The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-24
IN SCALOING MIST.
Boilers on Whaleback Christie
pher Columbus Burst.
Two Instantly Killed and Thir-
teen Injured.
DECKS WERE CROWDED
nj. d. Ill., Donf,nna 70 pncc a
The Boat Was Racing to Pass a
Rival Craft.

CHICAGO, June 24.-By the explosion
of steam valve in the whaleback
steamer Christopher Columbus, off
Waukegan Saturday night, two men
were killed and thirteen were danger
ously or painfully injured. The dead
are: Frank Wilson, coal passer, Z. >.
Steit, fireman.
It was the homeward run of the
whaleback on its opening summer ex-
cursion to Milwaukee. About $50 souls
were aboard. Flying flags, with music
and dancing, was the order OF the
evening. Half a mile in the boats
wake plowed the rival excursion
steamer, the Virginia, which cleared
the harbor some fifteen minutes later
and had on every pound of steam pos
sible to overtake her competitor. On
the outward trip the Virginia had not
only held the advantage but doubled
it, and the crew of the whale back We're
determined that they should not be
passed, and the Virginia was gaining.
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
blackened with passengers. Shouts
and waving garments told the same
interest in the outcome that attended
the race course. The Virginia surged
ahead. Word passed from the engine
room that the Christopher Columbus
was resolved on a little fun. The rival
boat should be allowed to gain half
mile on the whalebaek, it is said, and
then steam was to be run up and the
situation would be changed before
reaching the Chicago harbor.
Scores went below to watch the ma
chinerv. The clouds of black smoke
forming dense low-hanging air wake
to the whaleback, the vibrations OF the
craft, stem to stem, the unusual plow-
ing of water, all told that the Column
bus was under a gigantic strain and
would win if it was in her Some grew
anxious. Judge Grosscup and his party,
who were sitting aft, deserted their
seats and stood fore 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 172 pounds and was still rising.
Suddenly there was a shock of ex-
plosion. The steam valve in a six
inch connecting pipe over the star
board battery of three boilers had
blown out. Down in the hold six
fremen and a waterman found them
selves 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 delayed embracing
the slight chance of escape offered.
| The binding vapor made help impos-
sible.
| The steam crowded everywhere. 1t
was instantly in every compartment
of the vessel In the main salon $50
! persons seated about or reclining were
suddenly seized with panic. 1t was
increased by all the lights going out.
| The passengers rushed to the decks
! Several women tainted. The men did
all in their power to quiet the fright
ened. Many believed the ship was
sinking. Then the steam reached the
passengers. A score or more 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 to the lifeboats if nee
essary.
The scalded men were brought up
to the cabin as soon as possible, and
several surgeons who were on board
did all possible to alleviate their suf
ferings. For three hours the whale
back lay, getting up steam for resum-
ing the journey. It 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 was
enough pressure to start the engines.
The beat finally reached her dock in
Chicago at 3:15 a. m, with a pretty
badly scared lot of passengers.