Easton, PA Steamboat ALFRED THOMAS Explosion, Mar 1860

FRIGHTFUL STEAMBOAT CASUALTY.

EXPLOSION OF A BOILER ON THE DELAWARE.

TEN PERSONS KILLED -- FOURTEEN SEVERELY INJURED.

Easton, Penn., Tuesday, March 6 -- P.M.
This morning the shores of the Delaware River, below the bridge here, were crowded with persons to witness the Alfred Thomas, a little steamer which has been built at this place to run between Belvidere and Port Jervis.
At 11 o'clock the steamer started, and made her way up the river against a swift current, having on board about a hundred men. At the bridge she stopped, when a number got off, leaving about forty persons on board. The steamer then continued her trip up the river, and, on arriving at the Falls, a short distance above the bridge, she was moored for a short time. When all was ready to start again, the boiler exploded with a terrible crash, the pieces flying in every direction, and the boat becoming in an instant a complete wreck. Some of the passengers were thrown fifty feet into the air, others were blown off into the water and slightly injured, and others were dreadfully mangled. The sight upon the land was truly heartrendering. The torn limbs of the poor sufferers, and the presence of those who were in search of friends supposed to be among the dead, formed a sight to make the stoutest heart sad. The physicians of the borough hastened to the assistance of the sufferers, and did all in their power to alleviate their sufferings.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded, which is believed to be full nd correct.
Killed:
SAMUEL YATES, of Easton.
GASTON SMITH, of Easton.
JOSEPH WEAVER, of Easton.
RICHARD HOLCOMB, of Belvidere.
J. SHARFF, (engineer) of Easton.
GEORGE SHARFF, of Easton.
EDWARD McINTYRE, (colored) of Easton.
STEWART BEATTY, of Easton.
ARTHUR KESSLER, of Easton.
WM. SHARP, JR., of Belvidere.
Wounded:
EUGENE TROXELL, of Easton, injured about the head and legs slightly.
WM. DIEHL, of Easton, slightly.
JOHN SMITH, of Belvidere, badly, will hardly recover.
SOLOMON McINTYRE, (colored) of Easton, slightly.
JOSEPH LOBBY, of Washington, N.J., slightly.
VAL SCHOLEY, of Easton, slightly.
ANDREW MELLECK, of Belvidere, slightly.
WM. PARKS, of Easton, arm broken.
BENJAMIN YONELLS, of Easton, leg broken in two places, and otherwise injured.
HENRY MEDLER, of Easton, slightly.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, of Easton, slightly.
ROBERT BURRELL, of Easton, slightly.
P. BEECAW, of Easton, leg broken.
An unknown man from Belvidere, badly.
The scene on shore after the explosion, it is altogether impossible to describe. Women, who were fearful that their relations were on board, ran up and down almost distracted, questioning almost every one they met in regard to the dreadful affair.

New York Times New York 1860-03-07

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