Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-08-29
FEARFUL EXPLOSION
ON RIVER STEAMBOAT
By the Bursting Of Her Boiler the New
Boat, City Of Trenton, Was
Blown to Pieces
MANY ARE REPORTED KILLED

HAiAnC GuN ANAA ANA MAAaAAf MnlEA bldkt-
ment. if correct, shows that she travel
ed to the Hen and Chickens buoy in
5 minutes less time than she
usually made the run between
the two points. 1t is said
that the Trenton was endeavor-
ing 20 overtake and pass a steamer of
an opposition line, which was a short |
distance ahead. when the explosion oc-
CURED.
This was denied. however, by Cap |
tain Frank Edwards. general agent OF
the Wilmington Steamboat Company, |
who also emphatically denied another
story that the steamers boilers were
known to have been in bad condition, |
and that for that reason the boat was
to have been placed in drydock last
evening to have them oyerhauled.
Captain Edwards says that it is true
the boat was to have been placed in
drydOck last evening, for the purpose
of overhauling her steam steering gear.
After the explosion the boat took
fire and ran aground. Last night she
lay a wrecked and blackened hulk in
the marshes opposite Torresdale, 16
miles above this city. Her hold is
filed with water, and it is feared that
more Of her passengers and crew may
be found in the bottom of the boat
when the water is pumped out.
Chief Engineer Murphy. who was on
watch when the accident happened,
reported to the officials in this city last
night that the port boiler (Which was
the one that exploded) carried only $50
pounds of steam. Murphy, along with
an oiler named Bryson, had just left
the boiler room when the explosion oc-
CURED. and both are positive that the
boiler did not carry the limit of steam
allowed by law.
Notning OF moment occurred until
the boat reached Torresdale. At a
point opposite what is known as the
Harrison mansion, a spacious building
fronting the Delaware river at this
suburban resort, the steam pipe con-
Meeting with the port boiler burst with
a loud report. The forward portion Of
the upper deck was we'll filled with
passengers. while many others were in
the cabin. Before any of the pas
sengers or employees had an oppor-
tunity of seeking places of safety an
other explosion occurred, and this time
the port boiler was rent in vain.
Scalding steam and water poured into
the cabin, and sections of the wood
work Of the boat we're torn away by
the force of the explosion. Those of
the passengers who were not scanned
and SCARED by the scalding steam and
), boiling water wece struck by the fly
ing portions of the splintered cabin.
Legs and arms were broken and faces
and bodies were parboiled. The
screams OF the Injured could be heard
on shore, and the cries of those who
leaped and were blown into the river
were heartrending. So great was the
force OF the explosion that q piano IN
the upper drawing room Of the boat
was hurled many feet away from the
boat into the river. This proved a
fortunate circumstance for many of
the injured passengers. Thrown into
the water, scalded and otherwise in
jured, so that they we're rendered
helpless, they clung to the piano,
which had fallen into shallow water,
until rescued.
When the explosion occurred Mate
Vanderveer and Pilot Curry were in
the pilot house Both we're hurled
with terrific force from the little en-
closure. and the wheel on the star
board side refused to work, while that
= on the port side for some unaccounta-
BILE reason began revolving with light
nfrglike rapidity. AS a result of this
the rudder turned the bow Of the boat
towards shore, and she quickly ran
aground, fastening herself in the
mud.
BY this time the vessel had caught
fire and, those OF the passengers who
were still aboard were compelled to
leap for their lives. Fortunately the
water was not more than four feet
deep. and many Of the victims Of the
disaster were able TO wade ashore.
Some. however who were too seriously
Injured to help themselves, were res
cued by members Of the boat clubs,
, whose houses line the river front at
this point The captain and crew OF
the boat conducted themselves as
heroes. They rendered all the as
sistance possible to the injured, and
/ Captain Worrell' was the last man to
leave the boat.
The Captains Statement
Captain W. A. Worrel. master of the
City of Trenton, also denies that she was
racing, and in support Of this statement
declares that at the time there was no
other steamer in sight.
He was in charge Of the boat at the
time of the explosion. He SAYS that the
boat left Philadelphia at LAO, probably
few minutes later and that il usually
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