St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-06-24


plosion of steam valve in the
whaleback steamer Christopher Co.
lumbus off Waukegata Saturday
night two men were killed and thir-
teen were dangerously or painfully
injured. The victims were:
THE DEAD:
FRANK WILSON, coal man.
E. J. STEIT, fireman.
The injured: Edawrd Darrow, leader
of the orchestra, scalded on face and
hands very painfully; John Hoff.
fireman, inhaled steam and face, back
and breast seriously scalded; George
w. Keil, waiter, Buffalo, face and
hands scalded; John W.. Keough,
meat carver, Buffalo, hands and face
scalded; Robert McCronkey, coal man,
back terribly scalded; Miss Miller,
orchestra, scalded on hands and face;
Frank Rosner, fireman, badly scalded
on face, hands and body; James E.
Ryan, fireman, scalded on back, neck
and hands; Mic Sesser, waiter tender,
Cleveland, O., hands scalded; Miss
Voxheimer, orchestra, face painfully
scalded; James Lorimer, coal passer,
face, breast and hands seriously
Scalded.
1t was the homeward run of the
whaleback in its opening summer
excursion to Milwaukee About $50
souls were aboard. Flying flags,
with music and dancing, was the or
der of the evening.
Half mile in the boats wake
ploWed the rival excursion steamer,
the Virginia, which clears the har-
Dor some fifteen minutes after the
Columbus. She had on every pound
of steam possible to overtake her
competitor. On the outward trip
the Virginia had not only held the
advantage, but doubled it, and the
crew of the whaleback were deter
mined that they should not be
passed. And the Virginia was gain
ing. AS the sun went down the
boats pushed ahead neck and neck
not more than 800 yards apart. The
decks and promenade of both steam
ers were hiackened with passengers.
Shouts and waving of garments told
the same interest in the outcome that
attended the race course. The Vir-
ginia forged ahead.
Word passed from the engine room
that the Christopher Columbus was
resolved on a. little more speed.
Scores went below to watch the ma
chinery. The clouds of black smoke
forming a dense, low-hanging air
wake to the whaleback, the vibra-
tions of the craft from stem to stern,
the unusual plowing of water all
{o1 1I1c
A GIGANTIC STRAIN,
and would win if it was in her.
Some grew anxious. Judge Gross
cup and his party who were sitting
aft deserted their seats and stood
fore under the bridge.
Those watching the gauge said the
pressure was exceeding the limit to
which the boilers were adjusted.
From 1872 pounds pressure the steam
had run up to 1T, and was still
rising.
Suddenly there was a shock of
explosion. The steam valve in six
inch connecting pipe over the star
board battery of three boilers had
blown out Down in the hold six
firemen and a water man found
themselves in a scalding mist so
thick one could not see his hand.
When they tried to make the ladder
they jammed against heated oven
doors and in their frenzy fell over
one another and delayed embracing
the Slight chance of escape offered
The binding vapor made help i'm
possible. The steam was instantly
in every compartment Of the vessel.
In the main saloon $50 passengers
seated about or reclining were sud-
denly
SEIZED WITH PANIC.
1t was increased by all lights go
ing out. The passengers rushed
from the saloon to the decks. Sew
eral women tainted. The men did
all in their power to quiet the
frightened. Many believed the
ship was sinking.
Then the steam reached the pas
sengers. 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 And
yet, with the suspense of not know
ing what was going to happen, there
were numbers of women who kept
composed, and stood ready to take
the lifeboats if necessary.
On the foredeck there was con-
f,1c 70 To-
Grosscup as one in authority.
What is the situations there
any danger?" he shouted up to
Quartermaster Frawly at the wheel
Second Mate Moses Crum on the
bridge answered back:
Nothing" but the anxious look
he sent back toward the smoke
stack took all comfort out of the
assurance.
II will go below and learn the
facts" said the judge to his party,
"and you can be ready with life
preservers in case it is serious"
While the judge was gone several
gentlemen began to
DRAG OUT LIFE PRESERyERS
and pile them up conveniently. The
scalded men were brought up to the
cabin as soon as possible, and sew
eral surgeons who were on board
did all possible to alleviate their
sufferings.
For three hours the whaleback
lay getting up steam for resuning
the journey. 1t was found that one
battery of three boilers had been
made useless, but the other was cut
off from it, and at II o'clock there