New-York tribune., 1897-07-22
STEAM SCALDS THREE MEN.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE
COLLIER SATURN.

| R,,Rsr1No OF WATER GAUGE FILLS THE
| ENorNr-RooM WITH THE ESCAPING vAPoR
An exciting experience with escaping steam
m hoard the Boston collier Saturn while she was
off Barnegat early yesterday morning. In which
the first assistant engineer was dropped into
the steam filled boer-room through ventiiator
resulted in such serious injury to him and TO the
engineer and q fireman that the steamer was
Obliged to drop the tow which she had ana
hasten to Sandy Hook for medical assistance
There she signalled for a doctor and a telephone
message was sent to the Dazell Towing Com
pany, In this city. which at once dispatched
tug with a doctor on board to Sandy HOOK
The men were found to be so badly scalded
that they were removed to the United states
Marine Hospital at Staten Island for treatment
The barge which was set adrift meanwhile MADE
what progress she could north under her two
small sails.
The Saturn which belongs to the T Wharf
Towing Company, Of Boston, Is an iron steamer
similar to the Philadelphia and Reading GOLFERS
She plies between Philadelphia. Norfolk or New
port News and Boston, carrying northward
large cargo Of coal herself and usually tow OF
one coal barge. On this trip she sailed coal
laden from Newport News on Tuesday with the
barge p c. Merriman in tow Captain j. NJ
Lewis commanded her. and Captain c. W. Arm
strong the Merriman. At D O'Clock yes
terday morning, when the Saturn was just this
side Of Barnegat Chief Engineer James A. Gill;
key heard one Of the glass water guages OF one
Of the four connecting tubular boilers break
A steam pressure Of 140 pounds was then reg
istered Gilkey at once realized the serious DAN
ger from a blowout that threatened himseif
and his fireman, John Bennett. who was In the
boiler room with him. He yelled to bennett 10
run for the engine-room ladder, While ne mace
a grab for the gauges stopcock TO prevent
the threatened blowout. Bennett, VINO Is an
old shipmate of Gilkey's refused to desert his
chief He merely knelt close to the iron hoorihs
to avoid what he knew was coming.
Gilkey held on to the cock as long as ne couio
but the pressure Of the steam trying to escape
kept turning 1t further open uh'i he eouu W
it back no longer , toto
| the boler-room filing 1t almost imheuiatei!'
| The two men badly scalded Dut man
| aged TO crawl between the boilers to the en-
| gine-room ladder and to escape. captain Lewis
| saw the steam rushing from the Doler-rOolr
and. realizing what had happeheo, caieu ,enS ~ bv
| tain Armstrong Of the Merriman TO stano p9
| his sails as he must cast him adr1ft. Inc tow
| ing hawser was dropped and the Saturn heaoeo
| south to allow the southerly vino " ''ea' '''O
| boiler and engine rooms or steam or
First Assistant Engineer A. Nj. bowen wa,
asleep in his bunk at the time He was aroused asd
| and volunteered to go into the DolIei,foUI ""t
| shut the steam off from the three poiers ..
| which the gauges still intact pianke'
was tied about his face, rope under ms aI ann Iii
| and he was lowered through ventilator SUD
| denly the two men holding the line oy wnicn
| Rowen was suspended caught pun OF steam ID
| their faces and dropped the rope Bowen teii inlo
the boilerroom and was fearfully scaided by s .ns
| steam. He retained enough presence or mnu
| n erope his way to the ladder and get UP OH
| deck where he was cared for as far as tne
| limited appliances on boaro the 0a'ui" pc
mitted. 49,, ,ouoa ,hrouob
| the ventilator and succeeded in shutting OH the
| steam from the three boilers ...,a
| Captain Lewis called to captain AIhs'5U.S sI
| thai he would have to leave him TO get medlcai
| aid for the three injured men. He arrived OH
SANDY Hook at about o'clock In the afternoon.
| "a ron nm his signals for a doctor. When the
latter arrived the tug Fred 3; DaIze1 Az n,sn a.,
| about $40 o'clock 1t found that the men
o,'id have to he taken to a hospital for proper
treatment They placed on board the Da, tar
zeII and carried to the Marine Hospital al staten
| Island After their burns had been dressed the!
we're taken off to the Saturn, the injury ~ "
| whose boiler had been repaired and she star'e
| ont IN hunt up the barge.