Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-27
TEN ARE DEAD.
Explosion of Boilers on Tow
boat Near Pittsburg.
One Fatally Injured and Fifteen More
or Less Hurt.
Cause of Accident Has Not Vet Been
Ascertaincd.

Louisville, Ky, May 26.-Thc towboat
Fred Wilson, was torn into fragments,
10 men were blown to pieces and 16
others injured by tremendous eXplo-
sion of the boats boilers, today on the
Ohio river. OF the SO persons aboard
the boat, only seven escaped unhurt.
OF the injured, one will probably die.
The force of the explosion was so great
that it shattered windows and awak-
ened the occupants of houses in Louis
Vile, four miles from the scene.
The dead:
Joseph Price, captain, Braddoch, Pa.
Albert IL. Miller, pilot, Pitsburg.
"A. Holland, guest OF Capt. Price,
Eraddock, Pa.
Hugh Hoskins, cook. Pittsburg.
William Quinn, steward, Pittsburg.
j. e. Johnson, deck hand, Tyrone,
Pa.
Patrick White, deck hand, Pittsburg.
Sherman Shiblcr, second engineer,
PittsburS.
William Thornton, colorcd, fireman,
Middleport, Ohio.
Joseph Warren, colored, fireman,
M1uGlcpOrt, ONO.
Tobe LctzicoIch, deck hand, of
WallsburG, w. Va, was probably fatal
ly injured. Carl Cody, cabin boy, was
blown 125 feet to shore. His injuries
are serious.
Only three bodies have thus far been
recovered. The bodies of the ether
seven victims are thought to be pinned
under the WrcckaSc and may not be re-
covered for several days. The Fred
Wilson WAS the property of the Monon-
gahela River Consolidated Coal and
Coke Co, and at the time of the acci-
dent WAS arranging her tow near River
View park, about GO feet from shore.
No explanation of the accident has been
offered.
The Wilson was the property of the
MononCahcla Coal and Coke Co, and
left Pittsburg. last E'rilsy- with six
barges. II coal boats and four flats.
bound for Louisville. She arrived
about midnight, had proceeded down
the river and was about to tic up when
the explosion occurred. The cause is
not known. The boat had just put
about to back a tow into landing
place when the explosion took place.
Henry Sykes, first mate, could give
no explanation of the accident. He
and Chief Engineer Walker were Tic
only men on the boat who escaped in
jury. Neither man could give thu
names of the deck hands, nor did they
know the name of the passenger who
WAS making the trip with Cart. Prize,
save that he came ashore at Pittsburg
and that they had gained the impress
siCn that he was in the insurance busi-
ness. lie is described as Il man past
the middle age.
Herman ShiveIy. second engineer,
was blown through the side OF the Will
son and landed c5 feet away on top Of
a shanty boat. Father Cunningham
was one of the first to arrive at the
scene Of the explosion and gave cX-
trcmc junction. to several mon who were
dying.
The police and hospital ambulanc"
and the automobile carried a corps Of
physicians ana nurscs to the scene.
which is four miles from the heart OF
the city. The injured We're taken to
the residence of Col. John H. Whallon,
tiitil tilcs ,otI'i Nv bcltCl III Wv Ficti loi
at tho city hospitals. Mr.. Whallon's
house. which is about 1J0 yards from
the river, WAS badly damaged by the
explosion but none OF the family were
injured. The front doors were Splin-
tered, the chandeliers in The drawing
room We're shattered and nearly every
window in the house was broken. Col.
Whallon sent the first word to the city
and he used his private yacht in rescu-
ing those blown from the beat.
The Wilson was built IS years ago,
and was reconstructed in part. last
year. She was valued ut $4,000. She
was insured in the special insurance
which all boats of the coal combination
carry. Her length was ia feet, 50 feet
3 inches beam. The Wilson was liter
! ally blown to pieces ana her hull sank
in IS feet Of water. Two heavy pieces
of her boiler were found almost 500
| yards from the bank and her flag floats
| from the top of 4 tree hear Rivcryjcw
Park. where it was blown with a piece
| of wrcCkage. The Is members Of the
crow who were saved We're all injured
with two exceptions.
Guest Of CaEt. Price Killed.