Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-04
8 KILLED BY EXPLOSION
RESULT OF TOWBOAT DISASTER
AT HUNTINGTON LAST NIGHT.

HUNTINGTON, w. Va. January A.
Eight men are known to be dead and
three seriously injured. the result of q
boiler explosion and fire which destroyed
the tow boat Defender here early today.
The dead are:
Perry Spender mate Point Pleasant,
Horace Wetzel, watchman, Pittsburg.
James Seese, lamp trimmer, Wellsville.
Albert Hamilton, fireman, Plttsburg.
Mike Stafford. fireman, Pittsburg.
Thomas Duffy. fireman, Pittsburg.
VIII Wetzel deck hand.
George Kidd, deck hand.
Injured:
Ira Ellis, second engineer, Pittshurg
Robert Holland. fireman.
Robert Mann, third cook.
me Defender was owned by the Monon.
gahela and Ohio Consolidated Coal and
COKE company of Pittsburg, The boat was
returning from Cincinnati with a tow of
empties Capt. James Woodward was In
the pilot house at the time of the acci-
dent and with the exception of firemen.
engineer and the Watchman, the remainder
or the crew were asleep.
Effect Of Explosion.
The explosion Of the starboard boilers
blew out the entire side of the boat and
awakened the sleeping members of the
crew. The noise was heard for three
miles, Survivors grabbed what clothing
they could find and plunged into the Icy
waters of the Ohio in the effort to escape,
Ine night was bitter cold, the thermometer
hoVering about zero, and those who escaped
were nearly frozen before thew could ha
given shelter,
The boat caught fire Immediately follow
Ins the explosion. and drifted down the
siv1r sha,1o ABOUT aOo yards, where she sank in
she was burned TO the waters edge.
Only Woman on Board Escaped.
Ellen Welsh. ehambermaid of Pittsbura.
the only woman on board the boat. escap-
ed in her night clothing. When rescued
she was almost frozen. Capt. woodward
says that the origin of the explosion is a
mystery. as the boilers were, 30 far as
known, in excellent condition. A number
OF men arc working on the wreck today to
recover the bodies of the dead So far six
bodies have been recovered.
searchers for bodies Of the dead found
three men burned beyond recognition. PIN
ned beneath the boiler. They are supposed
to have been the three firemen. Their
heads. legs and arms were burned off, The
boats register was destroyed In the fire.
and only from the captains supplementary
crew be had. Tho latter, is not complete,
and the list OF dead may be Increased.
Capt. Woodward today said:
Captains Story.
Il had just left the hurricane deck and
had entered the pilot house, when there
was deafening report and it seemed as
though the entire steamer encircled bv q
flame, went into the air The pilot house
was left intact, and at once began lower
ing yawl. having the assistance of one or
TWO other members of the crew who were
not Killed or hurled into the river. We be-
gan trying to rescue those about the
steamer, which by this time was a mass
of flames.
Two men, probably firemen, | saw pin-
Toned down by the front head of a boiler.
The flames were gradually encircling these
men, who We're crying loudly for the as.
S1Stance it was impossible for ne IN pya
them. l have been steamboating on tho
Ohio thirty-five years and it is my first ac-
cident. l can in no way account for the ex-
piosion. as we were running only at moder-
ate speed with an ordinary steam pressure
probably 120 pounds"
A Powerful Towboat.
The towboat Defender, which was blown
up at Huntington, W. Va, last night. was
one OF the most powerful towboats on the
ONO river. 1t was owned by the Monon-
gaheia River Consolidated Coal and Coke
Company and was valued at s3OOOO The
boat was built here about fifteen wears ago
and was named the s. L. Wood. SeversJ
years later she had new huh mt undar
her and the name was changed to the De-
fender. - W -
Recently she was given a comnlete over-
hauling and was inspected by the United
STATES inspectors of steam vessels and de-
ciared to be In excellent shape.
Inc noat mad in tow about 45O, 600 bushels
of coal and barge Of wire nails shinIad
by the American Steel and Wire Company.
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