The Princeton union., 1895-06-27
PANIC ON A BOAT.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE WHALES
BACK CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
A Steam Valve Exp1odes While the
Steamer IS Racing With Another
Vessel-TwO Men Killed and Trir-
teen Others Injured.

Chicago, June 25.-By the explosion
of a steam valve in the whaleDack
steamer Christopher Columbus, on
Waukegata two men We're killed anu
thirteen, all boatmen, were dansei-
ously or painfully injured.
The dead are Frank Wilson, coal
man, and r. J. Steit, fireman
1t was the homeward run or the
whaleback in it's opening summer eN-
cursion to Milwaukee. About 3oO
souls were aboard. Flying flags, with
music and dancing was the order OF
the evening. Half mile in the boats
wake plowed the rival excursion
steamer Virginia, which cleared the
harbor some fifteen minutes after, ana
had on every pound Of steam possible
to overtake her competitor. On the
outward trip the Virginia had not only
held the advantages, but doubled 1t,
and the crew of the whaleback were
determined that they should not be
passed. And the Virginia was gain
ing. AS the sun went DOWN the boats
pushed ahead neck and neck not more
than 300 yards apart. The decks and
promenades of both steamers We're
blackened with passengers. Shouts
and waving garments told the same
interest in the outcome that attended
the race course The Virginia forged
ahead
Word was passed from the engine
room that the Christopher Columbus
was resolved on a little more speed.
Scores went below to watch the ma
.chinery. The vibrations Of the craft
from stem to stern and the unusual
plOWinS of water told that the Colum-
bus was under a gigantic strain and
would win If it was in her. Some
grew anxious. Judge Grosscup and
his party, who were sitting att, de-
serted their seats and stood fore under
the bridge Those watching the gauge
said the pressure was exceeding the
limit to which the boilers were ad-
.justed. From 1872 pounds of steam the
pressure had run up to 1T and was
still rising. Suddenly there was a
shock Of explosion. The steam valve
in a six-inch connecting pipe over the
starboard battery of three boilers had
blown out. Down in the hold six
firemen and waterman found them
selves in Scalding mist so thick
one could not see his hand. When
they tried to make the ladder they
jammed against heated oven doors in
their frenzy, and fell over one anoth-
er and delayed embracing the slight
chance of escape offered. The binding
vapor made help impossible. The
steam was instantly in every compart-
ment OF the vessel. In the main sa-
loon $50 passengers seated about or
reclining We're suddenly seized with
panic. 1t was increased by all lights
going out. The passengers rushed
from the saloon to the decks Several
women tainted. The men did all in
their power to quiet the frightened.
Many believed the ship was sinking,
Then the steam reached the passen-
gers. A score or more of women who
had Inhaled steam swooned, and in
the excitement their friends feared
they had been overcome by breathing
the deadly vapor. And yet with the
suspense of not knowing what was 90
ing to happen there We're numbers of
women who kept composed and stood
ready to take the life boats if neces-
sary.
For three hours the whaleback Law
getting up steam for resuming the
Journey. 1t was found that one bat
terry of three boilers had been made
useless, but the other was cut off
from 1t, and at II o'clock there was
enough pressure to start the enginr-.
The boat finally reached her dock n
ChlcaSo at 3:15 a. M, with a pretty
Dad!y pealed lot of passengers, and all
had story to tell of the scenes on
board ""