The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-19
FATAL EXPLOSION
On Board the Steamship St, Paul
ut New York.
No PASSENGERS WERE ON BOARD
Or the Loss OF Lilo Would Have Been
Brlshtmi-P PREPARATION, Being Made fr
Sailing, Watch will be Delayed a Week.
Thsorls'a a to the caa'softhp Accident.

NEW YORK, Dec, lS,-An explosion
occurred this morning on the American
line steamship 81, Paul while the yes-
sci was al her dock at the foot OF Fulton
street, North river. Four mon hage
been taken to the hospital and i've men
are said to have been killed.
Preparations were being made for the
sailing OF the vessel at II O'Clock, but
fortunately none OF the passengers were
aboard of the vessel, Tho explosion
was OF terrific force and shook the big
vessel from stem to stern. Following
the report was the sound of escaping
steam. 1t poured up to the deck from
the engine room in clouds and complete-
~ enveloped the vicinity,
From above the noise of the escaping
steam could be heard the cries OF the
men who had been ut work In the en-
glne room injured by the explosion.
The nature OF the explosion was such
that II rendered access TO the locality
extremely difficult. As qulelily as pos
slble the steam was turned on. Almost
simultaneously four half dead men
scrambled up the iron stairway leading
from the engine room. and fell PROSTATE
upon the port side OF the vessel. They
were hurried into the cabin and restorn-
tiyes administered to them. Two other
men terribly scalded were found in an
almost unconscious condition lying near
the bottom OF the stairway and We're
lifted up to tho dock.
As soon as the steam had cleared
nWny gnffnlauNIy IN pauHar g4nlNR thp
surroundings possible Ave men were
found lying near In various parts OF the
compartments dead. They had all
been scalded TO death and their faces
and those parts OF the body which were
o covered by their clothing looked
Us II they had been parboiled.
The bodies were covered over where
they were found lying with pieces OF
t~arpaulln, and word was sent TO the
c~oroner's office.
The greatest excitement prevailed
aboard OF the vessel for a time and II
was thought that the boiler had blown
up. Tho force OF the explosion was so
great that Il blew out a portion OF the
bulkhead and shattered every particle
OF glass within q radius OF fifty feet.
on Investigation 1t was found that
the main steam pipe at the bend near
the bulkhead had burst, The pipe Is
sixteen inches in diameter and extends
from one end OF the ship 10 the other.
II was said BY experimenting Engi-
neer Clark that he did not know exactly
what the amount OF the pressure at the
time was. but that he was sure that II
was not nearly sufficient to cause the
pipe to burst.
He said that he vas moi able at this
time 10 tell Just what caused the explo-
sion. whether there was not sufficient
room to allow OF expansion or whether
there was u flaw In the casting,
Mr.. Clark said that he was sure that
the vessel could not sail within n week,
for II would require at least that time
to make the necessary repairs, The
steamer has made three round trips,
The probable result OF the Injuries re.
celyed by Wilson. Vesper, Folker and
Heard cannot be toretold by the sur
Reons. II is likely, however, that some
OF the men cannot survive.