The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-18
EXPLOSION ON A STEAMER.
Diabolical Attempt to Destroy Passen-
ger Steamer with Dynamite.
The Firing of Dynamite Cartridge Causes
the Boiler to Explode-Sixteen Per-
sons Injured, but None Killed.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17.-Just after the
steamer S. NJ. FELTON, had left her dock on her
trip to Wilmington, Del, and when 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 warerline had
been badly damaged and number of passen-
gers injured, some of them severely. The plot
house and entire upper deck were lifted and fell
to the lower deck The bow presented scene
of complete wreck. Tugs proceeded at once to
the injured vessel and with the assistance of
the police tug William S. Stokley, which was
lying near by, at once proceeded to remove the
injured The ambulance of the Pennsylvania
Hospital soon arrived and took most of the
injured to that institution. The injured,
SO far as known, are: John E. Medium,
aged nine years severely injured about the legs;
Silas/Reed, badly shocked and confused; Bessie
Bradley, ankle dslocated; Samuel Cooper, in
jured about the head and body; George Erven,
injured about the limbs and body. The steamer
is owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany and is a large, well equipped boat. If she
is not injured below the water line the damage
will not be heavy. The cause of the explosion is
as yet uncertain. The passengers and many of
Chose who the explosion from the shore
insist that gunpowder or some similar explosive
was ignited ON the forward deck, and several
persons who standing the pier declare
that they distinctly noticed the odor of gunpow
der. There has been considerable rivalry be-
tween the FELTON, and other boats running to
Wilmington and reports have gained ground
that some malicious person placed explosive
on the deck. This is mere rumor however,
and the cause Of the explosion will not be known
until further investigation is made.
There were over 200 people on the boat-men,
women and children-when the explosion oc-
cured. The wrecked upper works took fire and
O. frichtful panic ensued. This speedily
checked by the GOODNESS of number of men who
drove the women and children aft and prevented
many frantic women from leaping overheard.
Besides those seriously hurt large number
were almost or quite stunned by the shock The
prom ptfless with which assistance was rendered,
from all sides, allayed the panic and prevented
the fire from spreading. The steamer is not
injured below her water line, and the cost OF
repairing her will not exceed 81. 800,
There now seems but little doubt about the
explosion being due to dynamite or gunpowder
though no one seems to know how 1t was taken
on board It 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 she rocked
as II IN heavy storm. 1t was supposed that no
one !eaped overheard, but a man who secured
life preserver has since come ashore at Walnut
street wharf, apparently uninjured.
The list of wounded number sixteen, as fol-
lows Jesse Bradley, of Philadelphia ankle
dislocated; j. B. Chester, Of Chester, side in
Jured George Cocoaine. Of Philadelphia, back
and thigh hurt by falling woodwork: Samuel
Cooper, of Frankfort, hurt about the chest and
head: George Erwin, a deck hand, severely in
iured in the side; James E. Mcdonald child, of
lar hvnlr Roa6 IF LODI lrhi
slightly injured George Mitchell deck hand, of
Brldgeton, N. j.. hand severely cut and ankle
spraned: John McCusker. passenger, injured
about the breast Edward Spear, of Philadel-
phia injured internally. Ut is thought
he will die. John Stevenson, of Camden,
n J., slightly injured; James Quinlan. of Phila-
delphia. badly bruised about the body; James
Valentine, of Wilmington, Del, engineer Of the
FELTON,, cut about the head; John l.. NanTyne,
of Chester Pa, complicated dislocation of ankle:
Edward Young of Wilmington, Del, fireman Of
the FELTON,, injured about the head and face.
George Wilson, engineer, was standing on
the wharf when the explosion occurred, and
was thrown backward over bench, and sus-
tanned injuries of the right wrist The passen-
gers were mostly women, taking babies for q
fresh airing the river. Their remarkable
escape is accounted for by the fact that but few
of them were in the forward part of the steamer.
Edward Young the fireman, says that when
the explosion occurred he was car
rying only thirty-fve pounds of steam to the
IL.
he inspected the boiler last May, and found it in
good condition. The iron tested. 1t was
stamped $4,000 pounds and broke at 5000
pounds. The indentation in the head Of the
boiler however, shows beyond doubt that the
explosive force came from without and not from
within. An investigation established the fact
that the explosion was caused by dynamite. The
explosive had been placed forward, directly in
front of the head of the boiler The steamer
came up from Wilmington at half past
O'clock and lay at her wharf until !
o'clock last night. She lay at Whining
ton in charge of Andrew JONES' of
Bridgeton n. j. He could not be communicated
with today, but Captain Wiley says that if
stranger had boarded or attempted to board the
steamer last night the Waterman would have
been informed Of the fact While the steamer
lay at her wharf. this morning. the passengers
came aboard and took seats on the hurricane
deck. The officers and deck hands were busy.
and no attention was paid to the movements of
passengers. Several of them carried baskets so
that a bundle or package might have been
ried aboard without attracting attention.
The official report made to Fl. F. Kenney
superintendent of the Philadelphia, Whining
ton & Baltimore Railroad Company, under
whose supervision the steamboat is operated
says: The head of the boiler was indented
and cracked about foot in length The explo-
sion is believed TO have been caused by
cartridge of some kind placed under the head of
the boiler, malciously."
FELTON, was insured for $50, 900, of which $25 900
was placed in the London, Liverpool and Globe
and $25, 900 was held by the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company.
Tla Ind RI II in