Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-20
EXPLOSION ON TINE rp1roN.
A Claim That Gunpowder Was
Set OFF ON the Forward Deck.

FELTON, occurred Just after she had left
her dock on her trip to Wilmington,
and she was opposite pier No. 8, south
wharves. The passengers and crew were
startled by am 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 injured some of them severely.
The pilot. house and entire upper deck
was lifted and fell TO the lower deck.
The boat 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.
John %. Medium, aged o years, living
in Chester, severely injured about the
legs.
Silas Reed, residing at 1920 Hancock
street. Philadelphia, badly shocked and
confused.
Bessie Bradley, residing at 239 Spruce
street, Philadelphia, ankle dislocated.
Samuel Cooper, residing at No. 400
Frankford Road, Philadelphia, injured
about the head and body.
John Stephenson, residing at 1895
Pavonia street, Camden, shocked by the
conclusion.
George Cockayre, residing at 200 South
Front street, Philadelphia, thigh cut.
George Erven, injured about the limbs
and body.
James Valentine of Wilmington, en-
gineer on the FELTON,, cut about the head.
Edward Young of Wilmington, fireman
of the FELTON,, injured about the head and
face.
George Wilson, engineer of the police
tug Stockley, who was standing on the
wharf when the explosion occurred, in
juries Of the right wrist.
The passengers and many OF those who
saw the explosion from the shore, insist
that gunpowder or some similar ex-
plosive was ignited on the forward deck,
and several persons who were standing
on the pier declare that they distinctly
noticed the odor of gunpowder. There
has been considerable rivalry between the
FELTON, and other boats running to
Wilmington, and reports have gained
ground that some malicious person placed
an explosive ON the deck. This is mere
rumor, however, and the cause of the ex-
plosion will not be know until further
investigation is made. ..
PHILADELpHIA, Aug. 17.-Captain Wiley
had gone oft on the hurricane deck to see
that his lines were in proper condition.
He thought the boiler had exploded and
that the vessel had caught fire. The
deck hands on the vessel, which is owned
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
were all we'll drilled and under perfect
discipline.
The fire brigade was at once rushed to
the forward part of the vessel where the
explosion had occurred, and got the hose
ready, but when a hurried examination
had been made, it was found that the fire
was slight and the explosion had been
caused by some substance placed on
board without the knowledge of its
officers.
Finding but little fire the captain, first
mate, John A. Downs, and Pilot George
N. Curry, assisted by the crew and some
of the passengers, who had remained
cooler than the others, attempted to
paeify the frightened men, women and
children on board, and after n little while
succeeded.
Life preservers had been pulled out of
the boxes and hurriedly fastened about
the bodies of the ladies and children, but
after the first period of excitement was
over and the vessel found to be in no
danger of sinking, these were taken off
and thrown away.
On deck the scene of ruin was even
worse than that below. The force of the
explosion had cut away a wooden beam
9xl0 inches in thickness, which extended
from one side of the deck to the other.
This was cut in three pieces as clearly
ms though il had been done with saw,
and Just above, where the beam was
broken, the indentation in the head of the
boiler was to be seen.
The wood of the upper deck forward of
the smoke stack was nothing but ruins.
From this point the deck began to gradu-
ally slope downward until that portion
directly under the pilot house was
reached and then everything seemed to
have fallen in heap ON the lower deck.
All the machinery was exposed, the
wooden sheathing being torn from around
it like SO much paper.
Government Inspector of Boilers
Andrew Tinker and Inspector of Hulls
Joseph Mershor were taken down the
river on board the tug Stokley and over,
took the FELTON, near Fort Mifllin. They
went on board and made as thorough IN
inspection of the wreck rs circumstances
would permit. They, too, are of the
same mind MS the captain, and think that
dynamite or powder was the substance.
Captain Wiley was seen on board the
FELTON, while she was being towed down
the river and said lie had about $50 ol
900 passengers ON board when the vesse
left Chestnut street wharf. 81 was wait
ing to hear the 'all clear bcll," sait
he, "when the thing happened. In thu
irst place, want to say that we dom
carry anything that is likely to explode
The vessel lay with her head dow
stream, ready to shoot down the river n
soon as we were clear. was ZIP on tn
hurricane deck as usual and wen
aft TO see whether the lines were all clea
forward. / got as far us the king post
and had my left hand on the rod, lookinI
over the side with my right read
to give the 'all clear bell, whel
the explosion occurred. How th
pilot escaped death is mystery to mt
He was standing directly over the plac
where the explosive material must hay
BEEN and when the pilot house fell h
got out of the rubbish without scratch
At first thyuglt the boiler had explode
and went down TO get the hose out, bt
cause / felt sure il the boiler had e,
ploled there must he fire somewhere. Th
passengers interfered with my movement
greatly, and when l found thei
was no fire / turned my a
tention to quieting the passenger
My crew and some of the passenger
turned in and helped me and in lit
while they we're all right We looked ft
the woundr d men and when the tul
came alongside they were taken ashore
Suuerntpn lent Metilinchey of Rid
way Park says: 1.-The report was iii
that of u cannon. IL was treinendou
Immediately after the report came gre
Duff of smoke from the starbonrd side
the FELTON, aud the cries of the phssel
gers. For few minutes after Il
explosion the FELTON, drifted, but ht
engines afterwards started agnin, and 81
proceeded down the river, showing th
her machinery was not damaged. L
satisfied tint the explosion was caused
EITHER DYNAMITE OR GUNPowDER.
l am inclined to think it was dynamii
for had il been gunpowder fire won
have followed, which would not be like
TO have occurred in the case of dyI
mite"
The wrecked steamer arrived ut
wharf OF the Pussy X Jones Compa
at $50 O'Clock Monday afternoon. The
had been constant watch kept for
arrival from all points where n view
the river and creek c1uli be obtaine
Several of the custom house people Ike