AWFUL STEAMER EXPLOSION.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 522, 12 September 1871, Page 2

AWFUL STEAMER EXPLOSION.

Fifty Persons Killed. — 150

Wounded.

New Voiik, July 30.—The Staten Island ferry-boat Weslfichl, when in slip Whitehall, and crowded with passengers, exploded her boiler at 1.20 p.m. to-day. The concussion was terrific, shattering tho 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. Tho scene was boyond description. Men were struck dumb at tho loss of wives and little ones ; women were distracted at the loss of husbands and chi'dren, while the little children were crying for their parents. Tho front of the boiler was suddenly blown out, longing in tho bow, thirty feet distant in tho forward part of tho boat. Tho upper cabin was split into a thousand pieces, as an eyewitness expressed it. The forward part of the boat was lifted fifty feet in the air. The smoko-stack fell, and then everything was buried in tho hold. Passengers, choirs, stools, horses, benches, and life-preservers dropped into tho bold, fronting the huge boiler, which poured out its volumo of steam. Many persons were blown overboard. A father and mother had their children blown from thoir arms. The water for an instant was alive with men, women, and children struggling for life. Tho after part of tho boat, which escaped the force of the explosion, would have been safe for tlie uninjured, but tho panic-stricken leaped overboard without regard to consequences. Capt. Ullman, of the Now-street Police, seeing the explosion, was promptly on hand, and the lire alarm was sounded. Dr. Sprene was at the scene within ten minutes, woll provided with medicines and bandages. Ho saved several lives by his prudence.

The harbour police boat came to the rescue, and the gentlemen who vvero in tho row boats at the battery helped to save. The firemen also went to the rescue, aud rigbt 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 ferry-boat alongside, where thoy 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 wagons were brought into requisition. The insurance patrol wagon 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, wlioso oyes were closed and their faces swelled beyond recognition ; their little legs and feet were cooked and their muscles laid bare.

By four o'clock seveuty-five 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 were found in the water; five of tho wounded have died, making, so far known, twenty-one persons killed nearly outright. •.-:O'j -' _>)

Many of those in the Water clung to the piles until rescued, but others sank before aid could reach them.

Thirty-five personsl must have been killed and drowned ; this is based on the lowest estimate. The wounded, will reach oi^e,hundred. '• ' :.'<'i li.i \JI il ■"• A. ' : (''

Many wero placed in carriages and drawn to their homes. Tho drug stores in tho neigh, bourhood were filled.

Among the injured was Sheriff Maiden, of Brooklyn.

1,500 porsons gathered at the' battery within an hour after the explosion.

John Magill, pilot, was thrown forward of the pilot-house twenty feet, into thecair, fall-

ing on the boat, aud escaping without a scratch.

Nbw YoeE, July 30—-Midnight.—The total number known to be killed at this hour reaches thirty-one, of whom only Professor March Cheneevere, of Brooklyn; John J. Beck, N.Y.; J. J. Johnson, Brooklyn ; Matilda Moffatt, N.Y. ;. Nel.ie Groonie F.atbush, and George L. Lossas have 1 eon identified. Of the unknown dead now in the hospital and station-houses awaiting identification, there are twelve men, six women, six boys and girls, generally under twelve 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. The surgeons at the different hospitals say that the majority of those in their charge will die.

An immense crowd, estimated at 15,00_>, congregated around the Bellevue Hospital, and a like crowd around the Park Hospital.

New Yoek, July 31—2 a.m.—The most reliable returns of casualties by the disaster give the total of killed at fifty ; wounded, one hundred and twenty. Against John Ereeland, captain, and Barry Eobinson, 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.

Eobinson, the engineer, makes the following statement :—" I live at Stnplcton, Stal.cn Island. Am about 40 years of age. Have been engineer twenty years. Been employed by the company sixteen years. Have a certificate, and passed an examination. Did not bring my certificate to the company. They did not require one. On this ferry had entire charge of the Westfield. The boat is a half-hour boat, run on Sundays between the regular trips. Was on the boat when the explosion took ula.ee. Had just come off the deck ;it wae than twenty-five minutes past. Went down into the fire-room. One of the engineers, Patrick Finnegan, was iv 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 the third cock. 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 earned seventy-seven pounds 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 coming 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 trap door. As I did so I saw the fireman, Robert Orowson, coming up the trap. The boiler has been in use nine years, and was considered a good boiler. Cannot say what caused the explosion. The boiler had a patch on the cylinder part where the explosion occurred. The boiler was overhauled last winter ;in fact, the boilers of both the Westfield and Northfield were examined. The patch, on last Thursday, seemed to be in very good condition. I went on duty at twelve o'clock noon, and relieved the engineer on duty." Robinson appeared to be perfectly sober, notwitbsianding all rumours to the contrary. He gave his statement of affairs in a cool and collected manner.

Washington, July 81—It has come to the knowledge of the Secretary of the Treasury that an extensive practice has been going on along the Canadian frontiers, by persons engaged in shipping goods on foreign vessels to be re-shipped to ports in the United States on tlie frontier. This custom is in violation of law, aud subjocts the vessels engaged to forfeiture of their cargo and the payment of a tonnage duty of fifty cents per ton on her admeasurement. Collectors, however, are in doubt respecting the penalty, and in many cases in order to collect tonnage duty have refused to admit goods, holding consignees' goods for payment of tonnage duty. Secretary Boutwell has, therefore, issued instructions that the penal tonnage imposed on the vessel is not a charge on goods apparently liable to forfeiture, in so far as to require pre-payment of that tax before entry of goods. New Yoek, August 1. —Up to ouo o'clock this morning the dead numbered seventy two. A dozen wounded were not expected to live froui one moment to another. All the bodies hive been recognised but one chubby baby, übout nine months old, which is awaiiing a claimant. It is not seriously injured. Over eighty wounded remain at Bellerue. Probably fifty more are scattered about in the private houses of this city and Brooklyn. The World publishes the names of seventy-one killed by the explosion, and g-iys there are eight bodies unknown. Tho Herald gives the number of killed even greater, and the names of one hundred and twenty-seven injured. It a'so publishes the majority killed and wounded from this city, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. It is believed that many more bodies will be taken out of tho water, and of course others will never be found.

The most painful after-feature of the tragedy is the appearance at the hospitals and stationhoiHcs of hundreds of anxious and half-crazed people, inquiring aftor missing friends and relatives. One poor follow, Michael Finley, who lost wife and children by the explosion, has gone mad, and attempted yesterday to commit suicide by drowning.