, 1876-12-01
A TOMB OF FIRE.
Seven Men Meet their Death in the
Hold of a Burning Vessel.

Hold of a Burning Vessel.
A fire broke out a few days since on
the German bark Europa, at Pier 43,
East River. She was in. dry-dock, be-
ing caulked, when a large quantity of
hemp took fire. John Casey, caulker,
90 Sheriff street, was fatally burned,
and John Siever, another workman,
probably fatally. After a time the
flames were extinguished and the fire.
men made an examination of the hold,
when they discovered the horribly burn
ed bodies of Thos. Ingram, Lewis Sulli-
van, George Sill, VIM. Furlong, and
James Mcdonald, workmen employed
in making the repairs. The Europa
was engaged in the petroleum trade,
and the timbers being saturated with
the oil, the flames spread with fri9htful
rapidity, cutting off all escape of the
men working below. The damage to
the vessel is covered by insurance.
The Europa was placed on the large
balance dry-dock, at the foot of Rutger
street, Friday, for the purpose of receiv-
ing a general overhauling. The ship
being chartered and it being necessary,
she was made ready as expeditiously as
possible. A 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. At about half-past eleven
O'Clock this forenoon the ship-carpenters
and caulkers were in the lower hold
boring the sides to see whether the
planks were sound, while the caulkers
had brought their oakum, oil and pitch
into the lower hold to have it at hand
when required. A ship-carpenter named
Jno. Casey, of 80 Sheriff street, was with
the rest in the fore-hold testing the
planks. He struck q match for the pur-
pose of lighting pipe, and having done
so threw the burning match upon the
floor. A large pile of oakum was close
by and the match set it on fire. Casey
in endeavoring to smother the flames,
was fatally burned. The flooring of the
vessel was saturated with kerosene, ben
zine and other highly combustible Ii
guilds, and in O moment caught fire,
which spread with lightning rapidity,
and the entire hold, from stem to stern,
was mass of fire, converting it into
frightful death-trap. The workmen in
the hold were cut off from the air. They
we're in tomb filed with fire. Some
at work amidships were completely sur
rounded by the flames. Those not in
the midst Of the flames were exposed to
the deadly fumes which arose from the
fire, and fell suffocated. The flames ex-
tinguished, the police and fireman went
into the hold and soon found in various
parts Of the bark the bodies of five men,
all p-carpenters. The bodies were re-
moved to the seventh precinct station
house, on Madison street, and placed
side by side upon the floor in the back
room. The mems faces were blackened
and begrimmed with smoke and badly
distorted, indicating the terrible agony
they endured before death came to their
relief. Their clothes in some places
were almost burned through. The cor
oner's Office was Immediately informed,
and Coroner Nickhof went to the spot
in company with officer Healy. He i'm
pannelled q jury at Madison street po-
lice station, viewed the bodies and per-
NIT was granted for their removal. Dep
uty Coroner Marsh ordered all the bod
les to be taken to the morgue, where
post DsOrteD examination is to be made
and an inquest held. AS far as could be
ascertained the victims were all married
men with large families, who are wholly
unprovided for.
The excitement in the vicinity of the
dry-dock is intense, as all the men were
well known in the neighborhood, hav-
ing been employed round the dock
many years.