Many ... Lost

Just as the ferry steamer Julia, plyinjr betweon South Vallejo and Vallejo Station, Cal., was ieaving tbe ot hor morning with about 70 persons on board there was aloud explosión and a sheet of fíame shot into the air. Those whu were on deck at the time were huried overboard by the force of the explosión, and several of thera werc killed outright by being struck by piecs of tbe debris, which were se ït flying in ali directions. The explosión attracted the attention of people living in the vicinity, and men rushed to the assistance of the unfortunate passengers. In a few minutes all was confusión, for men, women and children who had relativos on board the ill-fated Julia were wailing and wringing tbeir hands as they rushed around the wharf. The men on the wharf were anxious to aid, but there seemed bat little for them to do as most of the passengers were helow tbe deck at the time of the explosión, and were either killed outright or drowned when the water poured on them. It had been eustomary tor all the passengers to go below the ilecki in the morning, as it was cold and foggy. A few who were on deck and wbo were not rendered insensible by the force of the shock, wis quickly assisted ashore by tbe people on the warf. To add to the intmisity of the scène large vats of petroleum stored on the warf caught fire and tbe llames spread rapidly. The tire companies were unable to accomplish anything, as tbere was no water, owing to the tide being out. Fifteen minutes after the explosión about GOU feet of the wbarï, the freight depot and tbe telegraph otlice were buinmg. When tbe tide carne in they managed to get a supply of water, and at noon had the fire under control. While the firemen and others were trying to save the whart a large numberof boatmen were rowing around the wreek seeking to recover bo.iios. Soou after tbe explosión occurred tbe steamer burned to the wat.er's edge and sunk to tbe bottom with a great number of the viotims buried under tbe debris. Between 80 and 4U lives were lost, although it is impossible to teil exaotly how many, as the nauies of but few who were on the boat are known. The cause of the disaster is not known. though it is generally believed that the explosión occurred in the boiler, Imt the impression also prevatled that the fire was in some way communicated to the petroleum tank, and that an explosión occurred in that quarter. The steamer burned petroleum for fuel. Vallejo is twenty-nme miles up tbe bay from San Francisco.