The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-09-05
SEVEN DEAD, FOUR MISSING, TWEEN
TY.THREE INJURED IN EXPLO.
SION NEAR PHILADELPHIA.
Boilers burst, Dealing DeGth and De-
StruCtIon on oil Sides, and Vessel Runs
Ashore Hitter Being DeSerted-LIyeS
Saved BY a Floating Piano.

many PROBABLY fatally, are the
results of a boiler explosion on
the steamer City of Trenton yes
terday afternoon.
1t is feared that even this list
of casualties may not be com
plete, for many passengers jump
ed into the water, and the hold
of the vessel perhaps hides the
bodies of more victims.
After the explosion the ship
took fire and ran aground.
Passengers and members of
the crew were hurled across the
deck by the explosion. several
being killed outright while a
number sustained serious injur-
les. Others were pinned down
by timbers and scalded with
steam and boiling water which
was scattered from one end of
the vessel to the other. A panic
followed, but the officers restored
order after a time.
When the fire appeared all still
aboard had to jump into the
water. AS the boat was nearing
the land even those who could
not swim were able to keep above
the surface until rescue parties
arrived.
The steamer belonged to the
Wilmington Steamboat company
and was on its way from this
city to Trenton, N. J. 1t now is
a wrecked and blackened hulk in
the marshes opposite Torressale,
sixteen miles above this city.
The hold is filled with water and
it is feared more of the passen-
gers and crew may be found in
the bottom of the boat when the
water is pumpted out.
A boat belonging to the police
department is anchored a short
distance from the stranded ex-
cursion steamer, pumping the
water from the Inflated vessel.
and members of the police force
are on shore ready to send any
bodies that may be recovered to
the morgue in this city.
When opposite what is known
as the Harrison mansion, a spac-
ious building fronting the Della
ware river at the suburban re-
sort of Torresdale, the steam
pipe connecting with the port
boiler burst.
The forward portion of the up
per deck was we'll filled with pas
sengers, while many others were
in the cabin. Before any of the
passengers or employees had an
opportunity of seeking places of
safety another explosion occur
red, and this time the port boiler
was rent in twain.
Scalding steam and water pour
ed into the cabin, and sections of
woodwork of the boat were torn
away. Those of the passengers
who were not injured by the
scalding steam aud boiling water
were struck by the flying por
tons of the splintered cabin.
Legs and arms were broken
and faces and bodies were
parboiled. The screams of the
injured could be heard on shore.
So great was the force of the
explosion that piano in the up
per drawing room of the boat
was hurled many feet away from
the boat into the river. This
proved a fortunate circumstance
for many Of the injured passen-
gers. Thrown into the water,
scalded and otherwise injured so
they were helpless, they chung
to the piano, which had fallen
into shallow water, until rescued.
None of the injured was able
to give an Ineligible account of
the disaster. Chief Engineer
Murphy, who was on watch
when the accident happened, re-
ported to the officials in this city
tonight that the boiler which
exploded carried only 80 pounds
of steam. Murphy, along with
an oiler named Bryson, had just
left the boiler-room when the
explosion occurred and both are
positive that the boiler did not
carry the limit of steam allowed
by law. Murphy was slightly
injured and Bryson escaped with