|
Characterized as the worst disaster in the Yukon River's history, the sternwheeler ''Columbian'' exploded and burned at Eagle Rock, Yukon, Canada, on September 25, 1906, killing six men. The steamer was carrying a crew of twenty-five men and a full cargo, including cattle and three tons (2.722 t) of blasting powder destined for the Tantalus coal mine, thirty miles (48 km) downriver.〔 〕 〔 〕 〔 〕 The ''Columbian'' was one hundred and forty-seven feet (45 m) long, thirty feet (9 m) wide, and capable of carrying one hundred and seventy-five passengers plus freight.〔 〕 The engine room was thirty-five feet (11 m) long, housing two high-pressure engines. Built in 1898 by John Todd for the Canadian Development Company (CDC), it was the first CDC steamer to arrive at Dawson City that year, carrying two prefabricated steel steamers for the North-West Mounted Police. The ''Columbian'' was bought by the British Yukon Navigation Company along with sixteen other CDC steamers in 1901. In 1905, it had been converted to burn coal from the Tantalus Butte Coal Mine.〔 ==The accident== On the day of the accident, the ''Columbian'' was carrying only one passenger: Ernest Wynstanley, a stowaway who had sneaked aboard, pretending to be the caretaker of the cattle on board. He was to have been thrown off when the ship docked at Tantalus.〔〔 In addition to the cattle, the ''Columbian'' was also carrying one hundred and fifty tons (136.08 t) of vegetables and meat, along with three tons (2.722 t) of blasting powder. The 1906 season crew included J. O. Williams, captain; H. C. Baughman, mate; A. Borrowman, steward; Lionel Cadogan Cowper, purser; Carl Christianson (shipping on as "J. Smith"), deckhand and coal trimmer; A. D. Lewis, chief engineer; Frank J. Mavis, second engineer; Edward Morgan, fireman; Phil Murray, deckboy; C. D. Phillips, deckboy; C. Smith, purser; Joe Welsh, mate; and John Woods, deckhand.〔 The explosion happened after Murray passed his illicitly-held loaded rifle to Morgan, so that the fireman could take pot shots at a flock of ducks on the water. Morgan tripped and accidentally discharged the gun into the load of blasting powder stored on deck. Following the ensuing explosion and fire, the captain grounded the ship on shore; those uninjured or killed by the blast jumped ashore to safety.〔 The explosion blew out the sides of the vessel, scattered men and cargo in the water, and in less than five minutes had involved the whole inside of the ship in a mass of seething flame. Six men were killed: Morgan and Welsh were killed instantly, Christianson, Murray, and Woods died before help arrived, and Cowper died several days later of his injuries. The entire cargo was also lost.〔 Welch's body turned up on the river two months later, but no trace of Morgan was ever found.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sternwheeler Columbian disaster」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|