The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-29
BLOWN int ETERNITY
Passengers On EsST-BOst Meet Death
Without an 10 :: nts Warning.
A Horribly Fatal Boiler Explosion at VAL
lejO. Cal.-0ver Thirty Persons Be-
lieyed to Have Been Killed
No Explanation.

VALLEJO, CAL, Feb. 27.-A disastrous ex-
plosion occurred this morning, at South
Vallejo, on the ferry steamer Julia, p lying
between South Vallejo and Vallejo Station.
The steamer had about seventy persons on
board, many of whom were going cross
the strait to work in the lumber yards on
the other side. Just as the deck-hands
were hauling in the lines there was loud
explosion, and sheet OF flame shot up in
the air. Those who were on deck at the
time were hurled overheard by the force
of the explosion, and several of them were
killed outright by being strack by pieces
OF the debris, Will ch were sent flying In all
directions The explosion attracted the at
tention of persons living In thu vicinity,
and men rushed to the assistance of the
unfortunate passengers. In few minutes
all was confusion, for men, women and
children who had relatives on b oard the
illlsted Julia were wailing 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 explo-
sion, and were either killed outright or
drowned when the water poured in on
them. 1t had been customary for all
passengers to 90 below the decks in the
morning as it was cold and foggy. A few
who were on the deck and were not rem
dered iAsensible by the force of the shock,
were quickly assisted ashore by the
people on the wharf. To add to the
intensity Of the scene. large vats of petro-
leum stored on the wharf caught fire and
the flames spread rapidly. The fire CON-
panles were unable to accomplish anything
as there was no water owing to the tide
being out, and fifteen minutes after the
explosion about GOO, feet of the wharf
freight depot and telegraph offices were
burning. When the tide came in they
managed to get supply OF water and at
noon had the fire un der control.
While the hremen and others were trying
20 save the wharf a large number Of boat
men were rowing around the wreck seek
ing to recover bodies. Soon after the ex-
plosion occurred the steamer had burned
TO the waters edge, and sunk to the bot.
tom, with a great number of the victims
buried under the debris in the cabin. 1t is
believed that between thirty and forty
lives were lost. Up to q late hour this af-
terDoon twelve bodies had been recovered,
two of which we're burned beyond recogni-
ton. The names Of the other ten victims
are as follows: Melville Hodgkins. Joseph
Fragas William Saman, Olef Nelson, AL
fred Madison, Michael Branley, John Bre-
wick. William Stark, Edward Rule and
man named Higgins.
The record Of the Julia is q bad one, and
this is not the first terrible accident on the
steamer. Ia September, 1866, the head of
her boiler blew out, instantly killing nine
of the crew and scalding the clerk and an-
other 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 explosion
occurred in the boiler; but the impression
also prevails that the FIRE was in some way
communicated to the petroleum tank, and
that the explosion occurred in that quar-.
ter. The steamer burned petroleum for
fuel. Vallejo is twenty-nine miles up the
bay from San Francisco.
AT p. N, the Coroner decided to hold
an inquest 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 dis6gured. For instance,
in one corner of the shed lay a mass of
human remains so charred that it was i'm.
possible to ideuti ify them except by scraps
of clothing on the body. Near by lay
another body, the skull cleft in twain and
the hands blown off. The face OF still an
other body was a mass of charred flesh.
Legs were broken in several places. When
the Jury suspended their labors thirteen
bodies had been identified. The most of
the passengers in the Inflated boat were
laborers. Had it been an hour later, sew
eral of the heavy capitalists of San Fran
francisco would have been on the boat, as
they 60 up into the Valley beyond on Sat-
urdsy night and return Monday morning.