fifty people lost their lives, some
| being blown into eternity and others met
their death by being drawn down by the
whirlpool caused by the sinking of the
vessel.
Those who were floating or swimming
about in the river were picked up by the
| tugs and row boats that came to their
rescue. Three dead bodies were also
brought in by the boats, Miss Sesson, of
Tarrytown, and an unknown man, whose
body was taken to the morgue. A boy
| whose identity has not been ascertained
was also taken to the morgue.
Injured Gardner, the evangel-
| ist, Yonkers, N. Y, taken to the New York
hospital.
John Kelly, deck hand, of Inglewood, N.
Y, arms broken, taken to the New York
hospital.
John Moran, deck hand, of Williams
burg, n. Y, legs and side crushed, taken
to New York hospital.
Thos. J. Saul, passenger, PA Somers
street, Brooklyn, scalded, taken to New
York hospital.
W. b. Jennings, Brooklyn, face and
hands burned, taken to New York hos
pital.
Jno. Sailar, mate of the vessel, left thigh
badly crushed, taken to New York hos
pital.
Jno. Cites, of this city, y,aged twenty -four,
badly scalded and in an extremely critical
condition, taken to New York hospital.
Geo. A. Denies, fireman of boat, badly
scalded.
The fremen of several engines and the
hook and ladder companies stationed near
est to the scene of disaster were called out
without their apparatus and did good SER
vice, as did also the members of the steam
boat squad.
Policeman Michael Kellilea, of Charles
street station, was the first to help the
wounded fireman, Geo. A. Denies, on shore
from boat at the foot of Twelfth street.
Il never saw a man in such suffering" said
the officer, "and hope I may not witness
another such sight again. The poor fellow
squirmed and his flesh was peeling off in
blisters. called at once on an ambulance
driver nearest me and had the unfortunate
man sent to st. Vincent's hospital. 1 then
went in search of the other injured persons,
| and when / came to the foot of Fourteenth
street l saw man pulling rapidly to the
wharf. His boat contained the body of a
woman whose legs were broken. She must
have been crushed by falling timbers while
sitting on deck and then blown over
| board"
Of the passengers aboard the Riverdale
some were blown up with the explosion,
but from the best accounts obtained the
number was small as there were but few
in the cabins at the time. No exact idea
can be at present gained as to the number
of passengers on board or the number of
lives lost. Accounts of the number of
passengers vary from fifty to 200. and of
the killed from ten to fifty.
The most trustworthy accounts place
the number of killed at from three to six.
There is reason to believe that nearly
all had a chance to escape. The
hour which the explosion oc-
3:45. The engineer was about entering
steamer was at their landing, when the
ominous rumble was heard proceeding
from the boiler, and in moment terrific
OAPlOSAOA OCOu1IoO. UlOWluR Oub tAO OAllI {
inside of the vessel, and leaving only a
helpless, sinking hull.
The force of the explosion was down
ward apparently, and the rapidity with
which the vessel sank showed that its bot.
tom was blown out. Hardly minute
elapsed between the explosion and the
sinking of the shattered hull in the whirl
pool into which the struggling swimmers
were drawn. The river was strewn with
wreckage, cabins, beams, boards and fur
niture, floating about and proving the
force of the explosion.
Tugs and small boats put out in swarms
from the New York and Jersey shores
and began the work of rescuing the drown
ing passengers and crew. The number
shows how efficient their work was. Ac
counts of the manner of the explosion
differ. Those on boat agree it was sldder
and entirely without warning.
A policeman who had been q boile
maker, and who was standing at the foo
of Bloomfield street, states that his atten
tion was attracted by the sounds of es.
Gaping stream. Looking out on the river
partly in7eloped in stream
| that escaped with a loud roar from he