Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
Seven Persons Killed and Many
Injured on the Steamer City
of Trenton.
THE BOAT CAUGHT FIRE
Ana is Now a Wredked and Blackened
HULK in the Marshes Of st. Torres
dale, l0 Miles Above Philadel-
phia Captain and Grew Be-
haved Like Heroes.

Steamboat company was on her way from
this city to Trenton ". j., this afternoon,
her port boiler exploded, killing seven per-
sons and injuring over a score Of others.
-Four passcnPes are missing, but AS many
sustained slight injuies, 1t is thought the
missing may be anong those who did not
find 1t necessary to go to the hospitals
The dead are:
j. d. Chew, assistant engineer.
Miss Elizabeth Green, Philadelphia.
Two tiremen, names unknown.
One deck hand, name unknown.
Two passengers names unknown.
The missing:
Mrs. John Matthews, Philadelphia
Miss Matilda Cross, Philadelphia
Two children v no were seen to jump
overheard
The injured.
Scalded and burned
Theresa Rhein. Philadelphia. fatally.
Louise Panschoick Philadelphia, fatally
j. s. Smith. Camden, n. J.
Mrs. Barrett, Camden. y. J.
Mrs. Anna HOVER Camden, n. j.
Cecilia Magrogan, Philadelphia.
Henry Magrogan. Philadelphia.
S. T. Kcphart. Philadelphia
Alice Matthews, Philadelphia.
Mrs. q. T.. Smith, Philadelphia,
E'essic Brown. Philadelphia
Edna Van Scack, IIightstown, n.
Jeanette Read. Philadelphia.
Louisa Robinson. Camden. n. J.
Wilson Mecke, Philadelphia.
W. G. Mersbaum. Morrisvile, Pa
j. w. Hastings, Philadelphia.
White Lansing. Trenton n J.
f. A. Delacy, Philadelphia.
Mrs +. a. Delacy, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Caminade, Philadelphia.
Miss Carrie Caminade, Philadelphia.
Albert Lee, Philadelphia.
After the explosion the boat took fire and
Il. IL,
and hlackened hulk in the marshes of St.
Torresdale. l6 miles above this city Her
hold is filled with water and 1t Is fear d
more OF her passengers and crew may be
found in the bottom of the beat when the
water is pumped out
boat belonging to the police depart
ment Is anchored a short distance from the
stranded excursion steamer pumping the
water from the Inflated vessel, and mem
hers Of the police force are on shore ready
to send any bodies that may be recovered
to the morgue in this city.
The City of Trenton made daily trips he
tween Philadelphia and Trenton stoppina
at Burlington n. j., Bristol, Pa. and
other points on the way. She left the com
panys wharf at las this afternoon i;
minutes behind her schedule time.
Her passenger list was liz liter than was
usual and she carried very little freight
The vessel was in charge of Captain W. A.
Worrell. The other officers were:
Edward Curry, pilot; j. w VandcrVeer
rate; Edward Murphy, chief engineer; d.
d. Chew. assistant engineer and Clayton
Reybold, purser. There were about twelve
firemen and deckhands aboard
| Nothing of moment occurred until the
boat reached Torresdale. point opposite
what is known as the Harrison mansion
"A spacious building ronting the Delaware
river. At this suburban resort the steam
| t,..,
| with Il loud report. All the forward por-
tIcn of the upper deck Was filled with pas
sengers. while many others were in the
cabin. Before any of the passengers c.
employees had an opportunity to seek plac-
es of safety another explosion occurred
and this time the pert boiler WAS rent r
tw ain. Scalding steam and water pourct
into the cabin and sections of the WOO
work of the boat were torn away by the
force of the explosion. Those of the pas
sengers who were not SCARED by tho
scaldng steam and boiling water wer,
struck by the flying portions of the splint-
cred cabin. Legs and arms were broker
ana faces and bodies were rarboied. The
screams of the injured could be heard or
shore and the cries of those who leapct
nnd were blown into the river were heart.
rending.
| So great was the force of the explosion
that piano in the upper drawing room OF
/ the boat was hurled many 1eet away from
the boat into the river. This proved a
fortunate circumstance for many of the
injured passengers Thrown into the wat
er, scalded and otherwise injured so that
they were rendered helpless they clune
to the piano which had fallen into shallow
water, until rescued.
| When the explosion occurred Mate Van
derveer and Pilot Curry were in the pilot
house Both were hurled with terrific
force from the little enclosure and the
wheel on the starboard side refused t.
work while that on the port side, for some
unacCountable reason began revolvinl
with lightning rapidity. AS a result OF
this the rudder turned the bow of the boat
towards shore and she quickly rar
aground, fastening herself In the mud.
by this time the vessel had caught fir,
and those OF the passengers who were still
aboard were compelled to leap for then
lives. Fortunately the water was no
more than four feet deep and many of tn,
victims of the disaster were able to wad,
ashore Some, however, who were too
seriously injured to help themselves wer,
rescued by members of the boat club:
whose houses line the river front at thi,
point. The captain and crew of the boa
conducted themselves as heroes. They
rendered all tho assistance possible to tn,
injured and Capt Worrell was the las
man to leave the boat. All Of the serious
~ injured were hastily conveyed to tn,
hospital at the House of Correction "A
lOlmeshurg. about three miles below Tor
resdale.