EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER NEW WORLD. DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE. [From the "San Francisco Herald," June 14.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 562, 3 September 1851, Page 4

EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER NEW WORLD. DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE. [From the " San Francisco Herald," June 14.]

The steamer New World, Capt. Hutchius, met with a melancholy accident 00 her passage down from Sacramento, on '1 uesday afternoon, which resulted in loss of life and the burning and scalding of number of the passengers. We are indebted to the politeness of Mr. James B. Bostick, who was a passenger on the steamer at the time of the explosion, for the details of this accident and the names of the sufferers. The New World was coming through the slough about five o'clock, Tuesday afternoon.— The Wilson G. Hunt being about fifty yards behind. An explosion like the roar of a cannon was heard, and in an instant the boat was enveloped in a dense cloud of steam, that shut, out from the view of the passengers every thing within a few feet of them. The fierce hissing of the steam as it escaped from the apperture, was stunning— while the consternation of the passengers, the groans of tbe scalded nnd wounded, were appalling. Several of the passengers in the general panic leaped overboard ; how many can not be ascertained, as the tickets had not been sold at tbe time of the accident, and tbe names of tbose on board were not known ; but it is known that four a t least jumped into tbe water, of whom three were drowned, and the fourth was saved as he was sinking for the last time, by the intrepidity of Mr. Galloway, the pilot of the Hunt, who leaped overboard while his boat was t in motion, and sustained Lira until picked

up. Several others leaped over the lailings, and clung by their hands, ready to diop into the water if necessity required. When the steam had all escaped, and the cloud that enveloppd the ill-fated boat had dispersed, a dreadful scene of destruction was witnessed. Fifteen persons were found to be badly scalded ; some of them dangerously, of whom two have since died. A number of others were blackened by the steam and smoke ; a few of them only slightly burnt. Dr. E. S. Aldrich was on board at the time, and did all in his power to relieve the sufferings of the unfortunate persons injured. He dressed their wounds, and sat up all night with them, applying all the remedies that his skill could suggest for their relief. Too much credit cannot be awarded this gentleman for his kindness and attention to the wounded. On examination it was found that the steam chimney had given way just at its base, and the whole volume of steam then in the boiler burst out of the apperture there made. There was no uprising of the boiler or any of the machinery j all the injuries sustained being from the heat of the steam. The steam in escaping took its way down through the furnace doors, and thence disseminated itself throughout the whole boat. Those who were in the bar-orom just over the furnace, in the forward cabin and on the forward deck, were almost the only sufferers. In the after saloons there was no one hurt. The Wilson G. lluut came alongside and rendered all assistance possible. The Hunt and the H. T. Clay towed the New Woild down to this city. The following are the names of those injured. Nine of them have been removed to the Hospital. In almost every instance they are scalded about the head and hands : Frederick G. King, of Oliver street, New York ; J. W. Sullivan, of New York; Cbas. H. Haskell, of Boston j Peter Marks, fireman, of Glasgow — dead ; Chas. Folke of Illinois; Aaron Sands, of New York ; Thomas Gaskill, of Roxbury, Mass.; Wm. J. Spence, of Boston, colored ; Edward N. Jackson, of Sacramento ; James Reynolds, of Boston ; 11. M. Cohen, of New York j Thomas Swam, of Ireland ; [ Henry Brook, of Boston ; | Chas. Yeom<ms, bar-keeper on board. A deck passenger, name unknown — dead. | This last poor fellow was do%\nin his berth in the forward part of the boat at the time of the explosion. He attempted to rush up staiis, but was met by the hissing steam — inhaled it, and fell dead. The fireman, Peter Marks, lived some time after the accident, and conversed with our informant, stating that he knew be could not live ; for he had inhaled the steam, and after that no man could survive. Col. Jacks of San Francisco, of the well known firm of Jacks <3t Blake, jewellers, was on board at the time. As soon aa he heaid the explosion, being 1 in a dangerous proximity to the boiler and knowing what had happened, he threw himself on the deck with his face downward, and thus by his presence of miud saved his life. The bodies of the two dead men were examined by the Coroner yesterday morning. They presented a frightful appearance, the skin beng burnt off their body in many places. An inquest was held by Coroner Gallagher and the following verdict rendered by the Jury : The jurors empanelled to inqure into the cause of the j | death of Peter Marks and an unknown person now lying dead on board the steamboat New World, Capt. Hutchins, on the 4th day of June, 1851, find that these I two persons came to their deaths from injuries received | by the explosion of the steam chimney of the steamboat New World, on the afternoon of the 3rd of June, inst. ; and by the evidence before the Jury, which is very satisfactory, that the accident was totally beyond the control of the officers of the boat and unavoidable. Further Incidents of the Explosion on board the New World. — We stated yesterday that when the Wilson G, Hunt came up to the New World imme- | diately after the explosion, Mr. Galloway, her pilot leaped overboard to save tbe life of one of the unfoitunate persons, who was just sinking for the last time. This most daring and praiseworthy act was done while the Huut was under full headway, and without a moment's hesitation or preparation. Mr. Galloway supported the drowning man in the water until a rope was thrown to him when seizing it with one hand, while still holding on to his burden with the other, he was hauled up into the boat. Such a noble act of heroism is wortliy of all praise, and should not pass unnoticed. About the same time a boat was lowered from the W. G. Hunt, into which a number of persons leaped to pick up any who might have jumped overboard from the New World. In the hurry and confusion prevailing the boat came right under the wheel in motion, and receiving its full force was stove in and swamped immediately. No one of the party however was drowned ; they were either picked up, or managed somehow to regain the deck. One gentleman Col. Moore, seized hold of the rudder chains and climbed up by them to the deck. v . Col. Jacks, as before stated, saved himself by instantly throwing himself flat on his face on the deck. The steam ascending, of course did not injure him, although but a few feet from the boilers. Mr. Gamble, who was standing beside him at the time of the explosion, leaped to windward, and the steam being borne in the opposite direction, thus escaped uninjured. The four men who jumped overboard, we are informed, did not do 60 until the real danger was past. It is supposed that they must have been badly scalded, and in the agony of their pains and beside themselves with terror, have madly thrown themselves into the water. Capt Hutchings did all that man could do to aid the sufferers. Mr. Porter, the clerk, fell down the hatchway in confusion and injured himself, though not seriously. We hear Col. Jacks very highly spoken of, for his kind and humane attentions to the wounded. He assisted Dr. Aldrich in seeing to their wants, and was unremitting in his exertions for their relief. Dr. Aldrich has won golden opinions by bis conduct on tbe occasion.