The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-15
3 SAILORS SCALOEO
To DEATH ON A YACHT

New York, Oct. 15.-Three sailors
were scalded to death and two others
are suffering agony as the result OF
the explosion OF steam pipe on the
steam yacht Colonia. owned by Com
modore Frederick G. Bourne, formerly
commodore OF the New York Yacht
club, as she lay In oyster Bay cove,
not far from President Roosevelt's sum-
mer home. yesterday. The colonia was
just about 10 sail for Newport. r. !.
All hve OF the sailors sustained ter
rible scalds from the escaping steam,
and the three that died breathed their
last after they had been taken TO Mas
ssu hospital at Mineola, L. l. While IL
Is thought the other two men may sur
vive their injuries. their condition was
critical at late hour last night.
The dead are:
ALBERT Z. HIP, fireman.
EDWARD MGENTY. stoker.
JOHN soUTHARD. fireman.
The injured are John Leonard the
o'Hara, a fireman.
The Colonia. which was Commodore
Bourne's flagship at tho head OF the
New York Yacht club last year, is about
1s9 feet and is considered one of the
finest and handsomest yachts in the
club fleet Commodore Bourne. his wife
and their guests had gone ashore at
Oyster Bay when the steam pipe burst
Had they been on board. however,
they would probably have escaped i'm
Jury. as the accident occurred In the
engine room OF the yacht The Colonia
was about TO go out OF commission for
the season. and Engineer Leonard was
10 take the vessel 10 Newport TO lay
her up for the winter.
Commodore Bourne and his party had
been ashore several hours and their
return was expected TO take place in a
short time, when Engineer Leonard and
the engine room crew went down stairs
20 get UP steam in the boilers, prepara-
tory 10 leaving oyster Bay on the way
70 Newport. II was noted at the first
that there was something the matter
with the boilers.
The boiler refused 20 take water as
II should. and an examination indicated
that one OF the pipes was choked. The
men then turned 10 the other boiler,
ana were Ut WOTk ktlllHk ltduy W
start when the explosion occurred.
1t is believed that some water was
left in the hrst boiler. and that as there
Was -fre- -in-the furnace -under-it,-the
steam that was thus generated backed
UP in the already clogged steam pipe
until finally the powerful pressure blew
out the tubes.
Immediately, scalding vapor filed the
engine room and blinded the five men in
the compartment. In agony the men tried
to grope their way TO the ladder. but only
one OF them succeeded In climbing out or
the furnace-like room TO the deck He
was unable 10 stand when he reached the
deck. and as he rolled about. his cries OF
agony. together with the clouds OF steam
that issued from the engine room, gave
the alarm 10 others in the vicinity.
Persons who were ashore on Centre ISL
and. the Seawanhaka Yacht clubs home,
and in boats in various parts of oyster
Bay cove thought the Coonia was a1re,
and they rushed TO the assistance Of the
jmperilled men In power boats and small
boats. Soon there was a swarm of craft
about the Colonia
The man who was lying on deck man
aged TO make known the terrible condi-
tion in the stoke hold below AND volun-
teers ventured into the engine ROOM
where they groped about for the four men
who were left there. They were carried
out on TO the deck, suffering intensely
from the scalds which they had sustain
ed
Physicians among those who had come
TO their rescue wrapped their bodies I'm
oil-soaked cotton, and such other rem
edies as presented themselves near at
hand After first aid had been given them
they were tenderly lowered into small
boats lying alongside and landed at the
Seawanhaka Yacht club house on Centre
island.
Word OF the explosion had meanwhile
been sent TO Commodore Bourne and he
chartered a special train TO take the men
TO the Nassau hospital in Mineola Hip,
McGenty and Southard, however. who
had been among those unable to escape
from the engine room until they received
assistance from outside, died within
short time after they arrived at the hos
pital.
Constant medical attendance succeeded