Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-08-29
Captain Wilson'S statement

Captain wilson's Statement
Captain Horace Wilson. manager Of
the Wilmington Steamboat Company, has
issued the following statement;
AS near as we can ascertain at this
time, the accident 10 the steamer City of
Trenton was due to the explosion of her
port lolier, setting fire to the vessel. The
surviving engineers report ample water in
the boiler within two minutes prior to the
Explosion, and that the boiler pressure of
steam wae only $50 pounds. These boilers
lwere built to carry 175 pounds Of steam,
land passed inspection for same by United
States inspection in June last, when they
were subjected TO a water pressure of 263
pounds.
Just what caused the explosion we are
unable TO determine at this time"
The City OF Trenton was regarded as
one OF the finest propeller steamships for
river service ever launched in this conn
try She was built only this year by the
Neahe and Levy Company, and had been
but two months in commission. Her
principal dimensions We're; Length l62
feet; beam. 30 feet. and s feet depth Of
hold When loaded TO maximum capacity
the draught aft was five feet.
The boat was equipped with triple-ex-
pansion engines. driving twin-screws
The sizes of the engines cylinders were
TO- l6, and 25 inches in diameter and IS
inch stroke. As auxiliaries the engines
had surface condenser. placed athwart-
ships ait of the engines; an independent
air pump, circulating pump and feed
lpump. of the most modern type. The two
boilers were of the locomotive type,
placed ON either side of the vessel. about
amidships and independent OF each other.
They were located entirely below decks
and built 10 stand a working pressure OF
lf5 pounds OF steam to the square inch.
The City of Trenton and her sister ship
the Quaker City, have been run daily be-
tween Philadelphia and Trenton and the
time was made so EAST that Il is possible
20 make two round trips between the
cities any day The fast time made ia
Trenton and Burlington alone was an in
centive for many persons to make the trip
daily. and the service became practically
an excursion business during the Summer
months. Yesterday the City Of Trenton
according 10 the estimate made by Gen.
erai Manager Horace Wilson. had 11S
passengers. Frequently, however, she
has carried twice that number.
The arrangement of the first or main
deck of the City Of Trenton was much
the same as that Of the steamer City of
Chester, on the Wilmington route. Ii
had plenty OF room forward for passen.
gers as well as freight. The baggage
room and rcfreshment stand were on the
starboard side, adjacent to the saloon
The saloon deck was open from stem [,
stern, and there was no obstruction TO ,
view Of the river and the scenery.
Anxiety in Wilmington
Much anxietywas felt in this city, wher
the news OF the explosion was spread. b,
the friends of J. Edward Murphy, chic
engineer Of the Trenton. who resided a
} No. 73l East Seventh street. il havinl
I been reported that he was dead. Whei
the boat OF tho Wilmington Steamboa
! Company arrived here last night at
O'Clock Murphy was aboard with thi
greater part Of his body swathed in band
ages. His shoulders and the upper par
OF his body hao been badly burned.
How Murphy escaped being killed is
r mystery. Al the time Of the explosion h,
p was standing in the engine room and near
MN was the assistant engineer, who wal
killed.
} James O'Connel, the fireman. who wal
Killed by the explosion, was formerly Of
this city, but removed to Philadelphia .
short time ago.
As soon as word was received here o
= the disaster, a number of men boarde,
northbound freights in order TO steal .
ride 70 Philadelphia. They We're met a
GIay's- Ferry, however, by a squad O
= officers and driven from the trains.
\ Engineer Murphy is confined TO hi
house by an attack OF nervous prostra
n tion, brought about by the fearful eN
perence he passed through. He refuse
y admittance to reporters and viii not b.
interviewed Oh the snhiect. IL has bee