The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-12
MANY DEAD In THE HOLD.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION ON THE LAKE
PROPELLER TIOGJ.
BarrelS OF OIL Blew Up and Set tho Vessel
Anre-Scvon Men known to Have Been
d-T ma In

Barrels or OIL Blew Up and Set tho Vessel
Anre-Scvon Men KNOWN to Have Been
Killed-Twenty Missing and Many HnJ"red
CHICAGO, July 11.-A terrific explosion fol-
lowed by q downpour OF wrockaRe, startled
thousands OF pecple who we're down town at
1880 o'clock tonight Those who we're on the
Randolph and Madison street bridges saw n
fountain OF fire burst from the big steel pro-
peller Tioga, one OF tho fastest boats on the
lakes, which was lying at the docks OF the
Union Steamship Company, near the Randolph
street bridge. The boat came into port from
buffalo early Thursday night, with 1890
tons OF merchandise consigned TO whole
sale houses In this city and othor
points In the West Capt A. A. Phelps was in
command. This is his first year rs COM
mander OF tho Tloga. Stevedores worked oil
day to day unloading the boat. between ten
and fifteen men we're in the fantail OF the boat,
and scores more we're forward when the on
plosion occurred. There were also several
stevedores on the dock aad in the warehouses
The crash was terrific. 1t sounded as though
the great boilers had burst but they were
afterward found to be intact Flames flashed
from tho cabin which was torn to pieces, and
then a storm of wood and iron fell into the
streets and upon the buildings near by.
Bridge Tender Gaynor, at the Randolph street
bridge. less than 100 feet away. saw man
thrown into the air In the midst OF a mass OF
blazing wreckaRe. Tho man had been blown
from the hold Of the ship. Ile fell
into the river and was sinking when Cav
nor and Bridge Engineer Fitzgerald got yawl
and rescued him. lie was beedna from cuts
In his head and breast. Whe Gaynor and
Fitzgerald were pulling for shore they saw an
other man struggling in the water and pulled
him out. Tho man. who had been high above
- "nlt.
Chain, negro from Tennessee. The other
who had been blown through the gangwny was
known as Pompey Smith.
Harbor Master Kelly and Thomas Connors.
who were sitting In little shanty close to the
bridge were hurled twenty-five feet away.
Kelly. AS soon as no reGained his feet. rang an
alarm for the fire boat Geyser and q police
man summoned the rest otthe firemen, Within
ten minutes Market street: from Washington TO
Randolph, was filled with an excited crowd,
From, the boat, which was already beeinning
to sank %
worked Mt great disadvantage. The heat from
the glowing hull wsS intense and those who
were in neril OF slipping through tho wreckage
into the blazing hole which had boon torn by
The work Of rescuing the men who were
known to be imprisoned IN the wreck beneath
the after;cabip was pushed as speedily Is pos
across the hurricane deck. He was dead when
who were waiting to receive him. Thomas
Collins. q stevedore from st. Louis, WAS taken
from the ruins before the flames, re9ched him.
Wounds W GS which vii probably cause his death.
J. oD9nnS nell and and. Oscar Pope were taken out
The confusion along the dock was so great
that not even the men employed in unloading
r ss Snd Se wre the
mates were as high as thirty. but these were
disputed by the second mate, who was positive
the fantail when the explosion occurred. Up
to midnight seven bodies had been taken out
Por,s S:0Is' ss' SHH F Fox smith, ssSr'
Cherry Cecil Il soaAn kSRsr l. t t
L wlItsS william Cnth6srs Z. FitzGipbons Master
The injured are:
HOLIDAY pavS NsHs grsassr George Fer
James. James sweeney. John Burke, Frank Klein,
SutE second mattel %sm Gs!dFi;G hssi%sRS az
George Palmer t.tsw@rdI William FSlmsr, (poFterr
Donald
1t is believed that the explosion was. caused
by gas generated from oil barrels, Of which
the fantail. The shock was SO great that win
dows were broken half mile away; In the
ers from the widows Of S he big bndnSs
Scarcely pane OF glass was left on the river
front OF the Star and Crescent mill and in
Washington and Randolph streets as far east
IS Franklin much damage was done. The
was destroyed. and the after cabin looked MS
though torrent of solid shot had swept
through it. The skylight was thrown up on
the top OF ono OF the smokcstacks. At 10
O'Clock the, stern OF the boat settled In the
mud. The forward compartments whore the
bulk OF her cargo L. stored we're not touched
by fire or water. The money loss will BIO about
$4,000.
ago 10 run In connection with tho Erie Rail-
road. She Is 3O3 feet long, and is valued at
S25OO0O