The sun., 1901-08-29
MANY HURLED
TO DEATH
Boilers on Steamer City Of Tren-
ton Exploded.
PASSENGERS In A PANIC
James Mccormick, Fireman of
This City Killed; Chief Engineer
Edward Murphy Was
Badly Scalded.
PASSENGERS In A PANIC

Badly Scalded.
A score or more OF people killed and
drowned, and probably thirty seriously
scalded and injured, was the terrible re
suit OF an explosion of the boilers on the
Wilmington Steamboat Company's new
steamer City of Trenton about 230
o'clock yesterday afternoon. The City
of Trenton phys between Philadelphia
and Trenton and the accident happened
while the boat was passing Holmesburg
on her up trip.
Among those who were killed in the
accident was James Mccormick of this
city. il fireman on the boat. Edward
Murphy Of Wilmington, chief engineer
on the City of Trenton was badly
scalded 1t was reported last night that
there was several passengers on the
boat from this city, but whether they
escaped or not could not be learned. The
cvact list of the dead and injured could
not be ascertained last night. The in
iured were all taken to the House Of
Correction, which is near the scene Of
thu disaster.
DOUBLE BOILER EXPLODE.
The boat left her dock at Pier No. 8.
Arch street wharves at 2 O'Clock, with
more than three hundred people on board
Captain Worrell was in command Of the
boat, and was in the wheelhouse mp to thu
time of the accident. All went well
until Holmcshurg was reached when
| without warning the large double boilers
suddenly exploded, throwing many people
who were sitting in the middle of tht
boat into the river by the force Of thu
lcxplosion.
! Almost instantly the boat caught fire
amidships and the passengers and crew
were thrown into the widest state of eX
element
| There were more than one hundrrt
people in the middle of the boat ut thu
tine. and il was these who suffered tn,
most from the explosion. In the engine
room the assistant engineer and tvs
iiremen were said to have been Instant,
killed.
| Escaping steam soon enveloped tha
part Of the boat and scores Of peopl
were badly scalded A number Of Others
who became panic-stricken by the eN
plosion and the fast burning flames
| jumped overheard. some of whom wer
picked np by the many small boats whicl
put out from the Jesrsey and Pennsyl
vania shores
The steamers Twilight and Columhi
were short distance behind the Git
Of Trenton when the accident happened
The two steamers We're soon alongsid
the City of Trenton. and their crew
were soon engaged in picking up tn
victims.
Within ten minutes number of sma
boats were leaving all the surroundin
towns in the vicinity, and many of thos
who jumped into the river We're rescued
For nearly half IN hour the City o
Trenton remained in flames. beached jus
lopposite Hampton Court, Linden avenue
Fprres,lale. The iireboats Ashbrids.
landStuart. which were quick in reacl
ing the scene soon had the flames unde
control
All tho injured were loaded in amhu
lances. farm wagons, patrol wagons, an
Iother convcyances and taken to tn
House Of Correction, which was quickl
transformed into a temporary hospita
Within half an hour Of the esplosio
six badly burned and almost unrecogni
able bodies were picked mp by the Stean
,rs Twilight and Columbia. Parts {
other bodies were also picked up. an
their condition was such as to show TIL;
the force Of the explosion was terrible.
} According to the statement of I'll
steamboat company. the crew of the Cit
OF Trenton was composed of Captal
Worrell. Chief Engineer Edward Nh
nhy. an assistant engineer. two fircme
four deck hands. one PM ser. one sttS
i lrtlcss and one oier
ENGINEER MURPHY IN
WILMINGTO.
Edward Murphy, chief engineer {
/ the City Of Trenton after the exploSit
, occurred arrived in this city on Il
steamer City of Chester about o'elot
, last night Engineer Murphy W:
driven from the boat TO his home y
/, 731 Fast Seventh street IN cab.
could not be seen mt his home but it vi
stated ut the house that he was not SCI
ously injured. His left side was had
scalded and he was on the verge of NJ
vouS prosti'ation.
< james Mccormick of this city WI
was killed in the explosion had been
I: fireman ON the City Of Trenton s,hce IN
e boat was first put in service about "
Z months ago. At the time OF the ac'
= dent he is said to have been ON waite
X McCloskey intended to 90 OIL IN y sh,
il vacation today. Captain i-ackey, ~
CITY OF Chester, Niiltii pot't uiiiNtu
this city at . o'clock last night, co'
rive no information concerning the eau
OF the accident.
: Captain Wilson of this city, manaa
7 II the Wilmington Steamboat Co, "
Z At the scene of the accident shortly aft
u Il happened. He remained there M
IN late last night directing the work
lr assisting the injured. George Gre
~ bnokkeeper in the conpany's local OH
Y was sent for early last evening and W
~ CAPTAIN Wilson helped care for the
iured The report Of the accident t1ins
much excitement when It reached v
mington about O'Clock yesterday aft
~ noon. j,
Il The City of Trenton with her SIS
IS boat the Quaker City Mere constl,ic
~ l,y the Neatic x Levy GO. of Ph'a'
nj phia this year and both boats We're
i h service on the new line wien i
H. first opened last spring.
Complaining About street,
L, In