Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
A F,eNoIsH ACT.

A Quantity of Dynamite Explodes on .
steamer Laden with Women and Chill
drc%n-Slxteen Persons Injured, Ono OF
Them NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Escape of the
Others.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. 1e.-Just att
er the steamer S. NJ. Fulton left her dock
at ten o'clock yesterday morning, and while
she was opposite Pier No. 8, south
wharves, the passengers and crew. were
startled by an 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 passengers in
jured, some Of them severely. There
were over two hundred people on
the boat-mcn, women and children-when
the explosion occurred. The wrecked
upper works took fire and a frigktful panic
ensued. This was speedily checked by the
GOODNESS of a number OF men, who drove
the women and children aft and prevented
many frantic women from leaping over
board. Besides those seriously hurt a
large number were almost or quite
stunned by the shock. The promptness
with which assistance came from all sides
allayed the panic and prevented the fire
from spreading. 1t seems marvellous that
half the people on board escaped death.
Witnesses say that at the moment of the
explosion everything became envelOped in
darkness and the boat rocked as if in a
heavy storm. 1t was supposed that no one
had Ieaped overheard, but q man who Sc
cured a life-preserver came ashore at Wall
nut street wharf, apparently uninjured.
The list OF wounded numbers sixteen, of
whom it is thought one will die.
The passengers were mostly women TAX
ing babies for a fresh-air trip on the river.
Their escape is accounted for by the provi-
dental fact that few of them were in the
forward part of the steamer. The forward
canvas awning had not been set, and the
sun shining there made the passengers seek
cooler spots in the stern of the boat.
Edward Young, the fireman, says that
when the explosion occurred he was carry
ing only t~hirty-tive pounds of steam to the
square inch. Andrew Tinker said that he
inspected the boiler last May and found it
In good condition. The iron was tested. 1t
is stamped $4,000 pounds and broke at
sc, 1000 pounds. The indentation at the head
of the boiler, however, shows beyond doubt
that the explosive force came from without
and not from within.
Captain Wiley, Mr.. Lawrence, Mr.. Mer-
shon and Mr.. Tinker made a careful ex-
animation Of the wreck for the purpose Of
ascertaining the cause of the explosion.
The investigation established the fact that
the explosion was caused by dynamite,
which had been placed forward directly in
the head of the boiler. While the
steamer lay at her wharf the pas
sengers came on board and took
chairs on the hurricane deck or aft.
The officers and deck hands were busy and
no attention was paid to the movements of
passengers, several of them carrying bask-
cts, so that a bundle or package might have
been carried aboard without attracting at
tention.
The official report made to II. f. Ken.
nedy, superintendent of Philadelphia, Will
mington d Baltimore Railroad Company,
under whose supervision the steamboat is
operated, says:
"rhe head of the boiler was indented and
cracked about Il foot in length. The explosion
is believed to have been caused by a cartridge
of some kind placed under the head OF the
boiler maliciously.'
There has been a good deal of rivalry be-
tween the FELTON, and other boats running
to Wilmington, and a good many believe
that the explosion was the result of malice
on the part of some one connected with a
rival line. The loss to the FELTON, is about
81, 500; she was insured for $50, 900.