Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-24
RACE WAS DISASTROUS
Explosion Ends a Contest Be-
 tween Lake Steamers.
FOURTEEN PERSONS BADLY HURT

The Engineer of the whaIeback Got on So
 Much Steam That a Valve Burst, and the
 36O Passengers Were Scared and scaldcd
 by steam.
 CHICAGo June 24.-By the explosion of a steam valve in tho whalchack Christo- phcr Columbus off Waukcegan on Satur. day night two men werC killed, and l3 Were dangerously injured. The dead are:
 Frank Wilson, coal paSScr.
 +. ]. Stein. fireman.
 The injurcd arc:
 Edward Darrow, leader of the orches. tra, scaldcd in face and hands very pain- fully.
 John Hopp, fireman, inhaled steam; face, neck and breast seriously scaldcd.
 George w. kcil, waiter. Buffalo, face and hands ScaldCd.
 John W. kcogh. meat carver, Buffalo. hands and face scaldCd.
 Arnold Klein, paSScngCr, Dubuuuc, Ia, head, face and hands badly scalded; acc0mpanivd by a student. also painful- ly Scaldrd.
 Robert McConlaw, coal passor, hack terribly scaldCd.
 Miss Miller orchestra. SCald,d an hands and face
 ANAAh ANtAAiAAs AAANliishl bRhAlN SIiiutu on face, hands and body.
 James +. Ryan, tlrcman, scalded on hack, neck and hands.
 Mic ScZrr, water tender, Cleveland. hands scalded
 Miss NnZhcimcr. orrhrStra, face pain- fully Scaldtd
 W. l., Webster, chief engineer, hand scaldrl.
 Racing With a Rival Steamer.
 It WAS the homCward run of the whale hack in its opening summer excursion tc MilwaukCc. About $50 souls Were aboard Flying flags, with music and dancing. wCr" the order of the evening Half n mile in the hOSt's wake plowrd the rival OK. cUrS!on steamer Virginia, which clearing the hlrhor some l5 minutes later. had on every pound 0f steam possible to ovcrtake her competitor. On the outward trip the Virginia had not only held the advantage but doubled iN and the crew of the whale hack wCr" determined that they should nM hC HaS>rd. And the Virginia was gaining. As the sun went down the boats pushed ahead neck and neck, not moro than 800 wards apart
 The decks and pronCuadcs of both steamers Were crowded with paSScngrrs. shouts and waving garments told the in tertSt in the outcome that attends the race course. The Virginia Surgrd ahead Word paSS'O from the engine room that the Christopher Columbus was resolved on a little fun. The rival b,,at should be al. lowed to gain half mile on the whale hack. it was said. and then steam was to be run up. and the situation would be changed hcfOrC raChing the Chicago har- hOr
 St0rCs went below la watch the machin. cry. The clouds of black smoke. fnrminn drnSr, low, hanging air wake To the whalrSaCk. the vibrations ut the craft from stem Ia stern. the unusual plowinc of waterfall told that the Columbus was under gigantic strain and would win if it was in her,
 some grrw anxious. Judge GruS>rup and his party, who were sitting aft de serted their seats and St,sNi fore under the bridge. Those watching the gauge said that the Pr,sssurc was ,,xce,Siing the limit t0 which the boilers We're adjusted From l32 pounds pressure the steam had run up Ia IF pounds and was still rising
 Suddenly there was Shock of explosion The steam valve in six inch connecting pipe over the Starhnard battery of the thrHr boilers had blown out. Down in the hold six trcmcn and a water man found themselves Cnvclop,I in a sCalding mist s" thick one could not see his hand When lIitS lTItu NO make me ladder, they lammCu against the heated oven doors. In their frenzy they fell over one another and de lnynd embracing the slight chance of eS. cape offered. The hlinding vapor made help Impossible
 The steam crowded Cvcrywhcrc It was instantly in every compartment of the vessel. In the main Salonn l50 persons, seated about or rcClining, were suddenly seized with panic. IL was increased hy all the lights going out. The paSsengcrs rushed [" the decks. S,vCral women faint cd. The men did all in their power tc quiet the frightened. Many believed the ship was sinking.
 Steam Caused a Panic.
 Then the steam reached tho passengers. X S'0rc ar more of women who had inhal cd steam SwounCd, and in the excitement their friends feared they had been over. comr by hr,athinE the deadly vapor, and vet, with the suspense of not knowing what Was going [" happen, there were numbers of women who kept composed and St"od ready to take to the lifcboats if necessary.
 On the forctlrCk thCrr was confusion. Every one turned to .1uds,r GroSScup as one in authority.
 What k the situation? Is thCrC an, dangTr:" he shouted up to QuartcrmaStcl FraWlCV mt tho whprl S,1nnd Mata IO