The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-28
THIRTY TO FORTY LIVES LOST
Disastrous Result of the Explosion of q
Ferry Steamer in San Francisco Bay.
The Vessels Boiler Explodes as the Boat
Leaves Her Dock, and Thirty or Forty of
the Seventy Persons on Board Perish.

VALLEJO CAL. Feb. GA disastrous ex-
plosion occurred this morning at South Vallejo,
on tho ferry steamer Julia, plying between
South Vallejo and Vallejo Station. The steamer
about to leave her moorings. few minutes
after o'clock. and had about seventy persons
on board, many of whom going across
the strait to work in the lumber-yards on the
other side. just the deckhands were hauling
in the lines there was loud explosion, and
sheet of flame shot in the air. Those who werS
on deck at the time hurled overheard by
the force of the explosion. and several were
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 the
assistance Of the unfortunate passengers. In
few minutes all was confusion, and men,
and children who had relatives
on board the Julia were wailing and
wringing their hands as they rushed around
the wharf The mon on the wharf were anxious
to aid, but there seemed to be but little for
them to do, as most of the passengers were be-
low the decks at the time OF the explosion and
we're either killed outright or drowned when the
water poured in on them. It had been custom
ary for all the passengers to go below the decks
in the morning, as t was cold and foggy. A
few who were on the deck and were not rend-
cred insensible by the force of the shock were
quickly assisted ashore ny the people on the
wharf. To add to the intensity of the scene large
vats of petroleum stored on the wharf caught fire.
and the flames spread rapidly. The fire COM
panies were unable to accomplish
anything there was no water
owing to the tide being out. and fifteen minutes
after the explosion, about six hundred feet Of
burning. When the tide came in they managed
to get supply OF water, and at noon had the
fire under control While the fremen and
others were trying to the wharf large
number of boatmen rowing around the
wreck. seeking to recover bodies. Soon after
the explosion occurred the steamer had burned
to the waters edge and sunk to the bottom, with
a great number of the victims buried under the
debris in the cabin. It is believed that between
thirty and forty lives were lost. Up to late
hour this afternoon twelve bodies had been re-
covered, two of which were burned beyond
recognition. The names of the other ten vic
Tins are as follows:
Melvin Hodgkins, Joseph Fragas VIM. Samap
Olef Nelson, Alfred Madison, Michael Branley,
John Brevick, VIM. Stark, Edward Rule, and
man named Higgins.
The names OF probably less than half of the
passengers who were on board of the steamer at
the time of the explosion are known, which
makes it impossible TO tell how many sunk with
the wreck. but at least fifteen who are known
to have been the steamer still missing.
Captain Gedge, of the Julia, was severely in
jured as was also Charles Heath, the pilot.
Twelve or fifteen others are also very seriously
injured.
The record of the Julia is a bad one and this
is the first terrible accident on the steamer.
In September 1886. the head of her boiler blew
out instantly killing nipe of the crew and scald-
ing the clerk and another officer of the boat so
badly that they fingered for only few days.
The cause of the disaster to-day is not known.
though it is generally believed that the ex-
also prevailed that the fire was in some way
communicated to the petroleum tank and that
the explosion occurred in that quarter. The
steamer burned petroleum for fuel Vallejo is
tweniy-nine miles up the bay from San Fran
cisco.
At4 p. NJ the coroner decided to hold an i'm
quest over the bodies that had been recovered
for the purpose OF Identifying them. 1t was no
easy task, as all the bodies were more or less
distgured. For instance, in corner OF a
that IL was impossible to identity them except
by scraps of clothing on the body. Near by Law
another body, the skull cleft in twain and the
hands blown off. The face of still another body
was mass Of charred fssh tho legs being
broken in several places When the jury sus-
pended their labors thirteen bodies had been
identified. The most OF the passengers IN the
ill-fat-d beat were laborers. Had IL been an
hour latsr several of the heavy capitalists of
San Francisco would have been on the boat as
they go MP into the valley beyond on Saturday
night and return on Monday morning.