Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-18
Dl lNAMITE.
An Explosion on Pennsylvania steam.
boat Loaded With Passengers.- No
Lives Lost.
PHu.ApEI.pHiA. Aur l..

PHILADELPHIA, Aug Ia.
At 10 this morning boiler explosion oc-
CURED on the steamer 5. NJ FELTON,, of
Chestnut street wharf. Ii is reported that
several lives have been lost.
The explosion on the steamer s. NJ. FELTON,
occurred just after she had left her dock on
her trip to Wilmington, Del as she was op-
posite the pier. The passengers and cre~
were startled BY an explosion which shook
the boat from stem to stern, and when the
smoke cleared away il was found that the
entire forward part of the vessel above the
water line, had been badly damaged and y
number OF the passengers injured. some of
them severely.
The pilot house and entire upper deck were
lifted and fell to the lower deck. The bow
spirit was scene of complete wreck. The
injured were removed TO the Pennsylvania
hospital. They are SO far as known: John
+. Medium, severely injured about the legs; /;
Silss Reed, who has received severe shock ;
Bessie Bradley, ankle dislocated; Samuel
Cooper, injured about the head and body
John Stephenson. shocked by the conclusion :;
George Cockayre, thigh cut; George Erven,
injured about the head and body. The
steamer will be taken to Wilmington for re-
pairs She is owned by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Co.
The cause of the explosion is uncertain
A passenger and many of those who saw the
explosion from the shore insist that gunpow-
der or some similar explosive 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 VIII
mington, and reports have gained ground that
some malicious person placed AN explosive
on tue deck. This is mere rumor, however,
and the cause Of the explosion will not be
known until further investigation is made.
There were some 500 people on the boat
men, women and children, when the explosion
occurred The wrecked upper deck took
fire and a frightful panic took place. This
was speedily checked by the GOODNESS of n
number of men. large number were al
most or quite stunned by the shock. Some
Sisters OF Charity were in no ways excited or
affected by the upheaval. They passed quietly
among the hysterical passengers. searching
out the wounded. The promptness with which
assistance came from all sides from passing
steamers and from shore allayed the panic
and prevented the fire from spreading. The
passengers were taken ashore and the steamer
was towed down the stream.
LATER-There now seems but little doubt
about the explosion beno due to dynamite or
gunpowder, though no one seems to know
how it was taken on board. II seems mar
v.lous that halt the people on board escaped
death witness said 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
leaped overheard, but a man who secured
life preserver has since come ashore at the
Walnut street wharf apparently uninjured
The list of wounded number l6. Edward
Shea of Philadelphia was injured internally.
The passengers were mostly woman taking
babies for fresh air 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. 1t was
the impression of all who saw it that the ex-
plosive had been intentionally placed there
as no freight is ever allowed to be stored in
front of the boiler bulkhead. A careful ex-
animation of the wreck was made for the
purpose of ascertaining the cause of the ex-
plosion. The investigation established the
fact that the explosion was caused by dyna-
mite. The explosive had been placed for
ward directly in front of the head OF the
boiler. Detectives are investigating the
case. The FELTON, was insured for $50, 900.