The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-07-18
WFUL. EXPLOSION
The Lake Steamer Tioga Blown
Up at Chicago.

The Lake Steamer Tioga Blown
Up at Chicago.
Twelve or Fifteen stevcdores Lost
Their Lives-Tire Adds to the
Horror-.The Cause.
CHICAGO, July IA frightful cx-
plosion occurred last night on the
steamer Tioga, ono of the largest vcs-
sells on the great lakes. Thirty-eight
reople were aboad the steamer at the
time. When the work of rescuing the
survivors, which commenced almost in
stantly, was we'll under way only two
persons could be found who escaped un-
hurt. To make matters worse fire
broke out on tho wrecked vessel, and
huge volumes of flame and smoke inn
peded the searchers for the dead and
dying.
1t was in the Chicago river at the
foot of Washington street that the ex-
plosion occurred. This locality is in
the heart of the business section of
Chicago and the explosion brought peo-
pie running in terror out of tall build
ings blocks away. Most of the victims
were Chicagoans-steyedor who were
unloading the vessel. Only three of tho
Tioga's crew were reported on the list.
Tho fire proved a stubborn one and
makes 1t impossible at this time to
verify the report that the boilers had
exploded. A statement was current
that the explosion was due to another
cause. the accidental lighting of large
number of combustibles in the narrow
confines of the Tloga's deep hold.
In the hold, near the steamers stern,
was where the fire held sway. Through
the bursts Of fire could be seen great
ragged cliff in the Tioga's decks and
cabin, and aloft on the tall smoke stacks
dangled huge framework of timber,
frantically swaying backward and for-.
ward. telling of the terrific force of the
explosion which sent it there from
thirty feet below.
While the fire was still in progress
an Associated Press reporter met the
captain OF the ill-fated steamer on the
forward deck. The officer consented to
stop long enough in his task Of straight
ening out the confusion prevailing to
give statement of what he knew of
the wreck. He said:
my name is Captain A. A. Phelps.
arrived here last evening from Buf-
falo, in command of the Tioga, and we
we're unloading at this dock when the
explosion took place. was in freight
shed on the dock when heard terrific
neise, and running out saw the north
luaSter. of the vessel enveloped in
steam. All of the crew of twenty five
men were either aboard at the time or
wero on the dock or in the freight
house. l found after careful search
that all but three were accounted for
and safe. Those. three, all from Buffalo,
were: Second engineer, George Haig;
lookout, C. Levelly, and deck hand,
William Cuthbert. Besides the three
missing men who belonged to the crew
there must have been from twelve to
fifteen other men killed and proba bly,
half dozen additional wounded. These
were laborers in tho hold who were do
ing the unloading. Eight colored mon
| are positively stated to have been below
and six or seven others were at the
matches, aiding their fellow stevedores
to lower down. The explosion occurred
in the hold, not in the machinery or
boilers, as near as could ascertain, and
was probably due to somo combustible
| freight stored there"
| The captain was this moment called
away to the wrecked portion of the ves-
sel. which seemed gradually settling in
the river Occasionally wounded man
vas being hauled off the debris, as the
flames permitted the police and flremen
4 RI Clrya n toy ,rI< h1, -,
which the bodies of the unfortunate
stevedores still lay.
Great crowds of people gathered on
the neighboring bridges, docks and yes
sells, and watched the tragic scenes
being enacted on the Tioga. The I'M
mense iron hull, painted forbidding
black, stretched 800 feet or more along
the pier. and q swarm OF people, fire.
men and reporters were clambering over
her on all sides. Eye-witnesses of the
explosion were busy telling
4 newcomers tho CORY particulars.
1t appeared that tho OK
plosion occurred just after porter
named VIM. Palmer had gone below
with lighted lamps. He had scarcely
reached the decks again when the fear
ful shock came. 1t was said that 2OO
barrels OF oil were among tho cargo and
that these had become ignited. Others
insisted that the explosion mast have
been due to lack of water i'll tho boilers
and that the second engineer, who is
4 known to be missing, was tho man
whose duty it would be to start the
pony pumps in such an emergency.
This, it was declared, would have pro
duced just such an explosion, wreckine
only one compartment OF the vessel
4 Up to 1880 p. m. nine dead bodies
had been taken from the wreck. and
FIVE or sig moro wounded had beer
conveyed to The hospitals, The Tioga's
.tstern settled to the bottom of the.rfver
fhutas,ft is not deep there the deck!
4 were still l-ahove the surface. 1t Is es
Ettmated that $75, 900 will cover, the dam
age TO the vessel and cargo. Thi
is believed to be fully insured. !; En-
Egineer Haie and 3Steamtitte Burns can
tnot live. through the night. The I'D
editfonal names of the colored steve
dpses supposed to have been, XII He'd sar
Walter Duke, Henry Weatherspoo1l
John Goff, Jacob Churl, Alex. Smith
j. Braxton and Chas. Foster.
A clearer idea OF the cause OF the OK
plosion was obtained about midnigh,
when the boilers and cargo could be ex
aUlneQ. Inc DOllerB seemed intact
The cargo was kerosene, gasoline an
cotton. The inference is drawn tina
the leaking of kerosene saturated th
cotton and generated gases whic
ignited when the lanterns were take
into the hold.
Forty-fve Persons Arc Missing.
CHICAGO, July 12.-The loss of huma
life caused by the explosion OF kerosen
vapors in the hold of the steamshi
Tioga yesterday is yet an unknow
quantity. Just how many killed ma
never be accurately learned. The gan
: of stevedores who were at work at th
time of the explosion had been engage
by Foreman Nieland, and until hi
body is recovered IL cannot be know
just who are missing.
From the best information obtainabl
this morning tho number of dead, il
jured or missing issplaced at forty-fy.
Some Of the missing may yet turn u
as it is possible many OF them may hav
= escaped by being on the deck or on th
q forward part of the vessel at the tim
of the explosion.S The minimum nun