A DISASTROUS EXPLOSION.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 122, 3 October 1885, Page 4

A DISASTROUS EXPLOSION.

Sixteen Persons Injured on a Philadelphia Steamer. Philadelphia, August 17tb. — An explosion on the steamer T. W. Felton occurred just after she had left the dock on her trip to Wilmington, Del. As she was opposite Pier 8, south wharves, the passengers and crew were startled by an explosion, which shook the boat from stem to stern. When the smoke cleared away it was found that tho entire forward porfc of fche vessel above the water line had been badly damaged and a number of paesengers injured, some severely. The pilot-house and the entire upper deck and bow presented a scene of complete wreck. Tugs proceeded at once to the injured vessel, and with the assistance of the police boat Stokely> which was lying near by, at once proceeded to remove the injured. The ambulance of the Pennsylvania Hospital soon arrived and took most of the injured to that institution. The list of wounded numbers sixteen. Edward Young, of Wilmington, Del., a fireman on the Fulton, was injured about the head and face. George L. Wilson, an engineer, was standing on the wharf when the explosion occurred. He was thrown backward over a bench and sustained injuries to his right wrist. The passengers were mostly women, taking babies for afresh-air trip on the river. Their escape is accounted for by the providential fact that but few of them were in the forward p&rt of the steamer. Edward Young, the fireman, says that when the explosion occurred he was carrying only thirty-five pounds of steam to the square inch. Andrew Linker said to-day that he inspeoted the boiler last May and found It in good condition, Tho

iron was tested.' It is stamped 50,000 pounds, and broke at 56,000 pounds. An indentation in the head of the boiler, however, shows beyond a doubt that the explosive force oame from without and not from within. Captain Wiley, Mr Lawrence, Mr Mershon, and Mr Linker made a careful examination of the wreck for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the explosion. The investigation established the fact that the explosion was caused by a dynamite explosive, which had been placed directly forward of the head of the boiler. The steamer came up from Wilmington at 8.30 o'clock and lay at her wharf until 10 last night. She lay at Wilmington in charge of Andrew Jones, of Bridgeton.N. J, He could not be communicated with to-day, but Captain W iley says that if a stranger had boarded or attempted to board the steamer last night the watchman would have informed him of the fact. While the steamer lay at her wharf this morning the passengers came aboard and took chairs on the hurricane deck or aft. The officers and deckhands were busy, and no attention was paid to the movements of the passengers. Several of them carried baskets, so that a bundle or package might have been carried aboard without attracting attention. The official report made to H. F. Kennedy, Superentendent of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railway Company, undei whose supervision the steamboat is operated, said: " The head of the boiler was indented and cracked about a foot in length. The explosion is believed to have been caused by a cartridge of some kind, placed under the head of the boiler mysteriously. " Detectives have been put on the case. The Felton was insured for £50,000.