Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-10-05
TIE STEAMBOAT HORROR
Thrilling Stories of the corona's
Passengers.
HURLED HIGH INTO THE HEAVENS


A Coiorcd Boys Herolsm Costs Him Hia
1ifo-seeond Engineer Shook Drowned
Before fsis Compaulons' Eyes Thirty
six We're Drowned or blown 70 Atoms.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct a.--The steamer City
Of St Louis has arrived, bringing nearly all
Of tho rescued passengers and crew Of the
steamer Corona, the boiler Of which exploded
Thursday morning, killing thirty-six people
and wrecking and sinking the steamer.
One Of the most notable acts OF heroism
was performed by Sam Steel, the negro
"Texas hoyn Dan slemcek, the pantryman,
IN a successful effort 10 save two Of the lady
passengers got his foot entangled In the
ropes Of the sinking steamer and was being
carried down to certain death when Steel
came to his assistance and dived below the
water and succeeded in cutting the ropes
away from Slemeek's foot, hut he was en-
tangled in turn, and before slemeok could
render him any etfectual service he was car
lied down and drowned. The wreck foated,
perhaps. ten minutes after the boiler ex.
ploded and then sank IN deep water.
&hatAhl t4RAuhtfAa NNut WORK.
The colored chambermaid- Charity Lam
bert-was especially active in this work,
gathering together a nuinbes Of life pre-
servers and attaching them to the lady pas
sengers After finishing her noble work she
jumped into the river aud was rescued by a
boat from the steamer City Of ST. Louis
Capt. sweeney's story.
Cant N q kxuaanax a.ut.,r - fAa Yi.,.,,.n
who was on the boat and was injured about
the face and hips, saw Capt. Blanks hurled
through the cabin roof and instantly killed.
The force Of the explosion overthrew the
freight piles, and the rousters who were AT
work slowing cargo were pinned down under
them. No assistance could be rendered them,
as the boat sank rapidly Those ia the cabin,
Capt. Sweeney said, had hut little chance
for their lives, as the heavy timbers either
held them fast TO die BY inches or killed
them outright.
The Chief Engineers Escape.
Chief Engineer j. WIN Hanley gives the
following account of the disaster:
Il was about the middle OF the deck room
when there was a loud explosion like the
sounding Of cannon When | came to j
| was buried underneath some freight IN tbs
deck room The boilers exploded down
ward, knocking the bottom out Of the boat
and she went down almost instantly. 7 gnI
shut off from al earaps Fortunately foi
me the main deck broke and left a smal
opening. pulled myself ont and droppe,
down into the main huli. climbed up th,
after hatch and went up through the cool
house On the roof. ! cannot account for thi
explosion. The boilers of tile boat were ex
4 "a l4a-f Tr.st
and an orders ia regard TO repairing were
carried OUT"
shocks sad Fate.
When asked If the boat was racing, Mr.
Hanloy replied: "No, sir had only l8l
pounds Of steam The law allows the boat
to carry 150 pounds My partner. Shook,
! poor fellow, was knocked down and a large
/ piece Of timber fell across his legs. Two
men went to his assistance but could not re.
lease him, a. the water began to rise rapidly
and drove them bnck Shook was conscious
and cried out My God. Have got to die
this wayi II l could get my legs out ] would
be all rightr The water rose over his head,
and he was drowned
A Lady Passengers Narrative.
Mrs. Henry Blanks, who arrived here with
her sister, Mrs. huif, and two children, said:
II was standing with my sister nnd young.
est child ia my arms in the rear OF the boats
cabin when the explosion took place. The
chambermaid came running to us with life
preservers which we fastened on.
I'VE then got into the yawl and hardly had
we been seated when the boat was swamped
| throwing us all into the river. I, with NV
| 5-year-old child on one arm. held on TO 4
piece Of wreckage until one OF the ST. Louis
boats came and saved u.s.
A 6-Ycar-oId's Experience.
a little 6year-old boy of Mrs. Blanks. who
was blown into the air by the explosion, said:
~ was out looking at Capt Sweeney fixing
the electric lights and then went into the
cabin to see my mother and had hardly got
as far qs the Office when / was blown away
into the air When came down | fell into
the river on my back When / came to the
surface caught on 20 a sack and an old man
who was holding a piece of wood, howl
ing for the yawls 70 come and save him |
was frightened and began to yell also, when
the skin came and picked me and the old
man up.n
Only Three Bodies Recovered.
The little fellow is badly hurt about the
head He stated that this was caused by a
man throwing plank on him Only three
bodies have been recovered thus far-Mrs.
Huff, lady passenger; Pat Ryan, the stew
ard, and Fred Dunnel the bookkeeper.
Dalzell Writes Letter.
ST LOUIS Oct 3 5-privote DalyalI xu-;tas