The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-18
SHOCKING ACCIDENT.
the Boiler Of Pleasure Boat Explodes al
Sunbury Killing Two and Seriously
lnjuring Seven Others.


the history of Sunbury occurred Satur-
day morning, and as a result of which
the whole city is In a state of gloom
We present herewith a complete ac-
count of the occurrence taken from
the EVeniRg Item:
Saturday, July I3, 1901, will go
down into history chronicling the most
appalling and shocking accident ever
recorded on the pages Of Sunbury's
history.
About o:45 a. M, as the streets
we're filled with marketers going and
coming, and the Saturday mornings
business was at its height, distinct,
cannon-like report was heard, and the
ground tiembled as if visited by an
earthquake. People came running
from their homes 10 ascertain the
cause, and looked at each other in
wonderment, unable to imagine what
was wrong, yet having that indescrib-
able feeling that something terrible
had occurred.
In short time the report was circu-
lated that a terrible accident had hap
pened at the the river, near the Market
street steamboat landing, due to the
explosion OF the boiler OF the steam
boat, "Montour," the property of the
Sunbury Boat Company.
Arriving upon the scene, a sight
more shocking than tongue can tell or
pen describe, met the gaze of the on
lockers.
Lying on the ground, writhing in
great agony, suffering untold tortures,
and staining the grass with their lifes
blood, lay five young boys, while about
one hundred feet away, lying near the
waters edge, the shattered remains of
what was once a steam boat told the
awful tale Of just what had occurred.
Soon hundreds of people fiocked to
the scene and the horrifying spectacle
was of such nature that it will live
forever in their memories and will
never be obliterated by time. Bruised,
burned and mangled, dripping with
blood, with distorted and unrecogniz-
able features, the injured boys, In their
terrible pain and distress, called loudly
tor their loved ones to come to their
assistance and alleviate their awful
sufferings.
Women in their anguish and tears,
wrung their hands in pity while stout
hearted men wept like children. Physi-
clans were summoned and were soon
neroically at work in their humane eff.
forts to aid and quiet the sufferers.
As soon as the rames OF the lnjur-
I'd could be learned, they were made
ipown to the large crowd and were as
iollows:
Allen K. Fetzer, aged IA years, and
lis brother, Arthur Fetzer, aged s
years, sons of Police Officer J. L.
Fetzer, residing on Front street.
Charles Keller, q years of age, and
MS brother, Frank, aged years, sons
of John ]. Keller, OF River avenue.
Harry Reed, aged I2 years, step
on of Robert w. Adams, residing on
Strawberry avenue.
William Pulen, aged II years, son
IT Simon Puen, residing on Spruce
treet.
1t was also learned that George
trymire, of Shamokin Dam, steersman
IN the ill-fated boat was also missing.
While trying to identify the injured,
Mrs. Fetzer, the mother of the injured
Fetzer boys, appeared on the scene
md in piteous appeals asked to be in
ormed whether or not her boys were
,mong the injured. The scene when
he discovered the younger son severe
y injured and later found the other
me dead was one that is beyond all
description and many heads were bow
d In pitying grief for the stricken
nother.
The ambulance and No. I dray
wagon soon arrived and after the in
lred had received medical attention
hey were conveyed to the Mary M.
'acker hospital, while the dead boy
sas taken to Weimer's undertaking
,arlors where an examination showed
nat his back and legs were broken
nd his head terribly crushed.
The complete story of the explos-
on as Can be learned from those who
Tere near by at the time is as follows:
Butler Wendt, of Shamokin Dam
ngneer of the boat left for this size
the river preparatory to taking a
arty up the rlver on pleasure trip.
When he landed at the wharf on this
de the steam guage registered sixty
I'VE pounds and he was careful to note
nat there was plenty of water in the
oiler. Alter satisfying himself that
Serything was all right he left for up
'wn leaving Frymire, the pilot in
narge, and arrived at the Central