Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-05
FATAL TUG BOAT EXPLOSION.
Eight Persons Killed and Msny Inj ursd In
Chicago.

Eight Persons Killed and Msny Inj ursd In
Chicago.
Eight persons were almost instantly killed
ahda dozen others injured yesterday afternoon
by tho explosion of the tug Charles Parker in
the south branch of the river near the Archer
Avenue bridge, Chicago.
TIE KILLED.
The dead arc, Mrs. Mary Rice, aged twenty
three Of 3013 Archer avenue, head crushed by
falling debris; Barbara Rice. eighteen mon tbs
old, daughter of Mrs. Rice, head crushed
Samuel sawyer, aged. twenty-one, switchman
for the Illinois Steel Company; Bartholomew
Curtin, aged ten years, of 3239 Paulina street,
struck on the head by an iron bolt Jones b.
Carter, captain Of the tug, married, body not
yet recovered; John g. Moore Of Highland
Park engineer Of the tug, body not yet re-
covered; Samuel Armstrong OF Manistee, cook
of the tug body not recovered; unknown man,
killed by piece of tho furnace door, shout
thirty years of age.
THE INJURED.
The injured are Joseph Cullen, $50 Maxwell
street, fireman of the Parker, terribly sealded,
will die; Henry Bell, linesman of the Parker,
badly scnlded; Frank Wagner, Is South Green
street, arm broken: Joseph Bomornzer, 500
south Ashland avenue. skull fractured, may
die; George Juell, captain of tug Van Setback.
leg and back bruised; Louis DeAIass. liucsman
of the Van Setback, back injured; James Cum
ningham. cook of the Van Setback, head cut;
Mshcr. both kneecaps injured; Richard Powers,
ten years old, hurt about the legs; John Nor
ton, twelve years old, slightly hurt.
TIE EXPLOSION.
Three Of the dead belonged to the crew OF
the boat, while the others were bystanders who
were killed by flying debris. The Parker, to-
gether with the tugs Van Setback, Perry and
Shields, had been working all day endeav oring
to free the propeller II. S. Pickands, which had
grounded in the south draw OF the bridge.
They had puifed and pulled away almost inces-
sanity until shortly before o'clock, when,
with comparatively little noise, the boiler OF
the Parker exploded. Columns of water were
thrown into the air, falling upon the other tugs,
drenching and binding the crews. A momen.
later the debris showered upon the ground on
either side of the river. Pieces of broken iron
and wood fell upon the docks and the streets.
AT the time Archer avenue, near the scene OF
the accident, was crowded.
The noise of the explosion and the falling
wreck caused q terrible panic. When the
spectators partially recovered their senses it
was discovered that eight persons were dead,
while many more were injured, some of them
probably fatally.
SAD SCENE.
When the feeling Of fright caused by the
catastrophe had passed away the spectators
crowded around the spot where lay the body of
Mrs Lice, her little daughter and the unknown
man. Mrs. Rice lay on her side, her face
crushed and bruised, while blood poured from
her mouth, nose and ears. By her side lay
her little daughter. The fate OF the two was
peculiarly sad. Before the explosion Mrs.
Rice had been standing on the south side OF
Archer avenue holding the babe in her arms,
and III endeavoring to escape when the crash
came her skull was crushed by piece of iron.