The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-06-24
DEATH ON THE LAKE.
Serious Accident to an Excursion
Steamer from Chicago.
WAS RACING WITH A RIVAL BOAT.

As n Result q Steam valve Exploded
and Passengers and Crew We're En-
Quilted in Clouds of steam-A Scene of
Widest Excitement.
CHICAGO, June 24.--By the explosion of
q 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 DO
Milwaukee, and about 100 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 300 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 mile
on the whaleback, and then steam was to
BIO 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 Ire 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 q six inch con-
Meeting pipe over the starboard battery of
the three boilers had blown out Down
In the hold six hremen and waterman
found themselves enveloped in a scalding
mist so thick one could not see his hand.
When they tried to make the ladder they
damned against the heated oven doors.
In their frenzy they fell over one another
and embraced the slight chance Of escape
offered. The binding yapor made help
impossible.
The steam crowded everywhere, 1t was
instantly in every compartment. In the
main saloon 150persons seated about or re-
clining were suddenly seized with panic.
1t was increased by all lights going out.
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
they had been overcome by breathing the
deadly vapor.
On the foredeck there was confusion.
Every one turned to Judge Grosscup as
one in authority II will go below and
learn the facts, said the judge to his
party. "And you can be ready with life
preservers in case 1t is serious.
While the judge was gone several gen.
tlemen began to drag out life preservers
and pile them up conveniently, The
scalded men were brought up to the cabin
who were on board did all possible to al
leviate their sufferings.
For three hours the whaleback lay get
ting up steam for resuming the journey.
1t was found that one battery OF three
boilers had been made useless, but the
other was cut off from 1t, and at II o'clock
there was enough pressure to start the
engines. The boat finally reached her
dock in Chicago at 8:1b a. m, with a
pretty badly scared lot of passengers. One
| Of the firemen says that steam was up to
1870 pounds before tho blow out occurred.
| The whaleback company officials were
greatly disturbed over the disaster, but
denied emphatically today that the boat
had been racing