The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-04
"A SHIPS CREW SUrFOCATED.
Three Men Dead and Two Others in Comatose
State from the Effects of Coal Cas-

WILMINGTON, N. c., Jan. 3, 1874
Early this morning intelligence of the death Of
three seamen by the inhalation OF carb0nic oxide
gas, caused by the burning oil bitumilous coal in
the stove OF vessel in this harbor was rife on
the streets here The particulars OF the terrible
accident are as follows:--AbOut six O'Clock TINS
morning cOlOred stevedore, who was to take the
ballast from the German barkantfne Adoph. which
arrived here yesterday, went to the old Wilmington
and Weldon depot wharf, where the Adolph Is
lying and, nndng no one up on board the vessel he
aroused the mate, who was sleeping in the caoin.
and signtled his readiness to proceed to work.
The mate repaired to the forecastIe, where the
sailors slept, to wake them up, and alter an unsuc-
ccssiul attempt to arouse them he essayed to get
the door open, but in this he Jailed, and finally
wrenched 1t of its hinges. lie entered the lore
castle and was once compelled to leave, as the
gas was surocating. Entering again in few
minutes, he found
TWO OF THE MEN DEAD
In their bunks and three others with the spark Of
lille nearly extinct One OF the men, the carpenter,
was found out OF his bunk on the moor, where 1t Is
supposed he fell while attempting to make his way
out OF ms Sleeping apartment
Assistance was Immediately called, and the three
men WAC wer yet alive were taken out and placed
on deck, to receive all tae benefits or fresh air.
While the two dead men were being cut from their
bunks messengers were despatched Tor physicians,
and in a very lew minutes Drs. Guitar Belamy,
Walker and Lane were by the side OF the unlortu-
them.
ANOTHER VICTIM DEAD
Before the physicians arrived the cook, lad
about IL years old. one OF the untorfunates who
were taken out alive died. The two surviving
men, VINO are brothers, are Still lying in very
precarious condition and 1t remains to be seen
which VIII have tie supremacy, lie or the poison.
THE SOURCE OF THE DISASTER.
Upon examination OF the stove In the galley
which Is separated from the Seamen's hunks by only
a thin board partition. very large crack was
disco cred across the top, and 1T Is supposed that
the gas evolved from the burning coal escaped
through it, and worked It's way through the
cracks, seams and crevices OF the partition into
the lOrecastle.
me vessel left Richmond about one week ego.
While In port there supply OF the Richmond
coal, which Is bitumln0us, was laid in, and had
been used since the departure of the vessel. The
men We're oil very much iatieued last night. The
vessel had leaked On the voyage from Richmond
70 this port and the crew were completely worn
out by their labors before retiring last night. 1t
is supposed that Tor some purpose the cook went
into the galley and klndled the coal fire. unaware
OF the danger from the effects OF the gas in close
room.
NAMES OF THE suFFocArED SAILORS.
The names OF the three men who are dead are
William Nicholas shuttle, OF Zingst, POmerania;
Karl Freder OK Theodore Kellemann, and Frederick
Harmon CHRISTIAN HOlz, OF Barth, Prussia. those
who now towering between life and death are,
as above stated, brothers. One Is named Hermann
CHRISTIAN Schutt and tne other Johann heinrich
Schultz, both OF Zingst, Prussia. They are both
married men, as was also one OF the deceased. All
five OF the men were splendid specimens Of physi-
Cal beauty, and they must have formed first class
crew.
The two brothers Schutt at nighttall were both
lying IN the Comatose state In which they had been
found, with but slight II any, appearance Of i'm
provement. Physicians will remain by them to-
npht and do all that Is possible. jury of inquest
was empaneled this afternoon, but adjourned over
untl Monday without rendering verdict. Ibis is
the first OF the kind that mas occurred in
Wilmington.