Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-16
Ocean Liner Came Into Port al New York in Badly Batter
 cd Condition
BOILER HAD EXPLODED
Seven of the Crew Was Instantly Killed By the Explosion. Vessel Was Loaded With Bananas
 and Other Fruits.

fruit laden from the West Indies, came into port to-day with her for ward decks shattered, her funnel Hat upon the deck and the story of a boiler explosion on board last We'd nesday morning which caused the in- stant death of seven members of the crew and the serious injury of an other. The exploding boiler was known as the auxiliary and supplied steam to the various hoisting engines, steam capstans, steam steering gear, etc. The Valdivia was carrying ba- nanas and other fruit for New York under contract and it was decided when of Hatteras last Wednesday to turn steam from the auxiliary boiler into the main steam pipes to help out in making the speed necessary to contract requirements and to save the perishable cargo. All through the loading at ports in the West Indies 1t is said the auxiliary boiler had been working with 80 to 100 pounds of steam whereas just before the ex- plOsiOn occurred the steam gauge showed pressure of only thirty-iye pounds. This was being increased by forced draug}lt when suddenly there came "puff," as it was described to-day, and seven lay dead in the cOmpanionway of the forward tween decks"
 The chief officer, who was on duty on the bridge. was buried in the debris which fell about him. He said that when the explosion occurred ev- erything appeared to fall over the bridge on the foredeck and the upper structure about the smokestack and the decks was torn open. All of the ! lifeboats were damaged, one % smashed that 1t was thrown over board. The smokestack fell down to the. deck, but was secured. All of the inner structures abaft of the bridge were completely torn out. When the explosion occurred the steamer stopped and everybody rushed to the rescue of the injured. The dead were so lnangled that 1t was with difficulty that the bodies
  clearing the. wreckage the funnel was secured to derricks attached to the main mast and the lifeboats were se- cured in the checks for repairs. The dead were buried at sea.
 The names of the dead were:
 Fourth Engineer J. Steinhagen of Hoboken, N. J.
 Fireman A. Seldon, colored.
 Coal Passer w. Hanna.
 Coal Passer J. Salenski.
 Sailor P. Dytho.
 Sailor w. Deitrich.
 Steward William Simmons, col ored.
 The vessel came in under her own steam. as the general machinery was not affected, except loss of the smoke stack interfered with the draught.
 The valdivia is passenger and freight steamer belonging to the Hamburg-American line and plying in the Atlas line service to Hayti and other ports in the West Indies. Her schedule on this voyage included ports in San Domingo and Hayti, her calls being at Jeremie, which she left February 10. and Inagua, in the Ba- hamas. The vessel was in command of Captain Kruger.
 Of the persons injured by the ex- plosion one. Karl Gruener. fireman, is in a critical condition. He was re- moved to hospital as soon as the steamer docked. The other injured were given medical attendance and permitted to remain on board the steamer.
 The Valdivia had only one passen- ger. w. Rois of Columbus. O. He was not injured.