New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-19
A STEAMBOAT BURNED.
OF THE ID. r. MARTIN.


| ISLAND FERRY-BoAT-TBE BOAT Run ASHORE
| AND TIE PASSENGERS LANDED IN SMALL BOATS
! AN EXPLOSION, AND TWO MEN SLIGHTLY IN
JURKp-THE HULL ONLY sAvED-LOs5 ABOUT
$4,000.
| As the Staten Island ferryboat D. r. Martin,
| belonging 10 what is known as the Garner line, was
making the p trip from New-fork, yesterday II was
discovered to be fire, when Robins Reef light
| house Smokes and flames were first seen
Issuing the after gangway The alarm was at once
given the boat headed for the Staten Island shore
The fire, fortunately, did make very rapid Roadway
and all the passengers and safely landed near
Berger's Dock between TOmpkinsvle and Sapleton III
small boats.
| Cant s sonicd in conversation with a reporter Of
THE TRIBUNE last evening stated that he had Just taken
charge the boat for the remainder OF the day. that
| being his first trip down. Everything worked az
| usual" he said, "untl were between
/ Robins Reef Light and the Island, when
saw some ladies rush out Of the cabin in great haste
/ They shouted to me, In the plothouse, 'nat
| the boat was on fire. At first thought would
| not change the course OF the vessel, but run
| her in as quickly possible at our own
clock at sapleon When had arrived about opposite
Quarantine the engineer called out that he thought we
! had better make for the shore, and Mt once
steered the boat IN direction. Some said the
shore was rocky aud at loss to know where TO
land when noticed several small boats the shore
short distance below the Tompknsyle landing and con-
cluded 10 risk landing there. As soon as the boat
| was turned in the right direction the steering
gear on the port side burned off, and thus lost all cen
troll Fortunately going in the right direction
! and all we had TO do to keep up the steam by
! easing ND before we struck the shore, the
| hull was not at all injured. All the small boats
in neghborhood at came to the assistance OF the
passengers and took them ashore. Tb' were about 10
messengers aboard twothirds OF whom were ladies', but
throughout the whole time they manifested the greatest
| coOlDess
About the time we landed Capt sofeld continued, the
| engineer was driven from his room and the fire was
making considerable Roadway Soon AFTER the tug boats
Tho and No. the Walcott came alongside aud after
wards the tug Fuller the latter OF which carries
! fun length OF hose. These began at once to play
upon the burning boat with all the hose they had at
command but 1t fully two hours before they sue
ceeded getting the fire under control When the fire
had been raging about hour, at the suggestion OF the
| engineer, ! left the ID. X. Martin ana went
aboard the Tibo and not long after the steam hue,
leading to the smokestaek where the dry steam OF the
boiler held gave way tearing on the top OF this por
ton OF the boiler and carrying away the washroom.
short time after landed sent smalboat round TO
| the after part Of the vessel, where tho fire was
the greatest there were any persons left on that
end. They found six, and took them ashore Fearing
there might he still Others there, l. sent aholner
! boat on theEsame eTand and while they were
crossing near the vessel the 6, explosion LOOK oG
their boat turned over but they were picked up ine
|
The vessel was burned clean to the hull but this as far
been a ahe O To 70 90 ON of the smoke and
steam, the damage win amount probably to about
Tie D. r Martin was built about II years ago
Ellsworth President of the Ocean National Bank bought
it and opposition line Tor Two years when inc
and sent 10 the James River where IT remained awhile
in the transport service after which IT was brought back
mt on the present line opposition boat TO the old
inc the only one nun to this side OF The ISLAND Before
this however, il was placed on tne dry docks anu oI
ougRiy oyerhaued aud a saloon on the upper deck
added. Its length is 30 feet with beam 20 feet, and
! drayxinp about feet OF water.
Ther is no doubt Capt soeld stated that the fire be
gan in the kitchen G d "" One oo hncH he sad
! regard to the matter, bat decline to express
The kitchen Is port de after the shaft and in one
.he conner OF the cabin diringroom down stalr7 The
tam says that il he had not lost all control by the
breaking Of the gearing he believes he could DaSo
! direction the wind was then blowing IL
very fast boat having made the tg frSm 1 Ier no.
Ihe captain remained the upper deck until the smoke
drove rim away when ne came down tle nle was JUS
There wac no freight board and coal oil, nor other
hiShIy ,nfamnable material The beat is lighted by
iined oil. There was nothing saved. The steward,
Isaac d. Henderson, lost az his eioihins'
everything he had even TO his hat and boots. He was
asleep in TIE dinng-room when he was awakened ailrr
being amost snocaiod by Tie smoke Inc cierA' fIcl'
| was reported staten Island last evening that
strange had been seen To 20 ABOARD the vessel ~
| Pier no North River, just before IL starred on
inc last TIP lsayn{ gsore the Gft stared, ,erc
about il ,han that e bad heard such report Ihe hI,
II thon$h vii be tc%JI to some 3, GSsS ahg s .he
to put another boat On le line IN It's place l4is noit
Inc two men ~ the boat tH1 Ms seno p' Sht
scaids from the steam upon lie faces. ana
ayfnc tjnlbeTs II was stated that the vessel in
sured, bus tic amount Soud MOI pc scer.iu, ~ Tue
polcics were obtained by the Treasurer MI PebdotO
| STORY OF An EYEWITNESS
When The D. r. Martin was first sighted by those thc
island smoke wae observed isuing from her upper works
and the report quickly spread that she was burning TIE
words "FiYc. and D. X. Martin" were enough TO
! bring TO the shore all those who would not
| have been drawn thther by the novel sight
| Of the burning OF any other vessel. There
wac a crowd on the Clubhouse dock ut stapcton, await
ing the departure OF the other TO NewYork and the
whole street along the BLUFF became PACKED with
peopie vino without exception we're loud in Their ex
pressons OF sympathy Tor the steamboat and her pas
sengers and who passed many words OF admiration
far The way tine boat appeared 90 be handled by her OH
GERS after Inc fire was discovered An eyewitness de-
scribcs the scene OF thrilling interest even after
IN was known that all the people safe. The steamer
| lay with her how on tho shore, slowly
burning The waters edge. BESIDE obi neg ef
was Tug ready do anything possible tn save aught OF
The Wrck ana MED with curious people Nearer yel
small beat with three Dlen va. mosmS sis"r snou .
Isan,ylile the ire engines had approached AID were
| baS,rvD somud aud an upl,ft OF water though
| a y9o,cauo had burst through tho bottom, IN
fhe tunult OF which everything was of nioch ma
An apd Few hoped that the tug and sEih would rc
| main mnscahed aud the water and steam cleared
,s.y fine Jug Was to be unharlned, and kenefa
9,o,iion OF relief was heard bu. the shiE contained
annarsiiy but one man who calling for help Tbetu
Uni IN liz asstance and the other two men soon rose
49, The boifcn, OF the boat, where they had been
| ,hrown ,tunDed and somewhat scadcd ny the .slO-
sion Tie explosion seemed 10 cone from Dchea,n s
80, ane NJ thc UPPER works OF the steamer had before
thai turuod way only the weter tsei was cast ny ny
the explosion. With th. explosion ended inc nie'