Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-18
Ammonia Tank ExpIOdes Causing
Two Deaths,
FIFTEEN PEOPLE INJURED.
steamer Also Breaks u Shaft-much
Damage Done Passengers Tell
of Their Experiences.


o'clock tonight after passage In
which an explosion Of ammonia tanks
and broken shaft caused loss Of life
and much damage to the vessel.
AS result Of the explosion fifteen
men were overcome by the fumes Of
ammonia on Thursday last and seri-
ously Frustrated, two deaths following.
Both victims were buried at sea, Sew
eral others we're confined 10 the ships
hospital for some time. and one was
stlll in the hospital when the ship
locked.
DEAD.
John Kent, steward of the vessel.
who died OF pneumonia thirty-slx hours
after the accident. the disease being
due TO Inflammation OF the respiratory
organs, caused by the ammonia.
Carl Engquist, an American citizen,
q steerage passenger, whose address
was unobtainable tonight. On board
with Engquist were his three children.
all Of whom are young and who will go
to the home Of an aunt.
+. Colston, cabin steward, is still
suffering from Inflammation Of the
lungs.
According to statement made by
superintendent James A. Wright, OF
the American line, after he had gone
on board the vessel and talked with
her officers, the explosion or escape Of
ammonia, as 1t was termed by Mr..
Wright. occurred at $3.50 o'clock
Thursday morning. The bonnet Of the
condenser on the refrigeratng APP
paratus was forced In some manner.
Near the refrigerating apparatus at
the time were eleven stewards. steer
age and cabin, and fifteen steerage
passengers. When the ammonia fumes
burst out into the compartment
which is on the same deck as the main
dining saloon, there was mad rush
for escape. Some were overcome by
the fumes and dropped to the floor,
Others were able TO get out Of the
room and efforts were at once made TO
open up the compartment and let the
ammonia escape. This took some time,
however, and those who had first es-
capped. after getting a breath OF pure
air. rushed back into the place and
assisted those who had been unable to
get out.
All were more or less Frustrated by
the fumes. but only a few had to go
TO the ships hospital. The stewards.
Kent and Colston, were among them,
as was Engqulst, Eng1uists death,
according TO the statement OF Superir-
tendent Wright. was primarily due to
heart disease, but II was said that II
was superiniuced by the shock and
by Inflammation OF the lungs. There
were fifteen treated by the ships
physician as a result Of the ammonia
fumes being inhaled but all except
those named are now doiEg WELL su-
perintendent Wright said. and would
be entirely recovered in day or two
The breaking OF the shaft occurred at
1880 o'clock Friday morning. The YES
sci was sailing in smooth sea at the
time. The shaft broke near the propel-
Ter on the port side OF the ship. IT did
not drop out and boat was lowered
and the propeller lashed fast with a
wire hawser. superintendent Wright
said he did not think IT would be
necessary to put the ship In dry dock
TO repair her, but was not sure as to
that point. wv
WHAT THE PASSENGERS SAY.
New York, March ls.--Passengers on
the American line steamer New York,
who have landed here, continue TO dis.
cuss the UNIQUE accident at sea by which
two persons are said TO have persisted.
while number Of others sustained Sc
we're injuries.
Lazard Kahn, OF Hamilton, Ohio, in
an Interview, said
'In the saloon we heard nothing OF
the explosion and did not know that any
one had been killed or injured until
the next day. When the tail shaft broke
on Friday, we felt sharp Jar, but did
nnt know that anything serious had
happened until we saw boat lowered
for the purpose OF securing the propel-
Ter. which was left dangling loose after
the breaking OF the shaft
Thomas Moran, an attache OF the
American exhibits at the Paris ex-
position. who was a passenger, gives
The following account of the accident:
.sThe New York left Southampton
on March Q. For the FIRST three days
out the ship experienced rough wealth
or On Thursday the storm was so
great as 10 make necessary the con-
filming Of the steerage passengers be-
low decks At $50 p. m. one OF the
refrlgerating tanks In the after part
OF the vessel burst filling the ship
with choking fumes. Men. women and
children rushed to the port holes, to
the gangways. anywhere, TO get
breath Of fresh air. The fumes over
came many. Among them were Carl
Engquist and his three children and
steerage Steward Kent, who was In
whet Is known as the 'glcry hole Sew
eral OF the petty officers, after wettlng
towels in salt water. rushed into the