New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
PANIC ON FERRYBOAT.
EXPLOSION ON RICHMOND.
Three Firemen and Water Tender
Badly Scalded at Battery.

Three fremen and water tender on the rlu-
nicipal ferryboat Richmond were badly scalded
yesterday and 1900 passengers thrown into
panic by the explosion OF one OF the S-inch main
steam pipes in the forward boiler room The
Richmond was more than half way out OF the
Manhattan slip on her way to Staten Island
when the explosion occurred
Although the 1900 passengers were thrown
into excitement by the explosion. the cooIness Of
the crew, coupled with the fact that the boat
was stopped at once and backed into her slip.
prevented serious injury among the passengers.
The list Of injured follows:
AsLEY WILLIAM. twenty-seven years old ? fireman;
badly scalded about face ard head. Taken 70 his
BENNINCi JAMES. twenty-four years old. water
tender: scalded. Taken TO his home on
DUGAN. JOSEPH thirty-ave years old a fireman:
roma. Long Island taken to Hudson Street Hos
LYsAGHT. MICHAEL. thirty-nine years old. FIRE
man; arms sealded Taken TO his home on Staten
The explosion occurred about 11:40 a. m. The
Richmond was In command Of Captain Cole,
with Pilot Hilary Turner at the wheel and Chief
Engineer Wilson in the engine room The twin
screw engines had made only few revolutions
when a terrific report was heard from one end Of
the Battery to the other. There were thousands
of men. women and children gathered along the
waterfront at the time and about the entrance to
the Ellis Island boats.
A joint in one of the eight-inch main steam
pipes leading from the forward boiler had blown
out. Following the explosion there was the loud
kissing OF escaping steam. The passengers were
stunned by the explosion, and the volumes OF
steam that swept through the boat intensihed
the excitement that followed. Women and chill
dren screamed and prayed To be taken back to
the slip.
The call to quarters was sounded at once. and
the crew 20 a man got to their stations and
calmed the passengers They told them the ac-
I'll GHOTV md hOo
backed into her slip in few minutes. In the
boiler room the three flremen and water tender
were thrown on their faces by the force Of the
explosion. How they dragged themselves from
the floor Of the room Up the narrow ladder 10
the upper deck not one Of them could say.
1T was -" Dugan said as his burns were
being dressed I've never been so near death
in my life before and never want 10 be again
The steam did not get into the engine room, a
bulkhead compartment separating il from the
boiler room. Wilson stuck TO his post until the
boat was tied to her slip. He stopped the boat
after the explosion and backed her quickly into
her slip
The reserves from the Church street station
reached the ferry house at this time and
ranged to have the passengers leave the place
Manhattan.
After the passengers were off the boat the IN
jured men We're taken off and their burns dressed
in a small shed on the pier by Drs. Leslie and
Bryant, OF the Hudson Street Hospital.
Superintendent John F. Ambrose of the Nu-
nicipal Ferry system said that the accident was
not Of a serious nature. and that IL II had
happened while the boat was midway on her
trip il would not have crippled her in any way.
He said she was tested and examined on June
and found 20 be in good condition
The Brooklyn put in the place Of the
Richmond. and the regular twenty minute sched-
ule was not interrupted or delayed by the acct
dent.
The fires in the boiler room where the ex-
plOsion occurred were drawn after the bulk of
the steam had escaped An examination will be
made by Wilson later as 20 the cause OF the ex-
plosion. and report made to Superintendent
Ambrose.