Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1882 — Fatal Steamboat Explosion. [ARTICLE]

Fatal Steamboat Explosion.

An explosion occurred at West Point, Va., on the steamer West Point, plying between that place and. Baltimore, which resulted in the total destruction of the boat and loss. of nineteen lives. A force of stevedores was engaged in discharging the cargo of the steamer, when a terrific explosion occurred near the forward hatch, blowing out the starboard side of the steamer and almost instantly enveloping the forward part of the vessel in flames. Thera were twelve colored men in the forward hold, all of whom, at her explosion, were killed or burned to death. Five other men jumped overboard and four were drowned. When it was found there was no hope of saving tbe steamer she was cut loose, and the tide drifted her two miles np the Pamunka river, where she continued to burn until everything combustible was destroyed and her iron hull broken in two amidships. Of the nineteen lives lost eighteen were cstored. Three others were injured.

Denmark has a law that other nations might well incorporate into their criminal cole. It provides for the punishment of persons who willfully refuse to succor persons, in case of death from wantof aid' In certain cases the omission even to afford aid is punishable. The law provides that “ whoever has refused to help another person in mortal danger, when he could have done so without peril to his own life, and that person has perished in consequence, shall be liable to either imprisonment or flne.7 Chicago handles about one-third of the entire forest pioduetsof the vasf pineries of the Northwest Millions of acres of timber lands in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ipwa and Illinois ar© tributary to her.