Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-02
Boiler Burst on DredGe
in PaSSaiC River
Early Today.
SEVEN HURLED INTO
WATER SWIM TO SAFETY
Injured Men Are Being Cared
For in Newark Hos.
pital.

One man was blown to his death
and seven others were severely in
iured today when the boiler of
dredge No. ., belonging to the New
ark Meadows Improvement Com
pany, of 80 Church street, New
York, exploded.
The dredge was 200 yards from
shore in the Passaic river, opposite
the Balbach Smelling and Refining
Newark bay plant, when
the explosion occurred at $3.50 a. M.
Charles Mathison, SO years old, the
cook, who was standing in the galley
over the defective
boiler, was blown out into the
river. His body has not yet been
recovered.
Thomas Olsen, who was with tho
cook In the galley, was hurled a hum
dred yards from the boat and fell into
the water. He managed to swim back
to scow III. which lay alongside the
dredge.
At the City Hospital 1t was found
that he had escaped with bruises about
the head and body and burns.
Charles Evans, the watchman, who
was in the galley, miraculously es-
capped injury. Five members of the
crew who, with the captain, were in
the bow Of the boat. We're hurled into
the water. but managed to Chamber up
on the scow. The captain. Henry
Minnes, Of 1es Mulberry street. escaped
injury. The six members of his crew,
who are now in the City Hospital az
the result OF cuts and bruises. ara
Thomas Olsen, "a years old, dredge
tender, of 70 Summit street, Brooklyn;
Meter Nelson, 3S years old. OF 276 Van
Blont street, Brooklyn, the fireman.;
Oscar Olsen, of 150 Hunterdon street,
Brooklyn. deck-hand; Lewis Olsen.
go years old. of 50 Hunterdon avenue.
Brooklyn, a dredger; Christian Did
rickson. 20 years old, of II Second
place. Brooklyn, and Andrew Henln, IN
years old. of Forty-fifth street.
Brooklyn.
Had just Becn Repaired.
Dredge No. a few days ago was
towed to Erie basin to be repaired, and
had just returned to the work in the
Passaic river today. All work had been
stopped while an auxiliary engine was
being repaired. Captain MINES and
five members of the crew of eight men
who were aboard were grouped in the
bow. Mathison, the ill-stsrred cook, and
Thomas Olsen were in the gallery inn
mediately over the boiler. Nelson, thu
fireman, had been in the boiler-room
when he was called forward by the cap
tain to assist in the work of fixing up
the engine Nelson had found he had a
half guage of water and that there was
eighty pounds Of steam on. He was
perfectly satisfied with the boiler when
he left 1t. He had barely reached the
bow of the boat when the dredge seemed
to fall apart. some of its timbers being
projected high into the air.
Members of the crew found them
selves in the water, but all of them
managed to scramble onto the scow,
which was not damaged. Then 1t was
found that Mathison, the cook, was
missing and when it was remembered
that he was over the boiler little hops
was entertained that he was alive.
Dredge No. was a complete wreck
after the explosion. It's timbers were
driven in every direction. One OF the
heavier timbers was blown 300 feet
through the roof of the boat-house OF
Henry Fry. on the bank of the river
Dog Hurled to Death.
Captain Burker, with the tug Virginia
Jackson, was the first to reach the ln-
iured men. He was quickly followed
by the tugs n. Fl. Anderson and w. H.
Baldwin. The injured men were re-
moved to the shore in rowboats, and
from there taken to the City Hospital
in ambulances. A dog which was
aboard the dredge was thrown 200 feet
and killed The steam pipes were
thrown in every direction. So loud was
the explosion that the sound was heard
in the Third Precinct station-house'
two miles away.
Police of the Third Precinct were
rushed to the scene, and Plainclotnes-
men Brex and Adubato sought in tue
to find the body of the missing man.
The search is being continued.
Examination OF sections of the ruinea
boiler shows apparently that 1t was de
fectiye. These sections on the ins'ae
were crystallized and corrSded and IN
spots had worn very thin The dreuge
stopped work in Brooklyn week agn
and had been to the Erie basin for re-
pairs. 1t was believed to be In nrst
class condition when it was brought
into the Passaic today. 1t is about ~
wears old. The crew, with the excep-
ton of Captain MINES. who is New
arker. we're from Brooklyn. All OF
them are Scandinavians
superintendent George F. Gee, 5r.. OF
the Newark Meadow Improvement
Company, had this to say concerning
the accident today:
Eve have been unable as yet to as
certain what caused the accident Tne
boilers were we'll inspected recently
Old Frrmes Regildcd und M91e
equal to new Cary & Kenny, SIS Broed s{,--Aq