Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-18
TWO Shocking DISASTERS.
ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER
NEW YORK REPORTED ON
HER ARRIVAL.
EXPLOSION OF AMMONIA TANK
OvERCAME FIFTEEN MEN, THREE
OF WHOM DIED.
The Accident ts the ReRrigerating
Apparatus Occurred Thursday. and
Was Followed ON Friday by the
Breaking of the Shaft-The Vessel
Lfmped Into Port, Almost Totally
Disabled.

NEW YORK, Mai I7.-The steam
ship New York reached her dock at
10 o'clock tonight after a passage in
which an explosion of an ammonia
tank and a broken shaft caused loss
OF life and much damage to the yes
sci. As a result Of the explosion fifteen
men We're overcome by the fumes OF
ammonia on Thursday morning last
and so seriously Frustrated that two
deaths followed. Both victims were
buried at sea. Several Others were
confined to the ships hospital for
some time and one was still in the
hospital when the ship locked.
The dead are:
John Kent, a steward of the vessel,
who died of pneumonia SO hours after
the accident, the disease being due to
Inflammation of the respiratory organs
caused by ammonia, and
Carl Engkvist. an American citizen.
A steerage passenger whose address
was unobtainable. tonight.
On board with Engkvist were his
three children, all of whom are young
and who will go to the home Of an
aunt.
f. Colston. a cabin steward, is still
suffering from Inflammation OF the
lungs.
According to a statement made by
Supt. James A. Wright. of the Ameri-
can line. after he had gone on board
the vessel and talked with her officers,
the explosion or escape of ammonia,
as it was termed by Mr.. Wright, occur
red at half past six o'clock Thursday
morning. The bonnet OF the conden-
ser on the refrigerating apparatus was
forced in some manner The appar-
atus is in the fore portion of the main
deck, on the starboard side. Mr.. Wright
said he had been unable to ascertain
the exact cause of the escape OF m
monia. He said he thought the pres
sure was so great a valve was forced
thus forming an incipient explosion.
Near the refrigerating apparatus at
the time were eleven stewards, steer
age and cabin and fifteen steerage pas
sengers.
When the ammonia fumes burst out
into the compartment which is on the
same deck as the main dining saloon,
there was a mad rush for escape. Some
we're overcome by the fumes and
dropped to the floor. Others were able
to get out of the room, and efforts were
at once made to open 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 unable 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 breaking of the shaft occurred al
Has o'clock Friday morning. The yes
sci was sailing in a smooth sea at the
time. The shaft broke near the pro-
peller 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. superintendent
Wright said he did not think 1t would
be necessary to put the ship in dry
dock to repair her, but was not sure as
to that point.