The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-18
which Also Limped Into Port at New
York with Shaft Broken Near
Propeller on Port Side.
VALVE FORCED OFF A TANK
PORTION OF THE STEAMSHIP FILLED
WITH FUMES OF AMMONIA.
Fifteen Persons Overcome, Two So
Seriously They Dicd-One Man Still
i'm the Hospital.

NEW YORK, March 1.-THE steamship
New York reached dock at 10 o'clock to-
night after a passage in which an explo-
sion of an ammonia tank and a broken
shaft caused loss of life and much damags
TO the vessel. AS a result of the explosion
fifteen men were overcome by the fumes
of ammonia Thursday morning last and so
seriously Frustrated that two deaths fol-
lowed. Both victims were buried at sea.
Several others We're confined to the ships
hospital for some time, and F. Colston. a
cabin steward. was still in the hospital
when the ship locked. The dead are:
JOHN KENT, a steward of the vessel,
who died of pneumonia thirty-six hours
after the accident, the disease being due 10
Inflammation of the respiratory organs
caused by the ammonia.
CARL ENGKVIST, an American citizen,
a steerage passenger. whose address was
unobta1nable tonight. On board with
Engkvist were his three children, all of
whom are young and who Will so TO the
home of an aunt.
According TO a statement made by Super
intendent James A. Wright, of the Ame-i-
can line, after he had gone on board the
vessel and talked with her officers the ex-
plosion, or escape of ammonia, as it was
termed by Mr.. Wright, occurred at half
past 6 o'clock Thursday morning. The bon
net of the condenser on the refrigerating
apparatus was forced in some manner. The
apparatus is in the after portion of the
main deck on the starboard side. Mr..
Wright said he had been unable TO ascer-
tain the exact cause of the escape OF am
monia. He said he presumed the pressure
was so great that a valve was forced, thus
forming an i~ncipient explosion.
Near the refrigerating apparatus at the
time were eleven stewards, steerage and
cabin and fifteen steerage passengers. When
the ammonia fumes burst out into the COM
partment which is on the same deck as the
main dining saloon there was a mad rush
to escape. Some were overcome by the
fumes and dropped to the floor. Others
We're able to get out of the room, and eff
forts were at once made to open up the
compartment and let the ammonia escape.
This took some little time, however, and
those who had first escaped, after getting
a breath of pure air, rushed back into the
place and assisted those who had been I'M
able TO get out into places of comparative
safety. All were more or less Frustrated
by the fumes, but only a few had to go to
the ships hospital. The stewards. Kent
and ColstOn, were among them, as was
Engkvist. ~Engkvist's death, according to
the statement of Superintendent Wright.
was primarily due TO heart disease, but it
was said that il was superinduced by the
shock and by of the lungs.
Engkvist had been under treatment by the
ships physician prior to the accident for
heart disease. There were fifteen treated
by the physician as a result of the am
monia fumes being inhaled, but all except
those named are now doing well, Superin-
tendent Wright said, and would be entirely
recovered In a day or two.
The breaking of the shaft occurred at
11:45 O'Clock Friday morning. The vessel
was sailing in a smooth sea at the time.
The shaft broke near the propeller on the
port side of the ship. 1t did not drop out,
and a boat was lowered and the propeller
dashed fast with a wire hawser. Superin-
tendent Wright said he did not think ii
would be necessary to put the ship in dry
dock to repair her, but was not sure as to
that point.