The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-24
WHALEBACKNARACE
Was Not Going to Be Passed by
Another Excursion Boat.
HEAVY STEAM CROWDED ON.
A Valve Blew Out and Two Men
Were Killed-A Panic on the
Christopher Columbus.

Ch!ago June BY the explosion Of .
steam valve on the whaleback steamer
Christopher Columbus of WaGkegan Sat-
urday night two men were Killed and
thirteen were dangerously or PAINFULLY
injured The dead are: Frank Wilson,
coal HEAVIER; E J. Steit, fireman The
injured are: Edward BARROW, leader or
the orchestra painfully sca1ded; JoAn
Hopp. fireman. inhaled steam and ser1-
oJlsly scaldei; George Keit, waiter. face
and hands scad6ed; John w. heogr, face
scalded; Arnold Klein. passenger. face
and hands badly scalie-i. accompanied by
student, also painfully sca1oed; Robert
McConkey. coal paSSer, back terribly
scaided; Miss Miller orchestra Scalded on
hands and face; Frank Ros-re-, fireman.
badly scalded on face, hands and body;
Ja.nles K. Ryan, fireman, scalded on back,
neck and hands; Nick Seser, water tender.
hands scalded; Miss Voxhein1er, orches-
ira, face painfully sscaldad; W. L. Web
ster. chief engineer. hands scaldesd; James
Lorimer. coal passer. face, neck. breast
and hands scaldesi.
Ii was the homewari run of the whale
hack. with about $50 souls on board
Music and dancing was the order OF the
evening. Half a mile in the boats wake
plowed the rival excursion steamer, the
Virginia, which cleared the hal7oor some
fifteen minutes later. and had on every
pound OF steam possible 10 oyeTtake her
gtnia had not only held the advantage
but had doubled it, and the crew OF the
whaleback strained he valve. TIE whale
back company officials were greatly dis
turbsd over the disaster, but denied EN-
phatically the story that the boat had
been racing.
The crew OF the whaleback were de-
termined that they should not be passed.
AS the sun went down the boats were
not more than 300 yeards apart. The
decks and promenades OF both steamers
were blackened with passengers. Shouts
and waving garments told the same in
terest in the outcome that attends the
race course. The Virginia surged ahead.
Word was passed from the engine room
that the Christopher Columbus was re-
solved on a little fun. The rival boat
should be allowed to gain half mile on
the whaleback. il was said. ana then
steam was to be run up and the positions
would be changed before reaching Chi
cdgo. Scores went below TO watch the
machinery. The clouds of black smoke
forming a dense. low-hanging cloud fol-
lowing in the wake of the whaleback, the
vibrations of the craft the unusual plow-
ing of the water. all told that the Co
lumbus was under gigantic strain and
would win if 1t 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 gauge said that the pressure
was exceeding the limit TO which the
boilers were adjusted. From 1S2 pounds
pressure the steam had run up TO 112, and
was still rising.
Suddenly there was a shock Of explo-
sion. The steam valve in a siX-inch con-
Meeting pipe over the starboard battery
of three boilers had blown out. Down
in the hold six firenen and waterman
found themselves enveloped in Scalding
steam. When they tried to make the lad
der they damned against the heated oven
doors. In their frenzy they fell over one
another and delayed the slight chance
of escape offered. The binding vapor
made help impossible
The steam crowded everywhere. 1t was
instantly in every compartment OF the
vessel. In the main salon $50 persons
seated about or reclining were suddenly
seized with panic. 1t was increased by
all the lights going out The passengers
rushed to the decks. Several women
tainted The men did all in their power
to quiet the frightened people. Many be-
lieved the ship was sinking. The steam
reached the passengers score or more
of women who inhaled steam swooned.
and in the excitement their friends
feared they had been overcome by
breathing the deadly vapor And yet,
despite the suspense OF not knowing
numbers of women who kept composed
and stood ready to take the lifeboats il
necessary.
on the foredeck there was confusion
Every one turned to Judge Grosscup as
one in authority. 81 Will go below and
learn the facts" finally said the Judge 10
his party, "and you can be ready with life
preservers in case II is serious" While
the judge was gone several gentlemen be-
gan 10 drag out life preservers and pile
them up conveniently. The scalded men
were brought up to the cabin as soon as
possible. and several surgeons who were
on board did all possible to alleviate their
sufferlngs.
For three hours the whaleback lay. get
ting up steam for resuming the journey
II was found that one battery of three
boilers had been made useless but the
6ther was cut off from il. and at II O'Clock
there was enough pressure to- start the en-
gines. The boat finally reached her dock
In Chicago AZ 1:l5 n. m. with pretty bad
ly scared lot OF passengers.