Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-16

lightful Sabbath morning The boat was
about to start, and was overcrowded with
excursonists Of all classes. one-half of
whom were instantly enveloped in live
steam. which caused nine-tenths OF the
fatalities and injuries.
The packed condition of the ferryboat
saved the lives Of several hundred people,
as those first exposed to the steam shielded
the others. Part of the horror Of the
catastrophe was the blowing out of por-
ton Of the boats bottom. when some Of the
MANNED were drowned.
AS the case Of the Seawanhaka, po-
lice and ambulance aid was furnished
slowly, and the dead and injured number
ing more than $50, were laid around the
ferry entrance until they could be removed
The dead were conveyed In the wagons or
express companies to the old Bellevue Hos
pital morgue. and the burden OF caring for
the injured fell on the staff OF the little
hospital in the City Hall Park. opposite
TryOn row.
The explosion was attributed to gross
negligence in not having the boilers OF the
Westfield properly tested. BY this disaster
nearly seventy persons lost their lives, and
twice as many received serious or dishgur-
ing INJURIES Not One-tenth OF New YORK
residents knew Of the catastrophe.
The sacrifice of life by fire in water craft
in and near New York includes the burning
to death Of three persons on the steamboat
u. l1,
river on November II, 1877; ten perisheo
October H. 1899, of Sands Point L. l.. by
the burning of the Nutmeg State OF the
Bridgeport line.
The TvoH Disaster.
Shortly after 9 o'clock on Monday night.
Julv %. 1888, a memorable excursion dis
aster occurred at Tivoli, formerly Holly
Grove. on the Patapsco river. fifteen miles
below the city Of Baltimore. by which
sixty-three persons lost their lives. or the
victims thirty-four were women, twenty
three children and six men
The excursion was given under the aus
pices of the Mount Royal Beneficial So
ciety. Thn participants Included many
members II the Catholic consregauon OF
the Church of Corpus Christi and frlends
from other parishes and religious denom-
nations In this way the calamity carried
mourning into nearly every part or the
community. All the evidence ascrloea the
pier which was broken down by the weight
of the crowd and the movement or people
on the pier, naturally anxious after day
approa ching to return them to their homes
in the city. 1t was estimated that between
200 and $50 people were on the Wharf walt
ing for the locked gates to be opened and
admit them to the boat. when the crash
came and they were precipitated into the
water along with the broken debris.
The Great Fires Of Record.
Other signally fatal fires Of record are:
The Chicago confiagration of October
and q, 1871 In which $50 persons persisted
and a property loss of 500, 100000 was oc-
casioned.
The Hoboken-North German Lloyd piers
fire Of June 30, 1900; lives lost. 15o; prop
erty destroyed. 100000.
Fatal ship fires of record include:
h,,r, {no In Of ho T yYfy7prf
her way to Stonington from New York..
January Is: loss of life, $50
The George Collier. blown UP on the
Mississippi May 6, 1885, and % persisted.
The Erie. burned up August 8, 1871. on
her way to Chicago from Buffalo. and 200
lives were lost.
In 1887 the Ben Sherrod was destroyed by
fire on the Mississippi and the loss of life
was 200.
The greatest of catastrophes due to sells
mic disturbances was that Of Lisbon. No
vember l, 1855. when $1,000 inhabitants
were swallowed up.
On May 8, 1902. by an eruption of Mont
Pelee. the 10000 souls Of St. Pierre. Mar
Unique, were killed by a fiery blast that
burst from the volcanoes side.
Americas greatest horror came on Sep
TENDER s. 1900, at Galveston. Tex. A hurri-
cane forced the waters Of the gulf on the
inundation and the wreckage caused by
the fury OF the wind, which reached a We
locity of 1875 miles an hour
The most noted of recent high seas wreck
catastrophes are:
La BOurgoyne of the French ransatlan-
tic Company's feet. sunk July 4, 1885, off
Sable Island. after collision with the Brit
ish bark Cromartyshire; of the TO passen-
gers, officers and crew, 55 persisted.
The North German Lloyd steamship Elbe
was. on April 10, 1896. In collision with the
Crathie Of Aberdeen OF Lowestoft, and 1874
Of the Elbe's complement were lost.