Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-20

picious freight taken on board Monday,
and, in fact, none at all excepting two
boxes. One of these was, think, box
of candy and the other n child's casket,
which was somewhat injured. The
steamboat was never in better order than
at the time the explosion took place."
George Mitchell, a new deck hand, who
was taken on Monday morning, had his
ankle badly sprained by the accident.
Joseph Turner, another deck hand, was
pulling in guard line in the rear portion
of the boat on the starboard side and was
nearly blown overheard. He was only
saved by some man near by who seized
hold of him.
John Downs, the mate, said that he was
blown off his feet, but escaped unliurt.
When he saw the captain he said tint the
latter was very much affected, and ex-
claimed, '.Some one has been trying to
kill u.s." He found man, woman and
child wedged in among some of the
broken timber on the fore part of the
lower deck, and managed to extricate
them. The man was badly cut, but the
mate did not know his name.
Annie Carpenter, the colored cook, said
that after the explosion she pulled some
VI tho WoIheh tufouBh tnp WiuuoWh vi
the ladies' cabin, on the lower deck. The
women, she says, were very much fright
ened, and some of them insisted on get
ting out of the windows with their babies.
William X. Buzby, the purser, speaking
of the accident, said: II ran back after
the explosion and tried to signal the
Columbia, but the tugs Churchman and
Altoona got to us before the Columbia
could" Mr.. Buzby said that the excite
ment of the passengers was intense for
several minutes, people having an idea
that they must get OFF the FELTON, in some
way. The efforts of the officers and
crew soon restored order and prevented
the more rash from jumping overheard.
Captain Tyler of the Columbia, tells
this story Of the explosion: Our steamer
was about midway between the wharves
and Ridgway Park, and the FELTON, had
jus. steamed out from Chestnut street
wharf and was about getting under way
when l noticed u bright flame and puff
of smoke, instantly followed by loud
report, come from her main deck. Before
you could snap your fingers the air was
filled with timber flying in all directions.
l saw whole sash fly out into the river,
followed by chairs and stools. / was
standing on the hurricane deck of the
Columbia at the time, and l felt slight
tremor pass over the boat, and then
there was crash of glass. My attention,
however, was not drawn from the FELTON,
by this. l saw "A great many people fall
to the decks of the steamer, and then
followed pandemonium. Men, women
and children rushed wildly about the
decks of the steamer, but, notwithstand-
ing the intense excitement, l did not see
any of the passengers attempt TO jump
into the river. gave orders to the pilot
to steam alongside the FELTON,, but before
we could reach her she was surrounded
by tugboats, which took the passengers
OIL and landed them at the wharyes. -Four
of our skylights were blown out by the
conclusion of the explosion"
The most important information on
the subject of the explosion was
was given Monday by Hiram II. Miller,
n colored man living at Norrisville, N. j.
1t brings out the manner of bringing the
explosive ON board. His statement IL us
follows: 81 took seat alnidships Oh the
starboard side of the min deck and
watched the people as they can't aboard.
| had been seated but short time and
not dozen people were aboard when /
saw man cross the gang-plauk and
saunter up on my side of the deck. The
stranger wore long black coat and black
SLOUGH hat, and was about feet
10 inches in hight. His long,
full beard, that reached we'll down
on his chest, was like his hair, sandy in
color. In his hand he carried square,
black caba, about feet long and 10 to
IL inches deep. He passed me walked to
the open door of the stairway leading to
the hold, unlocked it from its fastening
against the boiler casing, and, after plac-
ing his black bag carefully in the small
passage between the boiler and the stair
way, fastened the door back again and
walked away. l did not not notice where
he went after leaving the bag. Were il
not for the accident l would not have
given the incident any other thought
than the one that entered my mind
at the time which was that the man was
very imprudent in leaving his property
in such an unsafe place. After the ex-
plosion / remembered it all distinctly.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
| innocent looking caba was really I'M in
fernal machine. 1t think dynamite must
have been the explosive used, since no
l
pressed into SO small space. l remember
that the man put the bag down carefully,
as if it contained something that might
| break"
Among the other rumors was one that
a mysterious trunk had been conveyed on
board the Felten Just before the steain-
boat left her wharf This trunk, it was
said, had been brought down to the wharf
in n great hurry, taken on board the
steamer and placed in the forward part OF
the boat. After the explosion excited
theorists declared that it had contained
the Internal machine.
Purser Buzby, however, found the trunk
some minutes after the accident, safe and
sound but covered with debris. II was
taken off the steamer before she started
for Wilmington and taken to the Office.
Captain Joshua Il. johnson, the Felton's
former captain, was satisfied that the ex
plosion was caused by dynamite OIL
an internal machine that hat
been carried ON board for thnt pur
pose. He had no doubt Mt all that Tia,
motive was malice, but said he could mo-
imagine who could be guilty of insti
eating so low and so terrible deed TIL,
explosion was powerful and lifted til,
stlnchions from their sockets from thu
bow to the stern.
Capt. Wiley is firmly of the opinion
thnt the object was to blow hole in til,
boiler, and he believes TINT the spot hat
been selected after a careful examination
Of the parts, probably being on foot TO
several days. The latest theory is that TIN
explosive was put on the boat here. Ii
this connection those who advance TIL
theory are not clear whether it wa
merely dynamite for transportation Il
Philadelphia, or whether it was n machin
set to go off at certain time, whicl
exploded either too soon or too late.
, package of dynamite six inches squar
would he powerful enough to cause nj
the damage that has been done.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FELTON,.
The steamer FELTON, was built by Reane
Sons Il Archbold, Mt Chester, Mt wha
date is not quite certain. According t
Captain Reynolds memory it was ahou
) 1861, while Captain Joshua b. johnson
i who for some time commanded her, think
+ il was about 1867. She is 220 feet long,
l feet breadth of beam, 8 feet depth {
a hold and 6 feet draft. Her carryin
Q allowance is about l 100. She is titte
g with n beam engine, the same thi
was originally put in her, an
y boilers that were built by the Harlan
= Hollingsworth Co. and put in place abo,
e three years ago. She was originally hui
o for Captain Huddel, but is now IL
: property of the Pennsylvania Railroa
e Go. She was completely oyerhault
before being started on her route tn
Il summer by the Pussy & Jones q
n Soon after beginning her trips she brol
l. | a connecting 1n1 nt (ihpstar anil w