Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-29
TIE JULIA DISASTER.
RECOVERY OF ELEVEN BODIES
ALTOGETHER.
The Search for Others Progressing
Supposed Cause OF the Acct
dent-Coroner's Inquiry,
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE nroonD-vSlos.l
THE VALLEJO DISASTER.
Divers at Work in the Wreck-Cause of
the Explosion.


Divers at Work in the wreck-Cause of
the Explosion.
SAN Francisco, February 28th.-The dis
aster at South Vallejo yesterday continues
the absorbing topic Of interest The steamer
Julia carried more passengers than any
other steamer of the bay and river system,
except the Oakland ferry, and It's perfect
safety was considered as assured as any of
the Oakland ferry steamers. The railroad
people say and the records ofthe Government
inspectors show that the usual required pre-
cautions were as thoroughly observed here
as in any case The boilers were tested in
June last in the usual way by Inspector
James Hillman, of this city, who is prae-
tical machinist. and has had long expert
ence in his official position. The test
showed that the boilers could withstand
without danger, pressure of l65 pounds of
steam, but the certificates granted limited
the pressure to 125 pounds. The gauge of
the steamer showed that at the time of the
explosion there was pressure of only 105
pounds. General Superintendent Fillmore,
of the Southern Pacific, is still on the scene,
and the railroad people will see that the
cause of the disaster is thoroughly investi-
gated.
WHAT DIVER SAYS.
Doubt relating to the exact cause of the
terrible explosion of the steamer Julia at
South Vallejo yesterday morning has been
removed by the investigation of diver.
He worked about the wreck for some time
yesterday afternoon and declares positively
that the two petroleum tanks are intact and
that the end of one of the boilers is blown
clean out, one end being in one part of the
vessel and the other in another.
NAMES OF THE KILLED.
At eleven o'clock last night fourteen
bodies had been found, of which twelve
were identified. The missing number be-
tween fifteen and twenty The bodies
identified are those of Walter Lemore. aged
twenty seven; Melvin ]. Hodgkins, thirty
one; Michael Higgins. forty; Edward Rule,
twenty; Michael Branley, thirty seven !;
Albert Madison, forty. three; William Con-
molly, fifty-two; Theodore C. Stark, forty
four; Olif Nelson, twenty-eight; John
Braverick, thirty-three Joseph Tracas,
fifty. and William Oliver.
TwENTY-FoUR LIVES LOST.
A special dispatch from Vallejo to-day
says: There have been no new develop
thus far. Divers are now al work in the
hull of the steamer. They have found
some clothes, but no bodies. 1t is certain
that twenty-four lives are lost. Many
OOuleS were DlOWn overheard tnat Will not
be recovered for nine or ten days. The
condition of the wounded is favorable in
all cases.
AT RAILROAD HEADQUARTERS.
Up to noon to-day no dispatches of great
importance had come from Vallejo to rail-
road headquarters. From all the informa-
ton received, Assistant General Superin-
tendent Pratt said it was understood that
fifteen bodies had been recovered, and that
fully sixty persons were aboard the steamer
at the time of the explosion. OF eighteen
persons injured, seven were railroad en-
ployes.
THE MoDoC ON DUTY.
The Sacramento river steamer Modoc is
now doing duty in the ferry service, replac.
ing the Julia. The Alameda, now in the Ala
media creek route, will be put in shape and
sent up for permanent service. The Julia in
the past few years had been growing some
what small for the growing traffic of the
Napa Valley line. The Alameda is larger,
and is well fitted for the service. The
traffic will be increasing now, as the branch
line from Napa Junction to Sonoma and
Santa Rosa will bring much Sonoma travel
from the fiourishing Sonoma valley dis
trict.