Rock Island Argus., 1895-06-24
HUNDREDSIN PERIL
Excursion Steamer Made Help.
less in Lake Michigan.
GETS ON TOO MUCH STEAM PRESSURE

And Blows Out . Valve, Killing Two
Hands and Dangerously Scaiding . Dozen
Others-AllcSed Race the Cause of the
Disaster - Three Hundred and Fifty
Souls on Board-Eatal Street Car Acct.
dent-Seven Persons Drowned.
CHICAGO, juno ai-By the explosion Of
. steam valve on the whaleback steamer
Christopher Columbus of Waukegan
Saturday night two men were killed and
several others dangerously or painfully
injured. The dead are: Frank Wilson,
coal passer; e j. Steit. fireman. Injured:
Edward Darrow, painfully scalded; John
Hopp. seriously scalded, inhaled steam;
George w. Keil, hands and face scalded;
John w. Keogh, hands and face scalded;
Arnold Klein, Dubuque. Ia, badly scald-
cd, accompanied by student, also pain.
fully scalded; Robert McConkey, back
terribly scalded; Miss Miller, hands and
face scaldcd; Frank Rosner, badly scald.
ed; James Z. Ryan, badly scalded; Miss
Voxheimer, face painfully scalded: Jas.
Lorimcr, seriously scalded.
Excursion steamers oE a Race.
Tho vessel was homewari bound from
an exclusion to Milwaukee with $50 souls
aboard. The rival excursion steamer Vir-
ginia cleared the harbor shortly after the
Whalcback left the wha-s and had on
every pound of steam possible in an en-.
deavor to overtake her competitor. On
the outward trip the Virginia not only
held the advantage over the whaleback,
but doubled ON it, and the crew of tho
latter determined that they would not be
passed. OFF Waukegan the boats were
neck and neck, not moro than so yards
apart. The decks of the prom,nades OF
both were black with passengers. shout
ing, waving garments, and intensely ex-
cited on tho outcome Of the race.
Too Much Steam Pressure Put On.
Clouds of black smoke poured from the
funnel of the Columbus and tho vibra-
tions OF the craft from stem to stern and
tho unusual plowing in the water told
that the vessel was under o gigantic
strain. Those watching the guage said
the pressure was exceeding the limit
which the boilers were allowed to carry.
From 132 pounds pressure the steam had
run up to la and was still rising. Sud-
denly there was the shock Of an explo-
sion. Tho steam valve in the six-inch
connecting pipe over tho starboard bat
terry Of three boilers had blown out.
Fsremen CauSht IN hcrrtDio 1Fop.
Down in the hold seven firemen found
themselves enveloped in scalding mist,
and in their frency to escape fell over
one another, thus losing the slight chance
Of escape offered. The steam spread
everywhere. Il instantly invaded every
compartment of the vessel. In the main
salon 15o persons were seized with panic,
which was increased by all the lights GO
ing out. Many women tainted. The
scalded men in the hold were brought up
TO the cabin as soon possible. and several
surgeons who were on board did all pos
sible to alleviate their sufferings
Company Denies the Racing Story.
For three hours the whaloback lay to,
getting up steam for rcsuming the jour.
ney. The boat finally reached her dock at
Chicago at 3:l5 a.. III. with 4 pretty badly
scared lot of passengc's. All had story
| to tell of the scenes on board. One of the
| fremon says that the steam was up to 49,
pounds before the blowout occurred. Tho
I whalcback company officials were great.
| ly disturbed over the disaster. but denied
cmphatically that tho boat hal been
racing.