New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17

GRUEERT. carl. fireman.
HELLPAPF- Hans. sailor.
KNTCENANcS. Heinrich, first officer.
MoSEB Gustav, fireman.
Apart from her tilted funnel and the topsy-
turyy position Of her lifeboats, the steamer from
an off-shore view did nor show any particular
marks Of the accident. But the midship sec
ton. looking from the splintered bridge or from
any portion Of the boatdeck looked much as if
q section Of the wrecked city Of Kingston had
been piled on the main deck Just aft Of the
bridge. 4 most extraordinary feature Of the
explosion was the fact that d dozen men who
were within twenty feet Of the boiler when il
hlew up escaped without a scratch.
NJ. Pelzer. the purser. whose room was across
= three-foot alley directly in front OF the donkey
boiler had perhaps the moSf wonderful escape
Of all aboard. He was in his room. which
the boiler exploded. The steel door which
was closed al the time was ripped from its
hinges and q shower Of shattered rivets, pipe
sections and iron fittings shot into the room,
smashing The dead light and breaking up the
purser's desk and cabinet. The room was
complete wreck Except for few slight
scratches Mr.. Pelzer was unhurt.
Captain William Kruger. Of the Valdivia, said:
The explosion occurred Ar l115 a. m on
Wednesday, February Is. ] had just gone into
the chart room to make some entries on the log
when I felt a great pressure of air. which threw
me against my desk Almost simultaneously
with il there was a duh report and the sound
Of cracking steel / rushed out and found the
miGship section euVeloDed in steam.
The power launch Ou the port side was punot-
ure6 and dauEled from the ddyits. ] ran 10 the
bridge and tried TO signal The engine room, but
found the telegraph had been cut on or
dered the third officer who came up on the
bridge. TO run aft and tell the engineer on watch
10 smut of steam. JUST as ne was gong beIoW
Chief Engineer Brunheim grabbed a blanket.
and wrapping il over his head, went down
into that awful cloud Of steam.
Within a
& would be unsafe TO shut off the steam. and
We went along, using up what power was left
The Hamburg-A American Line announced yes
te-day that the accident was not due 10 care
lessuess OF the engineers or defective material.
The boiler was examined by the United States
steamboat inspectors in 1906 and stood the
test of 49, pounds pressure. it was said.
J. Boys. a former lieutenant in the United
States Navy, but now in business In Columbus
Ohio. was the only passenger on the Naldivia.
he was leaning over the starboard rail for
ward, about thirty feet from the boiler. when
20 the explosion occurred. The explosion like
the noise caused by ienited loose powder" he
said. 1T puff with terrific conclusion.
u know what discipline AZ sea should be, and
4 must say that 1 never saw officers and crew
show better conduct than those on the Naldyia.
They stood by ready for any emergency, and
oheyed instantly every command from superb
All aboard the steamer praised the work Of
Chief Engineer Bruuheim Within three min
utes after the explosion. before any one could
btpf hlr1 ne rushed into the engine room and,
cropping his way through hot and binding steam,
found out what was best TO do 70 prevent d
greater explosion.
When the steam cleared away and Captain
Ranger and the engineer force were able 70 as
certain the extent Of the damage, the broken
tunnel was lifted up on a derrick boom. Its
lower eud was connected with the main fue By
q large temporary tube made of tarpaulin. With
this arrangement the Naldivia was able 10 get
up enough, steam 10 at half speed The
bodies buried AT
The Esldtvia- which is the fourth steamer Of
the Hamburg American Line 10 meet with an
accident within three months was about one