The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-30
STEAM ANDHoT WATER sCALD-
ED PASSENGERS.
FLYING DEBRIS FILLED AIR
Seven Were Killed and Many
More Injured and
Missing.

steamboat City of Trenton of the
Wilmington Steamboat company was
on her way from this city to Trenton,
N. j., this afternoon, her port boiler
exploded, killing seven persons and
injuring over a score of others. Four
passengers are missing, but as many
were taken care Of by friends, it is
thought the missing are among those
who did not find it necessary to go
to the hospitals. The dead are:
j. D. CHEW, assistant engineer.
MISS ELIZABETH GREEN, Phil.
adelphia.
Two firemen, anne unknown.
One deck hand, name unknown.
Two passengers, names unknown.
Missing: Mrs. John Matthews.
Philadelphia; Mrs. Matilda Cross,
Philadelphia; two children, who were
seen to jump overheard.
Injured: Scalded and burned:
Theresa Rhein, Philadelphia, fatally;
Louisa Ranschcock, Philadelphia.
fatally; J. S. Smith, Camden, N. j.;
Mrs. Barrett, Camden, N. j.; Mrs.
Anna Hoover, Camden, N. j.; Cecilia
Magrogan; Henry Magrogan; S.. e.
Keppart, Alice Matthews, Mrs. G. E.
Smith, Bessie Brown, Jeanette Reid.
Rilson MacKee, j. A. Hastings, F. A.
Delacey, Mrs. F. A. Delacey, Mrs.
Caminada, Miss Carrie Caminada and
Albert Lee, of Philadelphia; Edna
Van Setback, Highstown, N. j.; L.
Robinson, Camden, N. j.; w. S. Mer-
shaun, Morriville, Va; w. H. Lans.
ing, Trenton, N. j.
fire and ran aground. She lies q
wrecked and blackened hulk, in the
marshes opposite Torresdale, siS
miles above this city. Her hull III
filled with water and it is feared more
of her crew and passengers may be
found at the bottom of the boat when
h water is pumped out. A boat be-
longing to the police department is
anchored a short distance from the
stranded excursion steamer pumping
the water from the Inflated boat and
members of the police force are on
shore ready to send any bodies that
may be found to the morgue in this
city.
The City of Trenton made daily
trips between Philadelphia and Tren.
ton, stopping at Burlington, N. j.,
Bristol, Pa, and other points on the
way. She left the company's wharf
at 1:45 o'clock this afternoon Is min
utes behind her schedule time. Her
passenger list was lighter than usual
and she carried very little freight.
Nothing of moment occurred until
the boat reached Torresdale, at a
point opposite what is known as the
Harrison mansion, a spacious build.
ing fronting on the Delaware river.
At this suburban resort, the steam
pipe connecting with the port boiler
burst with a loud report. The for.
ward portion of the upper deck was
well filled with passengers while
many others were in the cabin. Be
fore any of the passengers or EN-
ployes had an opportunity for seek
ing places Of safety another explo
boiler was rent in twain. Scaldine
steam and water poured in the cabir
and sections of the woodwork of thu
boat was torn away by the force O
the explosion. Those of the passen
gers who We're not scanned and scar
red by the scalding steam and boil
ing water we're struck by the flynn,
portions of the sDlintered cabin. Leg
and arms were broken and faces an,
bodies were %parboiled. The scream
of the injured could be heard o.
shore and the cries of those who lear
ed and were blown into the rive
were heart rending. So great wa
the force of the explosion that
piano on the upper deckage room o
the boat was hurled many feet ava,
I from the boat into the river. Thi
proved a fortunate circumstance TO
many of the injured passengers
thrown into the water, scalded an
bruised so they were rendered hell
less, they chung to the piano, whic'
had fallen into shallow water, unit
rescued.
More Bodies Found.