River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-11
BOILED ALIVE
Horrible Result of an Explosion on =
Steamer Near Cairo, Ill. - Seven Men
Lose Their Lives and Eighteen Others
Frightfaily scalded-some OF the Latter
VIII Die.

Horrible Result of an Explosion on =
Steamer Near Cairo, Ill. - Seysn Men
Lose Their Lives and Eighteen Others
FriGhtfuily scalded-some OF the Latter
viii Die.
CAIRO. H.. Nav s.-The steamer Ohio
belonging to the Memphis & Cincinnati
Packet company, collapsed a fue while
opposite Wolf island, 80 miles below
here, at $3.50 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 gone 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 We're farther
back, and all were eating their break
fast when the hne collapsed and the
after end of the boiler flew out with a
report like cannon shot. Instantly
the gangway was filled with scaldfng
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 filled with the vapor. The
men who were not FRUSTRATED by the
conclusion stan ted 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.
A 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 We're
cool and courageous and soon con-
WINGED them the danger was over. The
boat had Roadway 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 writing 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. DIR. $. 5. 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 1Egeus left here sun
day morning for below with two
barges and arrived at the scene
of the disaster about two hours
after it occurred. IT was loaded
and its captain at once placed it at
the disposal of the Ohio. The barges
were loaded, and the suffering men
were 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 passengers
also came up on the Egeus and went
home by rail.
When th.s city was reached the dead
and dying were placed in carriages and
ambulances and taken to the Marine
hospital. All the local physicians ten
dered their services TO Or. Glennon, the
surgeon in charge, who gratefully ac-
cepted the aid of as many as could
be used to advantage. Two wards
were used for them and the scene there
was a frightful one, filled as they were
with writing forms and the means of
the wounded. OF the twenty who are
alive at least half have scalded, swollen
tongues. showing that they have in.
hailed steam