Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-05-13
BOILED ALIVE.

Horrible Result of an Explosion on n
Steamer Near Cairo, Ill. - Seven Men
Lose Their Lives and Eighteen Others
Frightfully Scalded-Some of tho Latter
VIII Die.
CAIRO, ILL.,, May s.-The steamer Ohio,
belonging to the Memphis & Cincinnati
Packet company, collapsed hue while
opposite Wolf island, 80 miles below
here, at 1880 Sunday morning, and
seven men are now dead and twenty
more badly scalded. Many of the latter
will die.
The names of the dead are as follows:
Collins Hampton, w. W. Hurshman,
Cyrus Myers, Thomas Woods and three
unknown men.
The accident occurred Just after
First Engineer Crum had Sone off
watch and Second Engineer Mority
had gone on duty. The colored por-
ton of the crew were in the gang
way between two long high rows
of cotton bales and near the
boiler. The white men were farther
back, and all We're eating their break
fast when the fiue collapsed and the
after end of the boiler flew out with n
lCDOlU llhC CdUnOn SUOU.
the gangway was filed with scalding
steam that blew with such force
that two huge bales of paper,
which stood just in the rear of
the boilers, were blown clear to the
stern of the boat and every part of the
vessel was filed with the vapor. The
men who were not prostrated by the
| conclusion started to flee in half-bent
| positions, but the cotton piles pre-
vented their escape antil every man in
| the lower after part of the boat was
covered with scalding water
panic ensued among the cabin pas
sengers when they heard the explosion
and the cries of awful agony from the
men below and saw the steam pouring
through the floor, but the officers were
cool and courageous and soon con-
vinced them the danger was over The
boat had headway enough to carry her
to the bank, where she was landed and
an opportunity was given to aid the
men in the awful panic below.
A dreadful sight was presented,
though when the rescuers got in. More
than score of men were writhing in
agony and begged to be killed to get
them out of their misery. In some cases
when an effort was made to move the
victims the skin and even the par.
boiled flesh would fall from their
bodies to the deck. Two men
had stripped themselves of their
clothing. DR.. S. S. Woodburn, OF
Pittsburgh, was the only physician on
board, but he did all in his power to as.
sist the officers and others who lent
their aid in caring for the sufferers
The steamer Egeus left here Sun
day morning for below with two
barges and arrived at the scene
of the disaster about two hour.
after it occurred. 1T was loaded
and its captain at once placed it a
the disposal of the Ohio The barges
We're loaded, and the suffering mer
We're placed about the little steamer
One died before he was removed from
the Ohio, and two others died on the
way up Most of the Ohio passenger
also came up on the Egeus and wen
home by rail.
When this city was reached the deaC
and dying were placed in carriages ano
ambulances and taken to the Marin,
hospital. All the local physicians ten
dered their services to DIR. Glennon, the
surgeon in charge, who gratefully ac
cepted the aid of as many as coulC
be used to advantage. Two ward
We're used for them and the scene ther,
was frightful one, filled as they wer,
with writhing forms and the means o
the wounded. OF the twenty who ar
alive at least half have scalded, swollel
tongues, showing that they have in
hailed steam.