Evening journal., 1895-06-24
RACE WAS DISASTROUS
Explosion Ends a Contest Be-
tween Lake Steamers.
ToURTEBN PRISONS BADLY HURT.

CHICAGO, June 24.-By the explosion Of
steam valve in the whaleback Christie
pher Columbus off Waukcegan on Satur-
day night two men We're killed, and 1s
were dangerously injured The dead are:
frank Wilson, coal passer.
Z. J. Stein, fireman.
| The injured arc:
Edward Dauow, leader Of the orches-
ira, scalded in face and hands very pain
fully.
John lIopp, fireman, inhaled steam ;
face, neck and breast seriously scalded
George w. Keil waiter, Buffalo. face
and hands scaldcG.
John w. Keogh, meat carver. Buffalo
hands and face scalded.
Arnold Klein, passenger. Dubuaue
H., head, face and hands badly scaided /;
accompanied by student, also painful
/ ly scalded.
Robert McConlaw, coal passer, back
terribly scalded
Miss Miller, orchestra, scaldcd on hands
and face
Frank Rohner fireman, badly scalded
81 face, hands and body.
| James =. Ryan, fireman, scalded on
back, neck and hands.
Mic sezer water tender, Cleveland,
| hands scalded
Miss Yozheimcr, orchestra, face pain
fully scalded..
W L. Webster, chief engineer, hand
scalded.
Racing With a Rival steamer.
II was the honeward run of the whale
back in its opening summer excursion 10
Milwaukee. About $50 souls were aboard
Flying flags, with music and dancing
were the order Of the evening. Half milo
in the boats wake plowed the rival ex-
cnrsion steamer Virginia, which, clearing
the harbor some Is minutes later. had on
every pound of steam possible to overtale
her competitor. On the outward trim the
Virginia had not only held the advantage.
but doubled it, and the crew Of the whale
back were determined that they should
not be passed. And the Virginia was
gaining 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 were crowded with passengers.
Shouts and waving garments told the in
tefest IN the outcome that attends the race
course The Virginia surged ahead. Word
passed from the engine room that the
Christopher Columbus was resolved on a
little fun. The rival boat should be al
lowed to gain half a mile on the whale
back lt was said, and then steam was to
be run up and the situation would be
changed before reaching the Chicago har
Dor.
Scores went below to watch the machin-
cry. The clouds Of black smoke. forming
q dense low hanging air wake to the
whalebaek, the vibrations OF the craft
from stem to stern, the unusual blowing
Of waterfall told that the Columbus was
undor gigantic strain and would win If
II was IN her.
Some grew anxious Judge Grosscup
and his party, who were sitting aft. de-
serted their seats and stood fore under the
bridge. Those watching tho gauge said
that the pressure was exceeding the limit
70 which the boilers were adjusted From
los pounds pressure the steam had run up
to IN pounds and was still rising.
suddenly there was a shock Of explosion.
The steam valve i'm a six inch connecting
pipe over tho starboard battery Of tbe
three boilers had blown out. Down in the
hold six ilremen and water man found
themselves cnveloped in a scalding mist
SO thick one could not see his hand. When
they tried TO make the ladder, they iammod
against the heated oven doors In their
frenzy they fell over one another and de-
layed embracing the slight chance Of es-
cape offered. Tho binding vapor made
help impossible.
Ihe steam crowded everywhere. 1t was
Instantly in every compartment of the
vessel In the main saloon 150 persons.
seated about or reclining, We're suddenly
seized with panic. 1t was increased by
all the lights going out. The passengers
rushed to the decks Several women faint
cd. The men did all in their power to /
quiet the frightened. Many believed the
ship was sinking
Steam Caused n Panic.
Then the steam reached the passengers.
"A score or more of women who had inhal |
cd steam swooned, and in the excitement
their friends feared they had been over
come by breathing the deadly vapor. and
yet, with the suspense of not Knowing |
what was going to happen, there were /
numbers Of women who kept composed |
and stood ready to take to the lifeboats If /
necessary
On the foredeck there was confusion.
Every one turned TO Judge Grossoup AS |
one ia authority.
What is the situations Is there any
dangers" he shouted mp TO Quartermaster |
hrawley at the wheel. Second Mate Jo- |
seph Crumb answered back. "No y but l
AAtN ttAAAA1AN 4ANhN Ah otiu ittk ilNNNFU the 4
smokestack took all the comfort out of /
the assurance.
Will go below and learn the facts" A"
said tho judge to his party, "and you can |
be ready with life preseryers in case ft Is
serious
While the judge was gone several gem
tleraen began 60 drag out life presorvers
and pile them up conveniently The scald- /
cd men were brought up to the cabin as 1
soon as possible, and several surgeons \
who were on board did an possible to al
lcyiate their sufferings
For three hours the whalehack lay get
ting up steam for resuming the Journey. /
II was found that one battery Of three 4
boilers had been made useless. but the |
other was cut of from it, and at III |
O'Clock there was enough pressure to start /
the engines.
The boat finally reached her dock in 1
Chicago with a pretty badly scared lot Of /
passengers. All had a story 70 tell OF the /
scenes on board
One Of the ilremcn says that steam was Il
up TO iS0pounds when the blowout occuir-
ed. The cylinders in the engines were II