Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-18
BADLY BURNED. BY STEAM
|Hihe Men Injured by Explosion on Coy
ernment Yacht at Delaware City.
THREE OF THE VICTIMS MAY DIE
Only one of the Entire Party
Escaped Injury.
CAUSED BY TUBE IN BOILER BURSTING

the canal locks at Delaware City, at
7.45 O'Clock yesterday, resulted in
several people being seriously burned
and others badly hurt. Following is a
list Of the injured: glltt
George A. Cleaver, captain of the
yacht, flesh literally burned from the
n face and hands; probably inhaled
steam; may die.
John Swan, engineer, almost as
badly injured as Capt. Cleayer; his
recovery doubtful.
Samuel Weaver, assistant engineer,
burned about the body and legs;
probably inhaled steam; may die. M
James O'Reilly, body badly scaided.
Sergeant George WeInholdt, U. s.
A., body scalded; not serious.
Mrs. George WeinEoldt, slightly
soalded narrowly escaped drowning.
John Coy, y soldier, slightly scalded.
Harry Gladfellow, slightly scalded
Two other soldiers, whose names
could not be learned, were in the boat
but were not seriously hurt. Daniel
Downey was the only one who escaped.
The boat, which is a an-of- warts
launch, belongs to the quartermaster's
department and is under the care OF
Major Andruss, U. s. A., commander
at Fort Delaware 1t is used in trans
porting men between Forts Delaware,
du Pont and Mott and Delaware City,
and makes regular trips between Della
ware City and Fort Delaware, carrying
the workmen and soldiers. 1t has been
great convenience to the workmen at
the fort, some OF whom live in Della
ware City. 49,
The explosion occurred just as the
boat was about to leave the looks for
Fort Delaware. All Of the passengers
had boarded her and everything was in
readiness to start The portion of the
N boat set apart for passengers, in which
N is also located the boiler and engine,
is covered with heavy canvas, the only
N opening being at the rear.
Ten people were inside the enclosure,
& thus filling up most OF the space, and
" when the explosion occurred all were
N enveloped in steam, and as the break
10 the tube was Immediately over the
"a fire box, hot GOALS and ashes we're
MI blown out into the faces Of Capt.
M MCleaver, Engineer Swan and Mr..
Weaver. Others we're also burned il
the same manner, but none seriously.
INF. Downey, the only person who
Sescaped injury, was sitting at the
Sppening In the rear and sprang out
N@side. Those who could not find their
way to the opening out their way out
through the canvas and nearly all
either fel,or jumped overheard. Mrs.
1fWeinholdt was one Of those who sprang
nto the water. A soldier, who was
Rtandipg on the locks, saw her and
baught her in time to save her from
hrowning. Others were rescued in
eimilar manner.
M Although the explosion did not make
- loud report, ID soon became known
$hroughout the town that q serious
accident had happened and crowd OF
People quickly gathered at the locks.
he work of resouing the unfortunate
ines was begnn at once and soon all
J&Fere on the wharf and an effort was
being made to alleviate their suffer-
9&ngs. The men ON the boat who were
lot badly hurt gave their own injuries
3econdary consideration and TUNED
1heir attention to those who had been
nore unfortunate.
Ebn were summoned and were soon on
ISfhe scene. All of the injured are resi-
Mdents CT Delaware City, except the
N1pldiers. The Delaware City people
we're taken to their homes as quickly
y ~ possible and the soldiers to the
6pspital at Fort Delaware. The people
'98 the town were exceedingly kind to
tAe injured, some of whom we're first
<3ken to houses near the locks until
they could be sent to their residences.
Capt. Cleaver and Engineer Swan
y ne the most seriously injured. The
APsh is nearly all burned off the face
Hbd hands of the captain and the engi-
Deer is In nearly as bad shape. 1t is
\ 1npt known whether their eyesight was
! fstroyed. At 2 o'clock yesterday
IA could not be stated whether either
d puld live, although 1t was repol ted
fhat the physicians had hopes OF saving
s<1eir lives. 1t is believed that both
inhaled steam as both were near the
b9iler at the time Of the accident.
. Weaver, who was close to the
Ep9iler, is also believed to have inhaled
no The steam, but the physicians have
.Mppes of saving his life. The lower
prtion of his body and his legs were
~ kprned SO badly, that the extent of his
injuries may not be known for several
eys, if he survives. Tie exposed flesh
Messrs. Cleayer Swan and Weaver
#As literally covered with ashes and
t{fagments of coal, and it is not likely
nat an effort will be made to clean the
ws&ehes and coal off until the patients
a De stronger The injuries to the others
{e not considered serious, although
u11yeral are suffering much pain.
'l2aJ ust what caused the accident is a
Mystery, but ii was probably due to a
d9feot in the tube which burst, as
Mere was no more fire than usual
aIunder it and no effort was being made
.IM test the boiler.
II oMSome of the passengers were from
telaware City, while others had arrived
om Fort du Pont 1.-THE old Delaware
pa ahtteryl. The boat remains inside
4e locks while taking on passengers,
pd it was exceedingly fortunate that
-oN was inside the looks yesterday,
NdIHstead of being out in the river. ri
lN altogether likely, had the accident
es|np pponed five minutes later than ii
Vld, the boat would have been well
pt into the river and several of the
l. psople on it would most likely have
AZ. Sen drowned, as their only escape
gl@m being scalded to death was to
: mp into the water.
Letter From the Philippines.
n Charles Collins of Delaware City is
N; receipt OF a letter of much interest
:, Qm William @. jeffrey, a member Of
tn n M, Sixteenth Infantry, who at the
. zXnn of writing wns nj (1aIoooon