The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-24
Close Call for the Big Iron Excursion
Vessel. So Well known Tn the
Worlds Fair Visitors.
ACCIDENT DUE TO RACING
ATTEMPT TO BEAT RIVAL he.
TWEEN MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO.
Too Much steam Crowded On-Two
Electric Cars Smashed and sew
eral People Badly Hurt.

CHICAGO. June 2s.-By the explosion OF
a steam valve in the whaleback steamer
Christopher Columbus. of Waukeegan sat
urday night. two men were killed and
thirteen dangerously or painfully injured.
The dead are:
FRANK WILSON, coal passer.
+. j. STEIT. fireman.
The injured are:
EDWARD DARROW. leader OF the or
chestra, scalded in face and on hands very
painfully.
face, neck and breast seriously scalded.
GEORGE W. KEEL, waiter. Buffalo: face
and hands scalded.
JOHN W. KEOCGH. meat carver, Buffa-
10: hands and face scalded.
Ia ARNOLD y o. a hL6dN m paSsensSedT S Dnnaane:
panied by student, who was also painfully
scalded
MISS MILLER. orchestra: scalded on
FRANZ RoSsNER. fireman: badly scald-
ed on face. hands and body.
neck and hands.
NC sEsER, water tender, Cleveland. o.;
MISS VoXHEIMER. orchestra: face pain
fully scalded.
w. l.. WEBSTER. chief engineer: hands
scalded
JAMES LoRIMER. coal pssser:. face.
neck. breast and hands seriously scalded.
back in its opening summer excursion to
Milwaukee, About $50 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 the Virginia, which, clearing the
harbor some fifteen minutes later. had on
every pound of steam possible TO overtake
her competitor. On the outward trip the
Virginia had not only held the advantage,
but doubled it, and the crew of the whale
bach were determined III they should not
be passed. And the Virginia was gaining.
AS tile sun went down the boats pushed
ahead, neck and neck. not more than three
hundred yards apart. The decks and promo
nades of both steamers were blsckened with
passengers. Shouts and waving garments
told the same interest 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 beat should be
allowed 10 gain half a mile on the whale
back, ii was said. and then steam was TO
be run up and the situation would be
changed before reaching the Chicago har-
bor Scores went below TO watch the ma
chinery. The clouds Of black smoke forming
a Dense low hanging air wake to the whale
back, the vibrations of the craft from stem
to stern, the unusual plowing Of water. all
told that the Columbus was under gigantic
strain and would win IL IL was in her. Some
grew anxious. Judge Grosscup and his party
who were sitting aft deserted their seats
and stood fore under the bridge. Those
watching the guage said that the pressure
was exceeding the limit TO which the boilers
were adjusted. From 132 pounds pressure
the steam had run UP 10 La pounds. anC
was still rising.
Suddenly there was a shock OF explosion
The steam valve ia six-nch connecting
pipe over the starboard battery of three
boilers had blown out. Down in the hold,
six fremen and waterman found them
selves enveloped in a scalding mist
thick one could not see his hand. When
they tried TO make the ladder, they jammed
against the heated oven doors. In their
frenzy they fell over another and de-
layed embracing the slight chance OF es-
cape offered The binding vapor made help
impossible. The steam crowded everywhere.
1t was instantly i'm every compartment OF
| the vessel. In the main saloon 80 persons
| seated about or reclining were suddenly
| seized with panic IL increased by all
| lights going out The passengers rushed 10
| the decks. Several women tainted. The
men did all in their power 10 quiet the
frightened. Many believed the ship sinking.
| Then the steam reached the passengers.
| A score or more OF women who had in
hailed 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 10 happen, there were numbers
of women who kept composed and stood
ready 10 take to the lifeboats II necessary.
On the fore deck there was confusion.
Every one turned TO Judge Crosscup one
| in authority. What Is the stuation-is
| there any danger?' he shouted up 10
| Quartermaster Frawley, at the wheel.
Second Mate Moses McCrum. on the
| bridge, answered back Nothing" but the
anxious looks he sent back took all COM
| fort out of the assurance.
II will go below and learn the facts"
said the Judge TO his party. "and you can
be ready with life preseryers In case Il is
serious
While the Judge was gone several men
began TO drag out life preservers and pile
them up conveniently. The scslded men
were brought up TO the cabin soon as
possible and several surgeons. who were
on board did all possible TO alleviate their
sufserings. For three hours the whalcback
lay, getting up steam for resuming the
Journey. 1t was found that one battery OF
three boilers had been made useless. but
the other was cut OF from IL. and at IL
| O'Clock there was enough pressure 10 start
the engines The boat finally reached her
docks IN Chicago at 3:i5 a with q
pretty badly scared lot OF passengers. All
had story TO tell to-day OF the scenes
/ on board.
One OF the iiremen says that steam was
up TO $50 pounds before the blowout oc-
Cured The cylinders In the engine were
changed few weeks ago. and local steam
boatmen we're OF the opinion that when
the boilers were tested At South Chicago.
on June s the pressure Of 80 pounds ~