The San Francisco call., 1898-12-17

The walking beam is supported on what is known as the gallows frame. On one end of the beam Is the piston rod which drives it. On the other end is the con- meeting rod joining the working end of the beam to the crank on the paddle wheel shaft, which drives the boat. Luck fly the walking beam broke when the bottom of the connecting rod was swung inward, and in consequence when the crash came the broken portion fell out ward and into the cabin. Had the bot tom been swung outward at the time. connecting rod and everything else would have gone into the engine room and then what would have mapped can only be sur missed One thing is certain. there would have been considerable loss of life.
 The connecting rod fell across one of the iron braces that runs across the up- double but it prevented the rod from con tinuing its downward course into the low CT deck.
 Carl r. Lehners, United States inspector of steam vessels for Alaska, was on the Bay City at the time of the accident. If that accident had been planned the en- zines couldn't have been in safer po- sition," said he, yesterday When the walking beam broke the connecting rod and the broken portion of beam were thrown outward instead of into the engine room. The connecting rod is bent from striking the iron brace and the smash-up was general. It was a most remarkable accident and a very lucky one Gf an acci- dent can be called lucky) for everybody concerned.
 Travellers by the ferry steamers will re- member that at each end of the engine room inclosure there are small round set tees. On the one near the connecting rod end yesterday morning were Joseph l.. Willcutt secretary of the Southern Pa cific Railway and Market street cable sys- tenn; Henry McPike, the attorney, and c. D. Bell. Broken glass and pieces of tim Der fell in showers around them while a piece of the walking-beam fell right be- tween them. yet all three escaped uninl- jured McPike rushed along the deck yelling: "The boiler has not exploded. It is only the walking-beam. There's no danger
 Mr Bells description of the affair is came l didn't wait to find out what had happened, but I ran like h-l for the lower deck. When l got there 1 found out what was the matter"
 Joseph L. Willcutt got away from the danger ous- spot leisurely. At a safe dis tance he surveyed the wreck, brushed the chips from his overcoat and murmured, "Pretty close call" He was one of the last to leave the steamer.
 Captain Bradley was as cool as an ice berg. He got out of the pilot house, and addressing the passengers in a slow and ladies and gentlemen. There is absolutely no danger. Just have patience and you will all be landed in a few minutes"
 Strange to say, the women were cooler headed than the men. Some of the latter lost their wits completely and six young fellows took a break-neck jump from the forward part of the vessel to the apron. Another climbed on to the upper deck of the Bay City and from there got on to the fender piles alongside which the ferry was lying and made his escape in that manner. Others secured life preservers and put them on, while few stood ready to help the women and do whatever was necessary.
 The place where the walking-bea first gave way had been cracked for a long time. as the rust stains showed plainly on the face. The wonder is that the acci- dent did not happen years ago.