, 1888-02-28
Exploslon on q Ferry Boat.

VALLEJO, Cal, Feb. GA disastrous
explosion occurred this morning at South
Vallejo on the ferry steamer Julia, plying
between South Vallejo and Vallejo sta
ton. The steamer was about to leave her
moorings a few minutes after 6 O'Clock
and had about seventy persons on board.
many of whom we're going across the strait
to work in the lumber yards on the other
side. Just as the deck hands were haul
ing in the lines there was n loud explosion
and a sheet of flame shot in the air. Those
who were ON deck at the time we're hurled
overheard by the force of the explosion
and several of them killed outright by
being struck by pieces of debris which
were sent flying in all directions.
The explosion attracted the attention of
persons living in the vicinity and men
rushed to assist any of the unfortunate
passengers. In a few minutes all was
confusion, for men, women and children
who had relatives on board the Inflated
Julia were wailinE and wringing their
hands as they rushed around the wharf.
The men on the wharf were anxious to
aid, but there seemed TO be but little for
them to do, as most Of the passengers
were below the decks at the time of the
explosion and were either killed outright
or drowned when the water poured in on
them.
1t had been customary Tor passengers
to 20 below the decks in the morning, as
it was cold and ioggy A few who were
on deck and were not rendered insensiblc
by the force of shock were quickly as
sisted ashore by men on the wharf To
add to the Intensity of the scene, large
watts of petroleum stored On the wharf for
replenishing the steamers tanks, caught
fire and the flames spread rapidly. The FIRE
companies were unable to accomplish any
thing. as there was no water, owing to the
tide being out. and fifteen minutes atrer
the explosion GOO feet of the wharf,
freight depot and telegraph Office were
burning. When the tide came in they
managed to get a supply of water, and at
noon bad the fire under control.
While the firemen AMI others were try
ing to save the wharf, a large number OF
h0atncn were rowing around the wreck
seeking TO recover bodies and a number OF
men from he United States navy yard at
Mare Island and from Other steamers, as
sisted in everyway to secure the remains
OF the passengers.
While the search was gong on women
and children were standing with their
backs from the burning wharf and and as
each body was brought to the surface and
placed into the shed a crowd would
gather around and an exclamation would
break forth from some one that some re-
iative of the dead had recognized some
mangled remains. Soon after the ex-
plusion occurred the steamer had burned
to the waters edge and sunk to the bot
tom with a greater number of victims
burned under the debris in the cabin. 1t
is believed that between thirty and forty
lives were lost.
Up to a late hour this afternoon twelve
bodies had been recovered, two of whom
were burned beyond recognition. The
names of the other ten victims are as fol-
lows Melvin Hodgkins, Joseph Fra
gas, Wm. Saman, Olaf Nelson, Alfred
Madison. Michael Branley, John Bre.
wick, William Stark, Edward Rule. and n
man named Higgins. Thenamcs ofhalf of
the passengers who we're On the steamer
at the time of the explosion are not
known and it is impossible to tell how
many sunk with the wreck, but at least
fifteen, who are known to have been on
the steamer, are still missing.
Capt. Gedgc of the Julia was severely
injured as was also Charles Heath, the
pilot. Twelve or fifteen others were also
severely injured.
The record of the Julia is IA bad one,
and this is not the first terrible accident
on the steamer. In September, 1866, the
head Of her boiler blew out, instantly kill
ing nine of her crew, AMI sailiiug the
clerk and another officer OF the crew SO
badly that they fingered for only a few
days The cause of the disaster to-day is
not known, though 1t is generally believed
that the explosion occurred in the boiler.
The impression also prevails that the fire
vas in some way communicated to the
Petroleum tank. and that the explosion
occurred in that quarter, The steamer
burned petroleum for fuel.
Nallego is twenty.ninc miles up the bay
from San Francisco.