Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-18
A BOMB ON A STEAMER.
10 PERSONS INJURED AND THE
BOAT BADLY DAMAGED.

StrOnA Suspicious that the Explosion
was the Work or Malicious Rival
Line-The Escape from Frlghtful
Loss of Life Almost Miracle.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. ia boiler ex-
plosion occurred on the steamer S. NJ.
FELTON, of Chestnut street wharf this
morning. The explosion occurred just
after she had left her dock on her trip to
Wilmington, Del. AS she was opposite
pier eight, South wharf. the passengers
and crew were startled by the explosion,
which shook the boat from stem to stern,
and when the smoke cleared away it was
found that the entire forward part of the
vessel above the water line had been
badly damaged and a number Of pas
sengers injured, some Of them severely.
THE DECK LIFTED OFF.
The pilot-house and entire upper deck
was lifted and fell to the lower deck. The
bow presented a scene of complete wreck.
Tugs proceeded at once to the injured
vessel, and, with the assistance OF police,
the tug William S. Stokely, which was
lying near by, at once proceeded to re-
move the injured. The ambulance of the
Pennsylvania hospital soon arrived, and
took most of the injured to that institu-
t1on. SO far as known seven persons were
injured. The steamer was, Immediately
after the removal of the passengers, towed
down the river, and, it is said, will be
taken to Wilmington for repairs.
THE WORK OF FIEND.
The mischief was not caused by the
explosion of the boilers, and there is al
ready settled conviction that it was the
work of design. The explosion occurred
in the bow of the boat forward OF the
boilers, where no freight Is ever slowed.
One boiler head is cracked across and
deeply lndented, but the indentation Is
from without and not from within, as
would have been the case if the explosive
force had been inside the boiler.
FUMES OF POWDER.
Many persons affirm that the air was
filed with the fumes of some kind OF pow
der, and the completeness of the wreck of
the forward part of the boat suggests
dynamite or some equally powerful ex-
plosiVe of small bulk which could be car
ried on the boat as parcel of hand lug
gage.
The location precludes the possibility of
it having been sent aboard as freight.
The air is full Of conjecture. The boat
belonged to the Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore railroad, and is large and
well equipped boat. Two hundred pas
sengers were on board when the explosion
occurred.
BITTER RIVALRY.
There has been considerable rivalry be-
tween the FELTON, and other boats running
to Wilmington, and reports have gained
ground that some malicious persons
placed an explosive on the deck of the
wrecked upperworks, that fire and a
frightful panic ensued. This was speedi-
ly checked by the GOODNESS Of number of
men who drove tho women and children
aft and prevented many frantic women
from leaping overheard. Besides those Sc
riously hurt a large number were almost
or quite stunned by the shock. An Incl
dent of the disaster was the presence of
some Sisters of Charity, who seemed in no
way excited or affected by the terrific up
heaval.
THE SISTERS AID THE INJURED.
They passed quietly among the shrek
ing passengers, sought out the wounded,
and in one case one of the Sisters was seen
to make bandages out of her clothing.
The prOmptness WITT which assistance
came from all sides, from passing steam
ers and from the shore, allayed the panic
and prevented the fire from spreading.
The passengers were taken ashore, and
the steamer was towed down the stream.
She is not injured below the water line,
and beyond the tearing away Of her works
forward is uninjured. 1t Is said that the
cost of repairing her will not exceed
$1,000.
NATURE OF THE INJURIES.
The list of injured. so far as known,
numbers sixteen Half dozen of them
are SO seriously hurt that some Of them
will die. A number of legs and arms
were broken. One man had a foot blown
off and one was crushed internally. 1t
seems marvellous that one-half the people
on board escaped death An eye witness
says that at the moment OF the explosion |
everything became enveloped In dark |
ness and the boat rocked as il I'm heavy
storm. 1t was supposed that no one |
leaped overheard, but man who secured !
life preserver afterwards came ashore |
at the Walnut street wharf apparently |
uninjured.
THE PASSENGERS MOSTLY WOMEN.
The passengers were mostly women
taking babies for a fresh-sir trip on |
the river. Their remarkable escape Is
accounted for by the prOvidential fact |
that but few OF them were in the forward |
end OF the steamer. As the forward can /
yass awning had not been set and the sun /
was shining there, the passengers sought |
cooler spots in the stern Of the boat. II |
the canvas had been set and the passen- |
gers bad congregated on the forward deck /
a lcrge number would have been killed |
or wounded. II hole had been blown in /
the boiler no doubt many Of the 200 per.
sons on board Of the boat would have been /
ecalded 10 death.
1873 ROUNDS IN THE RING.