New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-03
THE FIRE RECORD.
Toronto.

A LONG BRANCH STEAMER DESTROYED
THE RIVER BELLE BURNED TO THE WATERS hDuh
IN HER DoCK-LoSs 100000.
The steamer River Belle took fire about l
o'clock this morning in dock at the foot OF Rector
ST. and burned to the waters edge The steamer was
owned by the American Steamship company
of Providence, r. L. She had been cnar-
tered by the New-Jersey Southern ha-
road Company TO run for the next three months De-
tween this city and Sandy Hook, connecting with tue
trains for Long Branch. Capt. Allen said that the
River Belle had come up from Long Branci as
usual yesterday afternoon. Her decks were croWded
with passengers, and she had large miscellaneous
cargo she reached her wharf at the foot OF RectOr
at her usual tme and the crew and steyedores began
at once to discharge cargo. TIE fires IN the Doer
room banked. and the captain and all hanus nau
turned In for the night.
The captain said that he was aroused oy Ihe uai M
and seeing a bright light sprang from his berth ana
fastened to dress In moment or two ne hau nhiseu
throwing on his clothes. and then he hurried from
his ROOM The steamer then all on nre anu
ships The light frame of her upper works was ike
finder and the flames eaped along from place TO place
and almost before the could get of the vessel she
was all abaze. The flames shot up very hgh
into the air and the Fire Department drove
furiOusly to the the captain sara that
both he and his had narrow escape. ana oeiore
they could do anything 10 extngush the LANES they
were beyond control The other shipping was In DANCER
as was also the shed alongside OF winch the burning
steamer mOOred
The hose-carrages and steamers were driven down
upon the wharf and the had several streams
playing from the roof of the shed upon the burning
steamer A stream also brought 10 Dear from the
opposite side Of the dock Tho light woodwork made
an intensely brilliant blaze, which ht mp the whole
scene. The spre OF Trinity shone in the darkness
with reelected light that made 1t appear ike
frl
the from the engines soon began to deaden the
flames and the whole vessel was wreck the flames
we're under control by and no danger was felt
that they would communicate any adjoining property
Capt Allen described the steamer a. hrsclass
passenger boat. she was a side-wheeler, and was
elegantly upholstered and fitted throughout.
she cost SIOOO)o. aud Capt. Allen said
that he did not believe that much could be saved.
He said that ne could not say with auy certainty how
the fire caught. the fires had been banked as usual.
and he did not sre when he made MS INSPECTION
but that all was saie. Tue captain sald thdt
he was very certain that tue fire caught
in some way in the fre-rOom. The whole vess
amIdsnps vas IN names Wheu ne was afOuaeu anu 80
ne was able To nix upon any definite point whore
the flames could have caughi. Capt Allen
snrance upon the vessel against fire. but
was not positive about that The steamer had only been
chartered for Long Branch service TO- three months
engines were nrst-ciass' compound Deam ac-
ton, and her boilers and furnaces had every
modern Improvement to provide against an accident
destroyed the vesse. Fortunately Tor
the shippers the had all been discharged,
and WIN the exception of her regular stores
she empty. Some OF the captains and
she'd ami saved The River Belle bult IN BrOOk-
lyn only three years by shlpbuilder named
v,ndusen. Benjamin ifIm and Frank Alauran were
the principal members OF the company which owned tue
River Belle