Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-10
Il Dead and MISSING
Counted After Blast
On Excursion Steamer

BY the Associated Press
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 10.-Fire-
men today resumed grim
search among the blackened en-
bers of the river steamer Island
Queen for victims of the explo-
sion-fire whose toll of dead and
missing is counted at 81.
Thirteen of the II persons injured
in the blast which rocked Pitts
burgh's Golden Triangle" yester-
day were still under treatment in
hospitals.
Efforts to recover the bodies were
tempered with caution as the
charred hulk of the f1ve-deck steam
er sank deeper into the muddied
waters of her Monongahela River
berth
Once, f1remen were ordered from
the boat because the hull was shift
ing and threatened to break side
ways as it slipped into deeper water.
1t was believed many of the victims
would remain locked in the rivers
bottom
River to Be Dragged.
Firemen expressed belief the hull
would have to be raised before all
the bodies could be recovered.
River Patrolman Louis Morgan an
nounced he would drag the river
today for bodies, while county off,
Gals and the Coast Guard start
investigations.
OF seven bodies recovered, only
four were identified. They were
Mary Jones, colored maid, and
David o. Heath, Waterman, both OF
Cincinnati. Mrs. Virginia Weaker
Covington KyD cook, and Henry
Williams, IS, Cincinnati, waiter
whose body was recovered from the
river this morning by flremen
Morgue officials listed the cause of
Mr.. Williams death as drowning
Three other charred torsos re-
manned burned beyond recognition
Edward L. Schott of Cincinnati,
president of Coney Island, Inc,
which owned the Inflated steamer,
last night set the number Of dead
and missing at 81.
He estimated loss to the boat
alone at 100000, which he said was
pretty we'll covered" by, insurance.
Fire Chief William Davis estimated
the loss to the boat and its furnish
ings at 100000.
Cause Still Unknown.
The cause of the explosion was
still unknown. Andrew Charles, as
sistant superintendent of police,
said the boilers in the vessel were
found intact, dispelling an earlier
report that a boiler explosion set
off the fire.
Mr.. Schott, who flew here from
Cincinnati after being informed of
the disaster, said he had no idea
what caused it.
u haven't had time to look into
it," he said. Right now my princi-
Pile concern is the crew and their
families"
At noon yesterday the glistening
white ship stood at anchor in the
Water Street Docks, a short dis
lance from the Baltimore 81 Ohio
Railroad station. Crew members
dozed in the bunkroom or worked
about the ship to ready her for the
nights emile moonlight cruise "
down the Monongahela. :
Fifteen minutes later two explo-
sions rocked the area and the ship
was enveloped in flames. The i'm
pact hurled crewmen into the turgid
waters, where many swan to safety
or were rescued by passersby.
Windows Shattered.
Windows in buildings on Water
street, facing the wharf, or in
streets entering Water street were
shattered by the conclusion. Broken
glass on sidewalks made walking
hazardous.
The wharf was covered with bits
of wood, pieces Of chairs, scraps Of
draperies and other boat furnish
ings. The all-steel, glass-inclosed
craft was claimed by the company
to be the largest inland excursion
boat in the United States. She was
286 feet long and 81 feet wide. The
ship could accommodate 1000 pas
sengers. She was built in 1924.
The boat had a crew of 80, but
only half of these were aboard
when the blast turned the ship into
a flaming funeral pyre
Herbert Henderson, %, of Coving-
ton, KY, bartender on the Island
Queen, said he was lying in bed
reading when the blast shattered a
window in the room.
Il heard my brother Bill holler,
Everybody get out and saw him
jump over the side. I jumped, too,