The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-24
DEATH ON THE LAKE
Serious Accident to an Excursion
Steamer from Chicago,
WAS RACING WITH A RIVAL BOAT.

As Result a Steam valve Exploded
and Passengers and Crew Were En-
quilted in Clouds of steam-A Scene of
Widest Excitement.
CHICAGO June 24-By the explosion of
a steam valve in the whaleback steamer |
Christopher Columbus, off Waukeegan |
Saturday night, two men were killed and |
thirteen were dangerously or painfully |
scalded The dead are: Frank Wilson, |
coal pAsser, and e. j. Steit, fireman.
1t was the homeward run of the whale |
back of the early summer excursion to
Milwaukee, and about 15O souls were
aboard Half mile in the boats wake
ploughed the rival excursion steamer the
Virginia, which, clearing the harbor some
fifteen minutes later, had on every pound
of steam possible to overtake her competi-
tor. On the outward run the Virginia
had not only held the advantage, but
doubled it, and the crew of the whaleback
were determined that they should not be
passed AS the sun went down the boats
pushed ahead neck and neck not more
than 800 yards apart. The decks and
promenades of both steamers were black
with passengers The Virginia surged
ahead.
Word passed from the engine room of
the Christopher Columbus that the rival
boat should be allowed to gain half a mile
ON the whaleback, and then steam was to
be run up and the situation would be
| changed before reaching the Chicago har-
Dor. Scores went below to watch the
machinery, and some grew anxious Judge
Grosscup and his party, who were sitting
aft, deserted their seats and stood forward
under the bridge.
Those watching the gauge said that the
pressure was exceeding the limit to which
the boilers were adjusted. From 1872 pounds
pressure the steam had run up to III
pounds and was still rising
; Suddenly there was shock of explo-
sion. The steam valve in six inch con-
Meeting pipe over the starboard battery of
the three boilers had blown out. Down
in the hold six firemen and a waterman
found themselves enveloped in a scalding
mist so 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 one another
and embraced the slight chance of escape
offered. The binding vapor made help
impossible.
The steam crowded everywhere. 1t was
instantly in every compartment In the
, main saloon 100 persons seated about or re.
clining were suddenly seized with panic
1t was increased by all lights going out
r The passengers rushed to the decks. The
men did all in their power to quiet The
) frightened people Many believed the yes
| sci was sinking. A score or more OF
women who had inhaled steam swooned
and in the excitement their friends feared
Y they had been overcome by breathing the
deadly vapor.
u On the foredeck there was confusion
a Every one turned to Judge Grosscup as
one in authority. II will go below anC
learn the facts" said the judge to hi
party. 'And you can be ready with life
h preservers in case it is serious"
d While the judge was gone several gen
o tlemen began to drag out life preserver
and pile them up conveniently. Th
= scalded men were brought up to the cabiI
II as soon as possible, and several surgeon
/. who were on board did all possible to al
" leviate their sutferings
For three hours the whaleback lay get
ting up steam for resuming the journey
1t was found that one battery of thre
boilers had been made useless, but tn
= other was cut off from it, and at II o'clocl
there was enough pressure to start th
. engines The boat finally reached he
E. dock in Chicago at 3:15 a. m, with
q pretty badly scared lot of passengers On
e of the tiremen says that steam was up t
oI 130 pounds before the blow out occurred
u The whaleback company officials wer
le greatly disturbed over the disaster bu
denied emphatically today that the boa
. had been racing,