The New York herald., 1872-11-03
Herald Special Report from
ST. Thomas.
Two Vessels Burned to the Waters
Edge in the HarbOr Of
st. Thomas.
The Barks s. I. HOlbrOOk and the Clara
Lamb Annihilated.
A Cargo Of Naphtha the Cause-New York
Houses the sufferers-what the Agent
and the Insurance Company Say.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW york HERALD.


TELEGRAM TO THE NEW york HERALD
ST. THOMAS, via HAVANA, Nov. l, 1872.
Last night the whole town of St. Thomas was
aroused by tremendous explosion. The noise
was terrific, and was accompanied by lurid flame
which shot up into the sky, and was succeeded by
o dense smoke, which spread like pail oyer the
entire town and even extended up into the noun
tains which surround 1t. The alarm was general,
and 1t seemed as the whole town pre-
cipitated itself down towards the Bay to learn the
Of what appeared to be appalling disaster.
1t was soon learned that the explosion was due to
cargo Of naphtha, which, it is supposed, took fire
from
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
The explosion took place close to the dock,
and for some time there was fear preva-
lent that the fire would extend to some
wooden buildings which stood near. This disaster,
however, was happily averted. The cargo Of
naphtha which exploded with such terrific ecIGt
was mainly on board the bark Clara Lamb, to
which it had been In process Of removal from the
bark s. T. Holbrook. Both vessels were lying close
to each other at the wharf, was necessitated by
the the transferral Of the cargo. The explosion Is
believed to have originated on board the Clara
Lamb, but the fire leaped over SO quickly to the
other vessel that it is almost impossible to say
WHERE IT DID BEGIN.
It was indeed so sudden that both explosions
sounded like one. A force of flremen were organ
lied as soon as 1t was found that no further
plosi0n was to be apprehended but they did little
good, except to protect the adjacent shipping
and the buildings. 1t became Immediately
apparent that no human EFFORT could do anything
for the burning ships They were impregnated
with the OIL which ran out of the barrels and con-
tinued to burn fercely, sending up huge volumes
Of smoke, which made the fire itself almost imper-
ceptible. Water was thrown in great quantities
into the holds OF both vessels, but to purpose,
and they continued to burn on. The cargo had
been about three quarters transferred, 30 that in
both vessels the quantity Of oil was considerable
THE SCENE
was OF great confusion, and 1t seemed as II the
whole town had turned out Of bed to watch the
scene. The crowd was SO great that 1t was with
great difficulty that the fremen we're enabled to
work. The people pressed In upon them, so that
at time the fremen, In self defence, turned the
hose upon the spectators, and In this manner dis
persed them broadcast. Every few moments o
flash Of flame would spring up, and, in unbridled
terror, the crowd, with sudden panic,
would rush back as fearing q second
explosion, but as soon as 1t subsided they would
return with renewed vigor and again press in upon
| the fremen- The cracking OF the rigging as the
dry pitch upon it took fire caused second panic.
but still the bystanders would return as II curiosity
| was
MORE POWERFUL THAN FEAR.
In the meantime the men worked with will, and
the sailors Of both vessels, assisted by their cap
talns, also gave helping hand, and did much to
prevent the flames spreading. At one time It was
tried to cut the vessels from the shore and send
them adrift when 1t was found that there
could be no hope OF saving them. But the
fact that the wind changed and blew in shore de-
tered them from adopting method which would
probably have caused the destruction Of the greater
part OF the shipping in the harbor. The smoke all
the time was shifting, and at moments the dremen
even were
OBLIGED TG RETIRE
to retain their breath. In this manner the IRE
continued to burn all night; while not FOR q mo-
ment did the men desist from their herculean
efforts; and even when they became ex-
hausted some Of the citizens tooK their places
and worked with the same will 1t was fortunate
that water was plenty in the neighborhood or the
damage might have been something immense 1t
was only when the dawn began to appear that the
fire began to give way, but only when every atom
OF innammable material had been consumed.
The s. T. Holbrook left New York on the nth Of
September,
BOUND FOR ANTWERP.
The ship met with tempestuous weather all the
time she was out, and on the 10th Of October put
| into this port In distress Her condition seemed
to be SO insecure that she underwent an official
examination at the time, and the result Of this
was that she was condemned, 1t having been found
that she was too much damaged to admit
of repair. Upon this order being given the can
tain chartered the schooner Clara Lamb, which was
lying here at the time to proceed to Antwerp with
the cargo Of naphtha. 1t was in accordance with
this that the cargo was being transferred. This
morning there was nothing left Of both vessels but
the black hulls which, all charred and twisted,
rose above the surface Of the water little more
than foot. They will be towed out Of the harbor
and sunk. 1t is not believed that one
HUMAN LIFE WAS SACRIFICED
by the explosion, though 1t is not improbable that
some Of the hands were on board the vessels
at the time. Had the explosion occurred while
work was going the loss OF life would have been
appalling.
c. H. Trumbull, OF New York. is the agent Of the
Hobrook. and Cans Bros, Of New York, the con-
signees Of the cargo. The latter was insured In
the Atlantic Mutual Marine Insurance Co., OF
New York.
What the Agent Says.
reporter OF the HERALD went to see Mr. Trum-
bull, the agent of the vessel, at SO South street.
yesterday afternoon This gentleman had received
no news OF the destruction OF the vessel. He
stated that he knew through the HERALD ship
news that the Holbrook had put into st. Thomas
in distress. He had interest In the vessel further
than being the agent thereof, and no interest
Whatever in the cargo.
What the Insurance Company Says.
The reporter called subsequently at the ofrce Of
the Atlantic Insurance Company, In Wall street,
nd aQW He fha ufnru,
ton that the cargo of the Hoprook was insured in
that cnmnanY hut declined to sau for ho,u