New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-24
MANY SCALDED BY STEAM.
A DISASTROUS EXPLOSION ON A WHALE
BACK STEAMER.
CROWDED WITH PASSENGERS WHEN STEAM
FITTING GAVE WAY-A STORY THAT The
VESSEL. WAS RACING.

FITTING GAVE WAY-A STORY THAT THE
VESSEL WAS RACING
Chicago. June 23-The whaleback steamer
CHRISTOPHER Columbus met with serious acci-
dent to her machinery on her return trip from
Milwaukee last night. The wind was blowing
from the south and she was making last time
until about o'clock when directly oH "au-
kegan there was terrible explosion. foiowed
Immediately by fash of flame, and the ooat
was Immediately envcloped in cloud or steam.
Many persons were injured. some OF whom may
die Robert McConkey coal passer Of South
Chicago was scaded about the face and body'
and will die James Lorlmcr. fireman. was
scalded on the face and body, and may die. John
Hopp. fireman. was scalded on the face and
body and may die; - Stet, coal passer'
was scalded on the face. hands and body, and
may die. Others injured were Miss Boxhemer,
pianist of the Bowman Orchestra, severely
burned in the face and hands; H. II. Darro", OF
No. 27s Chestnut-st. musician. face badly
scalded: George w. Keil, OF Buffalo, waterman
badly burned about the face and arms; George
". Keough. meat carver. scaded about the race
and arms: Arnold KEN. Of Dubuque. Iowa.
scalded on the hand, not seriously injured; FRANK
Rosner fireman, Of Pullman, face, breast ana
arms badly burned: j. +. Ryan, Of No GA Forty
.ixth-st burned about the face. arms ana oody'
Nix" Setter waterman, burned about the head
and face; Miss Jessie l.. Stone OF NO Zoz camp
behave. scalded in the face, not seriously
ON the arrival OF the steamer at her dock at 8
O'Clock this morning the injured persons were
taken in ambulances to St. Luke's Hospital,
where II was said all but two OF the men would
probably die.
The cause Of the accident. as explained by the
engineer of the whaleback. L. l.. webster was
that the fitting on the main steam pipe let 60
This caused the explosion and the escape Oh
steam The accident was unavoidable. Inc
boilers were tested only last week ana founu ~
be all right The Christopher Columbus went
into commission for the season yesterday hoin-
ing She left here on a trip To MllWauhec VIZ
800 Messengers on board. and left the Crean
CITY on time for the return t. TINS city, Ertts
thing went all right until on "aukesan' WIZ
th, accident took place. 1t is asserted by pas
scnrers that the Columbus Vas racing WIN the
Virginia OF the Goodrich line. but captain IIop- YOU
ert Smith emphatically denied TINS, saying 'ndt
the boat had new engines ana that ne Ma' ~.
fooihardv enough to attempt 70 race with any
other boat As soon the explosion TOOK place
tho utmost excitement cnsued among the pas
sengcrs and the captain and stewards ha1 - Son-
siderable difficulty In calming their fears ihers
were three physicians on board ana the l"Juici
were attended to promptly. The pipe that oursl
was disconnected at once from the Doiler anu ,.e
ho,, rame on slowly under reduced steam with
three boilers In operation until met on rrosse
Point by a Dunham tug and brought ihto 'ne
river. .,. 90
An agent Of the steamship company look oc
caslon to-day TO deny the story or race OK VI
an Intended race Boatnen. however, say tney
wore looking for a race between the rivaI steam
crs and they fully expected Drush Wheh 'hc
two boats got their noses together poihtns onei %
q good course such as may be found between tii- t
caro- and Milwaukee 4 member Of the virginia
cro, sald that when the two boats came abreast
~ zach other on the down course last evening"
there were evidences to his mind that race was
Imminent II not actually in progress AZ the ti'ne
Then" he added. 1.-The whalehack feh oe.
hind us why. could not say, but IL was no'
ionr before II was away astern OF us
cantaln Smith had this 10 say about the acc,-
dent. I'VE had passed Waukegan at I;5o O'Clock
cyh.n one Of the main pipes of the boiler we"
on, Immediately we shut off the steam ana at
tended to the injured. After that II TOOK us
ahou, TWO and half hours before we coud start
again" 49,, .,,,,, oors
when asked II The rumor among III" paSS'ie,,
:, th. effect that the accident was que parta,IS
to his nxlcty 10 beat the virginia IN n race; W.
entered n positive denial. when the ac'ineh.
orcurrod" ne said the virginia was NJ leas,
tw, miles ahead of US and IT IL not keiF 'na. @
wc would race with brand-new engines we
yero not racing at all-n fact. we were running
h.hlnd our time There are SIX boilers on ne
hoat and the disconncctng OF the steam p'pc
aI All six