The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-12-01

Stockton, CAL, Nov. 20. IN The most
disastrous accident in the history Of
Stockton occurred near Fourteen- Mile
slough, when a apart Of one of the
boilers of the river steamer Z. c.
Walker was blown out, killing six and
dangerously Wounding eleven persons,
while probably fifteen or twenty were
more OF less badly hurt The Z. G..
Walker is owned by the California
Navigation and Improvement company:
and ran between San Francisco and
Stockton. The majority Of the passen-
gers were in bed when the explosion
occurred and were awakened by the
report, which was as loud as a can
mons roar. People rushed from their
rooms in their night clothes and found
the whole forward portion Of the
The electric lights had been put out
and the escaping steam enveloped the
front portion Of the bow till it was
impossible to see how much of the
boat had been carried away. Tbs.
screams Of the men who were locked
in their rooms near the pilot house
were heartrending. Capt. John Tulan
had been VI
blown From His Bed
against the door Of the state room and
was so seriously injured that he could
not move. The door could not be
forced open, as he was damned up
against it.. One of the employees Of the
boat secured an ak and cut the upper
part Of the room away and finally re-
moved him, but not until he was vir-
tually roasted alive. When pulled out
the flesh dropped from his limbs in
large pieces, and although he was suf-
fering overwhelmingly he bore it brave
ly and not a groan escaped him as he
was taken out Of the steam. Watson
Henry, the chief engineer, and his
Wife were in their room near the pilot
house when the explosion occurred
Mrs. Henry was blown through the
roof. The flooring was blown upward
and she was hurled with great vio-
lence distance Of twenty feet toward
the bow Of the boat. She was horri-
bly, crushed by the fury Of the ex.
plosion and also badly scalded with es.
Gaping steam, and survived only few
hours. Mr.. Henry was terribly scald-
ed and died shortly after being brought
!. to the city, Mr.. Blunt was instantly
killed. He was standing on the lower
deck as he intended making landing
short distance above the place where
the explosion occurred. Jerry DAILY,
the fireman, was in the freehold of the
boat when the explosion occurred
r. The Escaping Steam
completely enveloped him, scarcely a
portion Of his body escaping the
scorching vapor. He died at the re-
ce:ving hospital. Underneath the low.
er deck, where the deck hands slept,
groans and screams were terrible, for
the unfortunate imprisoned men were
receiving the full force of the steam as
it came from the boilers. Eight OF
them were almost roasted alive. Those
who were able made their way to the
deck as best they could, while the more
seriously injured We're unable to get
out. Arms and faces of those near the
mair entrance were frightfully scald-
ell. Dominica who was on the lower
deck, was blown into the water and
had to swim ashore after his back was
horribly scalded. About an hour after
the explosion the passenger steamer
Dauntless, coming from San Francis
co, hove in sight. She rendered imme-
diate assistance and all the wounded
and uninjured were taken aboard.
What caused the explosion will prob
ably never be known.