The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-29

tunate circumstance for many OF the In
iured passengers. Thrown into the river.
scaIded and otherwise injured that they
were rendered helpless. they clung 10 the
plano. which had fallen into shallow water
until rescued.
When the explosions occurred Mate Van
derveer and Pilot Curry were in the pilot
house. Both were hurled with terrific force
from the little incosure and the
wheel, for some unaccounteable rea-
son. began revolving with lightning
like rapidlty AS result OF this the rudder
turned the bow OF the boat towards shore
and she quickly ran aground. fastening her
self In the mud.
MANY WADED ASHORE.
by this time the vessel had caught fire
and those OF the passengers who were stlll
aboard were compelled to leap for their
lives. Fortunately. the water was not more
than four feet deep. and many of the VIC
tins of the disaster were able To wade
ashore. Some. however. who were too Sc
riously injured TO help themselves were
rescued by members OF the boat clubs
whose houses line the river front at this
point. The captain and crew OF the boat
conducted themselves as heroes. They rem
dered all the assistance possible 10 the In
jured, and Captain Worrell was the last
man TO leave the boat. All the seriously In
jured were hastily conveyed TO the hospital
at the House of Correction at Holmesburg.
about three miles below Torresdale.
As soon as possible word was sent 10 this
city for the police boats Samuel III. Ash
bridge and Edwin $. Stuart. and the emer-
gency corps OF doctors. The two police
boats furnished effective service in extin-
gushing the flames which were fast con-
suming the boat. and in caring for the In
jured. The physicians and surgeons of the
emergency corps assisted in relieving the
sufferings OF the injured.
The scenes I'm the House of Correction
Hospital were ptiabe. Men and women
with the flesh hanging from their limbs and
bodies bore their suffergins like stoics and
some even smiled while the doctors laved
the raw and bleeding flesh with cooling
lotions.
CHIEF ENGINEERS REPORT.
A few minutes after the explosion oc-
Cured two steamers. the Fannie and the
Columbia. on their way up the river.
stopped and offered assistance, but the in
jured had all been cared for and the boats
proceeded to their destinations. None of
account OF the disaster. Chief Engineer
Murphy. who was on watch when the acci-
dent happened, reported to the officials I'm
this city tonight that the boiler which ex-
ploded carried only $50 pounds of steam.
Murphy. along with oiler man named
Bryson. had just left the boiler room when
the explosion occurred. and both posi-
tive that the boiler did not carry the limit
of steam allowed by law. Murphy was
slightly injured and Bryson escaped with
out a scratch. The assistant engineer.
Chew. and fireman. who were off watch
and were on deck, were killed.
The boilers of the City of Trenton were
inspected in June by federal inspectors
and stood hydrostatic test of 26S pounds
to the inch. She was allowed to carry us
pounds, and her safety valve. the company
officials say, was so arranged that steam
blew off at leo pounds. Engineer Murphy
also maintains that there were seven
inches of water in the boiler at the time
of the explosion.
Late tonight Horace Wilson. vice presi
dent and manager of the Wilmington
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