Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-29
STEAMERS BOILER BURSTS.


tally IL jured, and several missing, is the
result OF the explosion OF boiler on
the steambost City OF Trenton at 2:45
O'Clock yesterday afternoon on the
Delaware river.
There were more than three hundred
people on the boat at the time OF the
catastrophe, and she was steamirg up
the Delaware at top speed. The acci.
dent occurred @ mile above the House
of Correction, which is on Penny Pack
creek. Fire followed the explosion,
and when the boat was beached on the
Pennsylvsnis side OF the stream she was
burning fiercely. Before the flames we're
extineuished the vessel was burned al
most 10 the waters edge. 1t seems al
most miracle that any of her passen-
gers escaped.
Nine bodies have been recovered and
taken to the morgue. All are badly
burned. Tbirty-two injured are 10 the
Philadelphia hospital. The boat left
Philadelphia at l:45 yesterday afternoon
ten minutes behind schedule time.
More than q mile ahead Of her steamed
the Twilight, OF the Delaware river
Navigation Company. The City oi
Trenton belonged to the Wilmington
Steamboat Company. The two are ri
vals.
1t is the custom of the captains OF the
vessels Of the two companies to race up
the river, and yesterday Captain Wor-
rell determined to catch the Twilight.
ALL steam was put on and the
little vessel fairly leaped through the
water. Whether this had anything
to do With the explosion can
not be said, but q member OF the
crew gave it as his opinion that the
steam exhaust pipe was too small Tor
the work required OF it and the In
Creased pressure drove the steam back
and caused the explosion.
The vessel was steaming at q speed
OF about sixteen knots and was In mid
stream about quarters.of mile behind
the Twilight wnen, without the least
indication that anything was wrong,
the explosion took place. A passenger
who was ln the cabin, said:
II was with my wife and four child
req, sitting 10 the cabin. We were just
talking OF the speed of the vessel when
there was a cracking noise like the
tearing apart OF silk. Then the floor
began to shake and sway, and the next
Instant there was terrific report. The
two upper decks were lifted up and l
saw the upper one go over the eide.
The explosion threw . number OF pas
seneers overheard and carried awsy
both upper decks. II was the port
boiler that exploded, and the stsrboard
boiler being intact, the screw continued
10 revolve and turned the vessels bow
toward the Pennsylvania side, and her
impetus ran her ashore in about four
feet OF wster. Both sides Of the river
at the point where the explosion occur
red are lined with boat houses, and
men rowed at oncs to the assistance oil
ttose who were struggling in the water.
several persons we're picked up and
carried to the Jersey and Penusylvanis
SCORES, but 1t seems certain that some
must have gone down. as the tide was
running very strong.
The vessel had caught fire as soon az
the boiler exploded, and by the time
Der bow struck 10 the fats at Hampton
Court the flames eagerly devoured the
wreck. Panic seized the pass sngers,
but, strange to say, few jumped ioto
the water until the steamer reached
shore.
Men began pushing and struggling
with others to get into the boats that
had drawn up to the side OF the wreck.
and would have left many women and
children TO burn had it moi been for the
action of a mounted policeman who
rode into the water, and, drawing bis
revolver, threatened to shoot any man
who entered boat btf)re the women
and children got of.
This was effectual and the passengers
got of safely. Meanwhile FIRE boats
were speeding to the scene and they
soon put out the flames.
The City OF Trenton was new boat,
having been launched less than year
ago from the yards OF Nes6s & Levy.
She drew only five feet of water. She
vas 162 feet long, 32 feet beam, and 80
feet guard. She had triple expansion
epgints and twin screws. The boiler
were OF locomot We type and designed
to carry a pressure OF 175 pou oos. sh'
wss valued at $4,000 and was fullI
| insured.