The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-06-29
PANIC ON A BOAT.
n ACCIDENT ON THE WHALE
BACK CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
A Steam Valve Explodes While the
steamer is Racing With Anotnef
ye.scl-Two Men Killed ana irii-
teen Others Injured.

Chicago. June. 25.-By the explosion
of n steam valve in the whaleback
steamer Christopher Columbus on
Sva,neo,ta, two men were killed and
thirteen. all boatmen, were DANGER
ously or painfully injured.
The dead are Frank WILSON,, coai
man and %. ]. Steit, fireman.
If was the homeward run OF 'le
u,ho,ehack i'm it's opening summer eN-
cursion to Milwaukee. About ooo
sonls we're aboard. Flying flags. WIN
music and dancing was the Oh
the evening. Half a mile in the boats
~. ka nlowed the rival excursion
staa NOR Virginia, which cleared the
harbor some fifteen minutes AFTER. ana
had on every pound of steam lossinie
to oycrtake her competitor. On tie
outward trip the Virginia had not only
hold tho advantage, but doubled it,
and tho crew of the whaleback were
determined that they should not DC
nassed. And the Virginia was gain
ing. AS the sun went Gown the boats
n,,shed ahead neck and neck not more
than 300 yards apart. The decks ana
nromenades of both steamers We're
blackened with passengers. Shouts
and waving garments told the same
interest in the outcome that
tho race course. The Virginia forged
ahead.
Word was 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 vibrations of the craft
from stem to stern and II unusual
Moving of water told that the Colum.
bus was under a gigantic strain ana
would win if it was in her. Some
grew anxious. Judge Grosscup ana
his party. who were sitting aft, de-
serted their seats and stood fore unde
the bridge. Those watching the gauge
said the pressure was exceeding the
limit to which the boilers We're adj
iusted. From 1872 pounds of steam the
pressure had run up to 1T and was
still rising. Suddenly there was a
shock of explosion. The steam valve
in a. six-inch connecting pipe owe the
starboard battery of three boilers had
blown out. Down in the hold six
firemen and a waterman found them
selves in a scalding mist so thick
one could not see his. hand. When
they tried to make the ladder they
jammed against heated I'VE doors in
their frenzy, and fell over n anoth-
err and delayed embracing the slight
chance of escape offered. The binding
vapor made help impossible. The
steam was instantly in every compart-
ment OF the vessel. In the main s
loon $50 passengers seated about or
reclining were suddenly seized with
panic. 1t was increased by all lights
going out, The passengers rushed
from the saloon to the decks. Several
women. tainted. The men did all in
their power to quiet the frightened.
Many believed the ship was sinking.
Then the steam reached the passen-
gers. 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 knowing what was go
ing to happen there were numbers of
women who kept composed and stood
ready to take the life boats if neces-
sary.
For three hours the whaleback lay
getting up steam for resuming the
Journey. 1t was found that one bat
terry 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 3:15 a. M, with a prettN
badly pealed lot of passengers, and all
had a story to tell of the scenes on
board.