The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-09
a DREADFUL CATASTROPHE
Burning OF the Ship Europa and
Loss OF Lie.

New YORK, October IA fire broke
out to-day on the German bark Europa
Mt Pier .i3, East river. She was on the
dry dock being caulked when large
quantity Of hemp took fire. John Casey,
caulker, Of 90 Sheriff street, was fatally
burned, and John Scover, another work
man, ia probably fatally injured. After
short time the flames were extinguished
and the iiremen made an examination Of
the hold, when were discovered the hOr-
ribly burned bodies Of Thomas Ingraham,
Lewis Sullivan, George Sill, VIM. Darling
and James Mcdonald, workmen EN-.
ployed in making the repairs. The Eu.
ropa was engaged in the petroleum trade
and The timbers being saturatcdwith the
oil, the flames spread with frightful ra.
pidity, cutting of all escape Of the men
working below. The damage TO the yes.
sci is covered by insurance.
The Europa was placed on the large
balance dry docks at the foot OF Rutgers
street, on Friday, for the purpose Of re.
ceiving general ovGrhauling. The ship
being chartered, and it being necessary
that she be made ready as expeditiously
rs possible, large force Of caulkers, ship
carpenters and blacksmiths were put to
work. This morning these men were
scattered all over the vessel, and were
busy ut work. At about half past II
o'clock, the carpenters and caulkers were
in the lower hold boring the sides to
ses il the planks were sound, while the
caulkers had brought their oakum, oil
and pitch into the lower hold to have at
hand when required. A ship carpenter
named John Casey, Of No. 92, Sheriff
street, was with the restin the fore hold
testing planks. He struck match for the
purpose Of lighting his pipe, and
threw the burning match on the floor,
a large pile oEoakum was close by and the
match set it OH fire. Casey in endeavor-
ing to smoother the flames was fatally
burned. The flooring Of the vessel being
saturated with kerosene, benzine and
other combustible liquidsin moment
caught fire which spread with lightning
rapidity and the entire hold, from stem
10 stern, was mass OF fire, converting it
into frightful death.trap. The work
men in the hold were cut off'from the air
and were in tomb filled with fire. Some
OF those at work amidships were com.
pletely surrounded by the flames; those
not'in the midst OF the flames were exposed
10 the deathly fumes which arose from
the fire, and fell sufocated. After the
flames were extinguished the police and
fremen went into the hold and found in
variousl parts Of the bark the
bodies OF live men, all ship carpenters.
The bodies were removed 10 the seventh
precinct station house, Madison
street, and placed side by side up
on the floor in the back room.
The mems faces !are blackened and be-
grined with smoke and badly distorted,
Indicating the terrible agony they en-
dured before death came to their relief.
Their clothes in zane places were almost
burned,through. Coroner Kickoff went to
the spot in company with Officer Healey.
He empannelled jury at the central po.
lice station, viewed the bodies and n
permit was granted for their removal.
Deputy Coroner Marsh ordered all the
bodies to bc taken 10 the morgue where
post morten examination is to 10 made
and an inquest had, As far as can be az.
certnined the victims are all married men
with large families who are wholly un.
provided for. The excitement in the
vicinity Of the dry dock is intense as all
the men were well known in the neighbOr-
hood, having been employed around the
docks many years.