The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-02
LOSS OF THE SEAWANAHAKA.
The Narragansett Horror Repeated
ON Long Island SOund-Fifty People
Drowned and Burned.

Drowned and Burned.
The steamer Seawanahaka, plying on Long
Island sound, between New York city and Glen
Cove, took fire OH the afternoon of the 2Sth
ult. when off Randall's island, and burned to
the waters edge. There were about 500 pass
engers on board $50 were saved by passing
steamers, but the remainder either jumped over
board and were drowned, or remained on the
boat and persisted by fire. Charles A. Dana, of
the New York Sun, and two OF the Harper Broth
ers were among the rescusd passengers. From
the Geographic accounts of the disaster printed
III the metropolitan press, We CLEAN the follow
ing particulars The Seawanahaka, one OF the
fastest and trimmest steamers running out of
New York, left her dock at AIS o'clock p. m.
her deck well crowded. Many were returning
to their country residences, and others were
leaving town to escape the heat of the city, and
spend the night in the cool villages along the
sound. When off College point in the sound,
few miles from the city, u cloud of thick
dark smoke suddenly rose through the
grating near the piot-house. 1t was first
thought that the smoke came from the engine
room, and no danger was for the moment APP
pretended but, before the passengers had re-
covered from their first surprise, flames shot
mp through the grating, crept around the pilot
house, attacked the dry lniiammable deck, and
spread with wonderful speed in all directions.
The Captain was in the pilot-house, and was
first to see the danger To which his human
freight was so unexpectedly exposed.
The cry "Ihe boats on fire" was raised, and
in an instant the steamer was the scene of APP
palling confusion. A rush was made for the
lockers in which the life-preservers were kept.
Many of the men retained their presence OF
mind, and aided the officers of the steamer III
equipping the women and children with pre-
servers. The voice of the Captain was
heard above the din and confusion coun-
colin fh. 10 itfa Int ,,t.d
was out of the question, and, although the
Captain and his crew were, said to have acted
with firmness and celebrity it was beyond their
power to control the panic-stricken crowd. The
fire-eXtnSulshlnS apparatus was set at work.
but in VAN. The flames swept the steamer
amidships, and spread both ways Most of the
passengers huddled together toward the for
ward end Of the boat. The port side was all
ablaze, but on the starboard there was still
narrow space along which the passengers
thronged toward the bow.
When it became certain that the steamer was
doomed a heartrending scene of terror ensued
Mothers clasped their children to their breasts
and sprung overheard with them. Capt
Smith ordered his boats lowered, and headed
the vessel, under full head of steam, for the
low land at the north end of Wards island.
The steamer Granite State was behind the
S,awanahala when she caught fire, and her
boats were at once lowered, and many persons
on the water were picked up. The tug
Refuge and score of row-boats were soon
around the blazing steamer, which kept moving
toward the island. 1t was discovered that
the water was too shallow TO permit a land
ing at Wards island, and the vessels head
was turned toward the Sunken Meadows, q
strip of marshy ground on the south side
of Randalrs island. There the Seawanahaka
was run aground A hundred people in the
tug and row-boats were picking up the passen-
gers in the water The persons who appeared
10 ha ot frs ed nv in OrIa tbot
speedier succor might be given to the others. 1t
Is feared that many were lost of whom no rec
ord has yet been obtained, and that their bodies
drifted ont into the sound with the tide.
Dr. A. Il. Mcdonald, of the Ward Island Insane
ASYLUM. says that when he saw people jumping
from the steamer he ordered force of 500 par
TALLY insane men, who were working on the
farm near the shore, to save what lives they
could. Many of them jumped into the water
and drew to land a number who had struggled
almost to the shore, and others rescued the
bodies which had drifted landward. Quite a
number remained on the Seawanahaka until
they were driven of by the flames. One man
and child held on the guard rail until it was
burned away.
Fireman Edward Abeel, of the Seawanahaka.
says "All of q sudden | heard noise re-
sembling an explosion and, looking around.
saw flames coming up from between the fire
room and engine-room. In less than ten min
utes the steamer was one mass OF flames from
stem to stern. 1t seemed as if the fire spread
instantly, for no sooner had itappeared between
the engine-room and the fire-room. than it broke
out also both fore and aft. l can Ill no way ac-
count for the fire. The engineer and fremen
were always very particular to see that no in
tlammabe stuff lay about. Engines and boilers
were considered i'll excellent condition. The
only way L account for ii is the possibility that
tlue blew out opening the furnace door and
scattering the lire n considerable distance
around. The slight noise / heard may have
been flue bursting. | am certain the boiler
did not burst. think two-thirds of the pas
sengers must have jumped over before she
beached. The whole thing was almost instan-
taneous, affording no possibility of ascertainng
with certainty the cause of the fire, or even OF
doing anything to check it. As to the loss of
life, it was principally from drowning in the
rapid current. | saw several badly burned
one man with both legs almost burned OFF, The
officers and crew, L believe, are all saved except
Josiah Hasbrouck the cook. and Charles Has
brouck waiter"
Four children were burned to death