Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-31
ACCIDENT TO A STEAMER.

Explosion of the Steam Chimney of
the Steamer WaIefield---Three Men
Lose their Lives and Several Others
are More or Less Scaled.
The steamer Wakefield, OF the Wash
ington Steamboat Company, while on
hcr way up the river Yesterday morn
Ing and just after she had rounded
Maryland Point, met with a terrible
accident by which three men lost their
lives and several others were more or
less scaldcd by escaping steam. The
accident occurred alta quarter TO eleven
o'clock, torty-liye miles down the river,
shortly after the steamer had left Stu
arts wharf and when the boat was
about one mile and half from the spot
where facilitated Wawaset was burned
in 1875. Captain 7. c. Ross, who has
been in command of the Wakefield since
she vas built about seven years ago.
had just left the pilot house and was
engaged in conversation with some pas
sengers in the saloon when all hands
We're startled by loud report and u
tremendous crash, then Il Kissing
sound, and the boat amid-ships
was instantly enveloped in steam.
The forty-two passengers on board
made dash for life preservers,
aud the greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed. Captain Ross endeav-
ored to quiet the frightened pas
sengers, and when the excitement had
in a measure subsidized he went below to
ascertain the cause Of the explosion.
BY this time the steam had cleared
away and an examination disclosed the
fact that the steam chimney had eX-
piodcd, blowing a hole about fourteen
inches in diameter i'll IL Gan accident
similar 10 the one which happened on
the Jane Moseley at Norfolk about i
wear ago.. Alexander Tolson and Jas.
Johnson, colored, were both in front of
the boiler, having just finished firing,
when the explosion occurred. With
terrific shock, the plates of the steam
chimney were rent asundcr, and the es-
Gaping steam poured into the close
room. In Il second the entire space
was filled with dense white cloud,
which poured out through the doors
and windows into the engine room and
rear cabin. Engineer c. Pinder and
Assistant Ernest l.. Germond made
several vain attempts TO rescue
the fremen and shut off the escap-
ing steam. 1t was impossible, how
ever. TO get inside the doors of the fire
room, as no one could live a moment
in the scalding hot steam cloud that
filed the place, and they were forced
TO wait until the boiler had exhausted
Itself and the steam il the room had
condensed. When an entrance was at
last made, Tolson and Johnson were
found lying where they had fallen,
their bodies horribly scalded and bis
tered. Assistant Engineer Germond
and VIM. Motley and Wm. Carley, col
ored, two deck hands who assisted
him. were all more or less badly scald-
ed. Wm. Clark, a colored bootblack,
with both legs cut Off above the knees,
and who is well-known character
hereabouts, was on the steamer, aud
the force Of the explosion threw him
into the river and he was drowned.
His body was notrecovered. The gov
eminent bouv-tendcr JeSSamine heard
the Wakefeld's whistle of distress and
went 70 her assistance. The injured
men. with twelve passengers in charge
of Mate ]. 7. Phillips, We're placed
aboard the Jessamine and landed AT
Quantico, where 4 special train was Sc
cured and the party carried to Wash
jngton. The bodies of Tolson and
Johnson were landed at QuanticO
They died shortly after the accident.
Assistant Engineer Germond, who is a
resident of this city, left the train here.
The steamer +. Y. Arrowsmith was
about three hours behind the Wake
field, also on her way up the river
When Capt Entwislc, who was in com
mand of The Arrowsmith. learned ofthe
accident 20 the Wakefield through the
officers of the Mattano and George Law,
which boats were on their way down
the river. he Immediately crowded on
all steam and proceeded TO the scene of
the disaster. He took the Wakefield III
tow and started up the river, stopping
al Ouantico for the bodies OF the two
tiremen left there. The Arrowsmith,
with the Wakefield in tow, passed
this city about eleven o'clock last night.
The Wakefield is a comparatively new
boat. and was built for the Washington
Steamboat Company by the Pussy
Jones Company, of Wilmington, Del,
seven wears ago. She was placed on
the river landings route, and was un-
der the command of Capt. T. c. Ross,
J.P. Phillips, first mate; c. Pindei, en-
cineer: Z. J.. Germond, assistant en-
cineer. and crew Of twenty men. The
boat was travelling at the rate of about
twelve miles an hour at the time OF the
accident and was carrying thirty-two
pounds OF steam. The repairs to the
steamer will soon be made. as the dam
age to the boat proper is not serious.
The steamer Pilot Boy has been char
tered by the company and will run III
the place of the Wakefield until repairs
are made. The passengers on the
Wakefield are loud in their praises OF
the cool aud heroic conduct of Captain
Ross and his officers during the excite
ment incident to the accident. The
freight on the Wakefield was this morn
ing transferred to one of the ferry
boats. brought from Washington to this
CITY. and delivered to those to whom it
was consigned The freight was not at
all damaged.
BROKE HER WHEEL.-The steamer
Jane Moseley, of the Peoples Steam
boat Company, met with an accident
down the river yesterday which caused