TERRIBLE STEAMER EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1123, 22 September 1871, Page 3

TERRIBLE STEAMER EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK

HARBOUR. ,». {From the San Francisco Call of Aug. 1.) New Yobk, July 30.— The Staten Island ferry-boat Westfield, when in Whitehall slip, and crowded with pasBeDgers, exploded her boiler at 1.20 p.m. to-day. The concussion was terrific, shattering the forward part of the boat, and killing and scalding a great number of people. The hurricane deck was blown overboard, and fell, over a large number of persons in the water, who were drowned. The scene was beyond description. Men were struck dumb at the loss of wives and little ones ; women were distracted at the loss of husbands and children, while the little children were crying for their parents. The front of the boiler was suddenly blown out, lodging thirty feet distant in the forward part of the boat. The upper cabin was split into a thousand pieces, as an eye witness expresses it. The forward part of the boat was lifted fifty feet in the air. The smoke stack fell, and then everything was buried in the hold. Passengers, chairs, stools, horses, benches, and life-preservers dropped into the hold, fronting the huge boiler, which poured out its volume of steam. Many persons were blown overboard. A father and mother had their children blown from their arms. The water for an instant was alive with men, women, and children struggling for life. The after part of the boat, which escaped the force of the explosion, would have been safe for the uninjured, but the panicstricken leaped overboard without regard to consequences. Captain Ullman, of the New street police, seeing the explosion, was promptly on hand, and the fire alarm was sounded. Dr Sprene was at the scene within 10 minutes, well provided with medicines and bandages. .He saved several lives by his prudence. The harbour policeboat came to the rescue, and gentlemen who were in rowboats at the Battery helped to save. The firemen also went

to the rescue, and right bravely did they work. As the debris in the fore part of the hold was removed, the cries of the poor half-boiled victims were heartrending. Stimulants were given them as they struggled for breath, and oil was poured upon their burns. As fast as the wounded were recovered, they were borne to another ferryboat alongside, where they were tenderly cared for by the doctors. "Within twenty minutes ambulances from the Centre street Hospital were at Whitehall. The scalded victims were placed in the ambulances, and driven to the hospital at full speed. Private carriages and express waggons were brought into requisition. The insurance patrol waggon took several loads of moaning human beings to the hospital. Some died, and many others were delirious with pain. One ambulance was filled with children, whose eyes ware closed, and their faces swelled beyond recognition ; their little feet and legs were crooked, and their muscles laid bare. By 4 o'clock 74 persons had been received in the Centre street Hospital, and five died within an hour. The scenes were heartrending. Twelve dead bodies were removed from the boat, and four more found in the water ; five of the wounded have died. Many were placed in carriages and drawn to their homes. The drug stores in the neighbourhood were filled. One thousand five hundred persons gathered at the battery within an hour after the explosion. John Magill, pilot, was thrown forward of the pilot-house 20ft. into the air, falling on the boat, and escaping without a scratch. July 30. — Midnight. — The total number known to be killed at this hour reaches 31. Of the unknown dead now in the hospital and stationhouses awaiting identification, there are 12 men, six women, six boys and girls, generally under 12 years. The number severely wounded, whose names and residences have been ascertained, is about 70. A large number of those less seriously injured were removed and cared for by friends. Later, 1.30 a.m. — In Bellevue Hospital, at 12 o'clock, were 24 bodies in coffins, and 10 on slabs, presenting the appearance of having been frightfully scalded, large patches of skin being torn off in many places. Since nine o'clock there died in the hospital — - Fanny Eandall, of Sixth Avenue ; Margaret Caroline , a child two years old, frightfully burned ; Christopher Houch and wife ; Ullman ; Sarah Phillips; a baby; three unknown men and one unknown woman ; Mathew Mahony, John Grerrety, both of Brooklyn. The surgeons at the different hospitals say that tbe majority of those in their charge will die. An immense crowd, estimated at 15,000, congregated around the Bellevue Hospital, and a like crowd around the Park Hospital. July 31, 2 a.m. — The most reliable return of casualties by the disaster gives the total of killed at 50 ; wounded, 120. Against John Freeland, captain, and Harry Robinson, the engineer (the latter is a coloured man), the indignation of the passengers is tremendous, though the friends of the latter claim that he is not to blame. The boiler was inspected by the United States Boiler Inspector on the 15th June, and pronounced safe. Robinson, the engineer, makes the following statement : Have been engineer 20 years. Been employed for the company 16 years. Was on the boat when the explosion took place. Had just come off the deck. It was then 25 minutes past. Went down into the fire-room. One of the engineers, Patrick Finnegan, was in the room. Said, " Patrick, how is the water ? " He replied, " All right." At this time I approached the boiler and tried the third cock, and found the water touched it. The boiler has only three cocks. I then went up to the engine room. Passing the door I went in and found that the boiler carried 771 b. of steam. Then went on deck. Two minutes after I went again on the boat and into the pilot-house. The captain was in there at the time. Just as I was going down stairs into the engineroom the explosion took place. From where I stood I knew I could not get through the door, so opened the trapdoor. As I did so I saw the fireman, Robert Crawson, coming up the trap. The boiler has been in use sine years, aad was considered a good boiler.

Cannot say what caused the explosion. The boiler had a patch on the cylinder part, where the explosion took place. One of the two firemen on the Westfield, Robert Crowson, was in the fireroom at the time of the explosion. He says that fifteen minutes before the accident he was on the head of the cylinder, wiping off, and then went into one of the cabins for water, thence into the fireroom ; while there he heard a hissing noise proceeding from the rear boiler. Went to see the cause, and had gone but halfway the length of the boiler when he found that the steam was s» dense that he could proceed no further. He turned back, when he was struck in the face by a flying splinter and knocked down. He made his way to the deck as fast as possible. This hissing noise must have been the -starting of the plate patching the boiler, and the first premonition of the impending disaster. A cursory examination of the boiler as it rested in the bottom of the boat revealed the fact that the explosion occurred at the rear, and that a piece about four feet long and two feet wide was torn out of the jacket and thrown about 160 feet on the dock at the barge office. Another and a larger portion of the boiler was thrown forward to the bow of the boat. Another victim of the catastrophe is Antoine Miacco, partner of Garibaldi. The poor fellow was bruised shockingly; he could not move a muscle without suffering great agony. He was borne to his residence by his friends. The physicians at once pronounced his injuries undoubtedly fatal. Miacco sacrificed all his wealth in the Garibaldi movement, and in succouring poor Italian emigrants who came to this country. He was Garibaldi's most intimate friend and adviser.