Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-10-28
I0I1FT1 ON TORPEDO-BOAT
,,ron Men Scalded to Death
on the Davis.
.ou usa TUBE BLOWS OUT
!, n,sd From Their Injuries-Tragic
)" ~ of the Trial Trip-No Fault Of
tbe Contractors.

Astoria Or, Oct. 22.-The bursting
nno ana or more steam tubes in the for
,'d ' boiler of the torpedo-boat Davis
Sile @ on her official trial trip yesterday
tally scalded seven fremen.
The dead are Charles Namely, fire.
an married; Paul Luithle, fireman,
married; @ Harry Wood, married;
Villain Wood, foreman boiler shop,
a,,ied; James Ryan, married: Axel
obnsop, married; Albert Buehl. mar
led.
The accident occurred at 11:40 A.
while the boat was westward bound.
Tenas Illihee, near Cathlamet.
bo had run one of the required two
urs al full speed, and was making
bout 9Sb knots per hour, under
eam pressure of $50 pounds.
Seven fremen, under the direction
N William Wood, foreman Of the boiler
hon Of the Wolff g. zwicker iron
orks we're working manfully to
.seD up the tremendous steam pressure
ecessary to supply the flying engines.
Titbout moments warning, some-
biDg inside the boiler gave way, and
( vthcring blast of live steam, fire and
.pOke filed the cramped boiler-room
I'd Overpowered the helpless workmen.
the same time, the forward smoke
lack began to vomit forth flame and
buddy water, and those on deck saw
bat something serious had happened
Blow. Harry Burrows, fireman who
las stationed at the tightly closed
stch of the boiler room, threw the
boz open, and was thrown backward
the deck by rush of scalding steam
bat scared his mustache and hair like
ed.hOt irons,
At the same instant, Joseph Porter,
maChinst, and J. E. Wolff, vice.
resident Of the contracting firm, sprang
pwn the ladder and into the seething
i regardless of the fearful heat that
most Overcame them. Together they
flied Foreman Wood to the hatch,
here a dozen pairs of hands were
aiting to receive him. And then.
be by one, six more horribly mutilated
Zen were taken from the death trap.
everal of the most severely injured
alked unalded to the after cabin,
here DR.. E, II. Thornton, the COM
Pny's physician, who accompanied the
pat, attended to them as rapidly as he
IS able to do so. Few were able to
press the groans that spoke of their
lrble suffering, but all bore them
Ives with the fortitude that men in
ne OF war call heroism. The appear
Pee Of that grim procession, as it filed
Ong the narrow deck, is not to bs de-
rlbed. 1t was a sight that no ore on
Pard will ever forget, and which none
Puld see again for any price that could
paid.
VI. Thornton set about the work of
ffng for the injured with coolI,ess and
dgment, which the strain OF long
1enoon did not abate. Naval Con-
FlCtor Spear, Of the trial board. stood
Ms side through it all, removing the
Tered clothing, ministering to the
nerlng men, as best he could, bind
up their burns and washing the
AUX SCOT from their faces. Lieuten-
tOommander F. J. Drake did like
lehdid service, and, with such help
'ne rest of the crew could give, all
sufferers were placed IN cushions
'ne after cabin and on deck, and the
PlA OF their pain allayed with hypo-
fulc injections of morphine. But
y were past help. At $3.50 Namely
uumbed, followed by Luithle an hour
saf' Harry Wood expired just as
e'cher was laid to take him to a
~ suitable resting place. The 9TH
uied in the hospital here, where
mao been brought late in the after
", The steamer Harvest Queen
20 the Davis from the scene of the
sldent to Astoria.
tne accident was unaccountable to
~ on board. The contractors have
4 careful and painstaking in the con-
ucuon of the boilers. this being a
uch OF their work. in which they
. always met with marked success.
v nave conscientiously followed all
rigid requirements laid down by
soVernmeht, sufficient proof Of
WI Is the fact that the boilers have
y constantly under the inspection of
S'is OF the navy detailed for that
pose. Before they were placed in
Vrpedo-boats the boilers were sub
eu 10 water pressure of $50 pounds
ne square inch, ITO pounds more
i mat at which they were working
ue time of the accident. The crew
uttered for the service. They have
ays been used with fairness and con-
ration by their employers, and not
u the men on board but disclaimed
uelet that their employers were in
way responsible for the unfortunate