Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-08-31

Philadelphia, Aug. 2o.-Whnc the
steamboat city of Trenton of the Viii
| mington Steamboat company was ON
| her way from this city 10 Trenton yes
tcrday afternoon, hcf port boiler eX-
plolrd. killing eleven persons and in
juring over Il score of others. Some
passengers are missing.
After the explosion the boat took fire
and ran aground. She now lies II
wrecked and blnckcned hulk in the
marshes lG miles above rhiladrlph Il.
She is filled with water, and it is feared
more of her passengers and crew may
be found when the water is pumped out.
The city of Trenton made daily trips
between Philadelphia and Trenton,
stopping at points on the way. She
left the conpany's wharf at | - yes,
trrday afternoon. Her passenger list
was lighter than usual, and she carried
very little freight.
Nothing Of moment occurred until
the boat reached TorrcSdar. At
point opposite what is known as the
Harrison Mansion. suburban resort.
boiler burst. Before any of HE paSSen-
gers or employees had an opportunity Of
seeking places of safety another eXplo-
sion occurred. and this time the port
boiler was rent in twain. Scalding
steam and water poured into the cabin
and sections of the woodwork of the
boat were torn away 10y the force of tn"
,r
who were not injured by the scnlding
steam and boiling water were struck
by the flying portions of the Spl ntrrrd
cabin. Legs and arms were broken
and faces and bodies were parboil IT,
The screams of the injured could be
heard on shore and the cries of those
who leapcd and We're blown into the
river were h"altrCndin@.
Fortunately the water was not more
than four feet deep. and many of the
victims of the disaster were able to
wade ashore. Some. however who
We're too seriously injured to help them
selves were rescued by members Of
boat clubs. The captain and crew Of
the boat rendered all the assistance
possible to the injured, and Captain
Worrcll was the last man to leave the
boat. All of the seriously injured were
hastily conveyed to the hospital at the
house of correction at IInlmcSburg,
about three miles below Torresdnlc.
Word was sent to Philadelphia for the
police boats aud the emergency corps
of doctors. The two police boats rem
drrcd effective service in rXtinGuiSlIng
the flames, and in caring for the in.
jlrcd. The physicians ana surgeons
of the emergency corps assisted in re-
lirving the suffering Of the injured.
None of the injured was able to give
an intelligent account of the disaster.
Chief Engineer Murphy reported TO III"
officials that the boiler which exploded
carried only 100 pounds of steam. Muir
ply, along with an olcr named Bryson,
had just left the boiler room when the
explosion occurred and both are posi-
tive that the boiler did not carry the
limit of steam allowed by law.
Late last night. Horace Wilson. vice
president and manager of the Whining
ton Steamboat company, issued the fol-
lowing statements:
AS near as we can ascertain at this
time the accident to the steamer City
of Trenton was due to the explosion of
her port boiler setting fire to the yes
sci. The surviving engineer reported
ample water in the boiler within two
minutes prior to the explosion. Just
what caused the explosion wc are un-
able to determine ut this tine"
The Steamboat City of Trenton was
launched last March. She was built
to ply between Philadelphia and Trrn-
ton, and was designed for speed in shall
low waters between these points. her
draughl Of less than five feet permitting
her TO run at top speed on low tide She
was lG2 feet long, and - feet beam.
There is n strong belief that more
victims are in the river. ana the search
will he kept up until every part of the
stream in the vicinity has been gone
over with til" grapplrrS.