Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-18
A Steamers Boiler ExpIodss In
iurying Sixteen Persons.
DYNAMITE PLACED NEAR The BOILER
By Some Unknown VilIian---The YES
sci Badly Wrecked
Theories.
DETECTIVES WORKING UP THE CASE.

lnc 5LcoAcE -. II. L 0AtOn VI tnO SAOotANs
street wharf. The news created intense ex.
citement, and all sorts Of rumors were at
once circulated, but the following later de-
tails give the extent OF tie disaster 90 far
as can now be ascertained:
The explosion on the steamer Samuel N.
FELTON, occurred Just after she had left her
dock on her trip to Wilmington, as she was
opposite pier 8, south Whsrves. The psssen-
gers 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 yes.
sci above the water line had been badly
damaged, and number Of passengers in
jured, some of them believed fatally. The
pilot house and upper deck was lifted and
fell to the lower deck, and the bow also
presented scene Of wreck.
Tugs proceeded at once to the injured
vessel and with the assistance Of the police
tug, VIM. S. Stokley, which was lying near
by, at once proceeded to remove the injured
The ambulance Of the Pennsylvania Hospi.
tsl soon arrived and took most Of the in
iured to that institution.
List of the Victims.
The injured so far as now known are as
follows:
John E. Medium, aged years, living
in Chester; severely injured about the
legs.
Silas Reed, residing at 1920 Hancock
street; body shocked and confused.
Bessie Brady residing at 239 Spruce
street; ankle dislocated.
Samuel Cooper, residing at 4400 Frank,
ford road; injured about the head and
body.
John Stephenson, residing at 1925 Pavo-
MIA street, Camden; shocked by the con-
cussion.
George Cocksyne residing at 269 South
Front street; thigh cut,
George Erken, injured about the limbs
and body.
J.B Chester a deck-hand, living at Ches,
ter; face, head and body badly cut and
bruised.
The steamer, Immediately after the re-
moval OF the passengers, wsS towed down
The river, and, it is said, will be taken to
Wilmington for repairs. She is owned by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
The Cause of the Explosion
is as vet uncertain. The passengers and
many of those who saw the explosion from
| the shore, insist that gunpowder or some
| similar explosive, was ignited on the for
| ward deck, and several persons who were
standing on the pier declared that they dis
| tinctly 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 explo-
| sive on the deck This is mere rumor
however, and the cause Of the explosion
will not be known until further investigation
is made
At the time of the explosion the boat was
| crowded with excursionists, and 1t Is est-
mated that about 500 persons were on board
most of them women aud children. Eye
| Witnesses of the terrible scene state that II
was q wonder that many Of the passengers
we're not killed outright.
The list Of
| hOunueu NumDeEs
IS follows:
Jesse Bradley, of Philadelphia, ankle dis
located.
J.B. Chester, of Chester, side injured.
George Cockaine, OF Philadelp phis, back
and thigh hurt by falling wood work.
Samuel Cooper, OF Frsnkford, hurt about
the cbest and head.
George Erwin, devkbsnd, severely injured
10 side.
James E. Mcdonald child, Of Chester,
leg broken.
Silas Reed, of Philadelphia, slightly iu-
| jured.
George Mitchell, deckhand, of Bridgeton,
n. j., right hand severely cut and ankle
sprained.
John McCuskey, passenger, injured about
the breast
Edward Spear, of Philadelphia, injured
internally. It is thought that he will die.
John Stevenson, of Camden, slightly in
iured
Chas. Quinlan, of Philadelphia, badly
bruised about he body.
James Valentine, Of Wilmington, Del,
engineer OF the FELTON,, cut about the head.
John L. Vantine, OF Chester complicated
disloca'ion OF the ankle.
Edward Young, OF Wilmington, Del,
fireman OF the FELTON,, injured about the
| head.
George Wilson, engineer, was staining
on the wharf when the explosion occduei,
was thrown backward over bench and su:-
tanned injuries OF right wrist.
The passengers were mostly women taking
babies for a fresh air trip on the river.
| Their
Remarkable Escape
is accounted for BY the providential fact
that few Of them were in the for ward part
OF the steamer, as the forward canvass
awning had not been set and the sun shin
ing there made the passengers seek cooler
spots on the stern OF the boat. E1Tsrd
Young. the fireman, says that when the ex-
uIosion occurred he was carrying only thir
~ i've pounds oi steam TO the square inch
Andrew Laukerd said to-day that he iuspec
ted tie boiler last May, aud found itiu good
condition, The iron was tested 1t is stamped
$4,000 pounds and broke at SO, 900 polnts.
The ipdentation in the head of the boiler
however. shows beyond doubt that the ex
plo,iye force caue from without and not
nom within. Capt. Wiley, Mr.. Lawrencs
Mr.. Mershon and Mr. Linker made care
full examination of the wreck for the purpose
of ascertaining the cause of the explosion
The investigation established the fact ths
the explosion was
Caused by Dynamite.
The explosive had been placed forward
lust in front of the head of the boiler. Th'
steamer came up from Wilmington at 9:SC
and lay at her wharf until 10 o'clock las