Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-29
ANOTHER STEAMBOAT Hoamor
TAe Steam'r r eawanhaka 1Hrnt d
on E.oeE EslaMd BOund-Fit'y
IAYcs Lost,

COLLEGE POINT L. l., June 28.-Tht
steamer Ssawanhaka was burned to the
waters edge off College Poiut. at five
O'Clock this afternoon. About fifty
lives were lost. The Seawanhaka plief
between New York, Sands Point and
Roslyn.
The Seswanhaka took Are at 4.30l
o'clock this afternoon while of Ran
dall's Island, East River. The Gre was
caused by an explosion in the engine
room, and the middle of the steamboat
WAS soon in flames.
Pilot Charles Smith remained at his
post until he was nearly burned tol
death, and succeeded in bsaching thel
vessel on the sulken meadow adjoining
the island. Many persons sprang ovsr-
board and were drowned, many others
in the stern of ths vessel could not get
Of and we're burned to death. OF 500
persons suppcsed to be on board so are
believed to have pariShed. The bodies
Of about 80 dead persons we're recover
ed. Only those Of DsBoise, wealthy
gentleman, whose residence is unknown
and of Mary Rsed, young woman,
we're identified.
Among the persons of prominence
known 10 be on board were Charles A.
Dana, editor of the sur; s. L. NJ. Bar
low, Of ths World, and Z. II. Roches-
ter, Of the Western Union Telegraph
Co., all Of whom we're saved.
The vessel was burned to the waters
edge and will be a total loss.
The steamer Granite State rescnsd
l3 passengers and The Osseo a ls"ga
number, who we're taken 10 Colless
Psint.
Another account from a passenger
says there were $50 passengers on
board. All went we'll until the ssesruer
had passed He'll Gate, when the tlra
alarm rang ont, and flames were dis,
covered bursting through the pilot
house. The officers and crew assured
the passengers that there was no dam
ger, and the boat was headed for Ran
dall's Island.
She grounded on bar, 200 feet from
shore. These of the passengers unpto.
vided with lifs preservers were saved |
by clinging 70 the guards, paddles aud
other portions of the steamer. The
body of Aba ekidmors, member Of an
old Long Island family, has been re-
covered and brought to the Coleman
House in this city. This informaut
expresses the belief that the loss OF life
10 about 80.
STATEMENT OF A FIREMAN.
Charles Abeel, one of the tiremen Of
the boat, made the following state
msut:
We made our landing at tle foot Of
rhirty.third street at 4 80 O'Clock, and
il was about Is minutes later when We
reached Little He'll Gate. was sitting
on the wing or port gangway, after
having started the bilgs pump, when
heard noise, and, on looking around,
saw fire pouring ont of the firs-room.
got mp and tried to make my way to
the Grs-room, but the flames were too
much for me. We were just off Ran
iall's Island, and running forward l
yelled to the captain, who was at the
wheel, to head for shore, but he shout
ID back that he could not. | then rgn
into the cabins forward and urged the
steward and passengers to save thom-
selves. They did not suspect that the
vessel vas on fire then, as no smoke or
fame was blown in that direction. At
that time the woodwork of the vessel
about her centrs was burning like tin
der, and the flames we're making tneir
way towards both ends of the boat.
There were probably about three
hundred persons on board. Men were
Jumping from the hurricane deck into
The water, and large member Of ter =
tiaed children and women we're mud 8
lied near the stern Of the boat. |
,limbed over the rail near the bow, and t
Ieveral men almost jumped upon ME
1sfore l took to the water TO save my q
Ielf. found life prsserver floating r
lear me, and was going TO put 1t on
when man C!utched at it, and l, 4
Inowing l could swim, and thinking
le could not, let him have it, and /!
wan for Wards Island, which |
cached, and then helped TO man boat 81
md assisted in picking up passengers
n the water. The SeawaDhaka was ''
inally bsaohed on Randall's Island, n
,ut she soon burned to the waters
dgs. Captain Charles P. Smith was Ii
t the wheel and stuck to his post to
he lest. His cs and body we're bad r
y burned. Small boats came to the
esspe from evsry direction. The steam Ill
oats Granite State, bound for Hart on
ord, the Osseo, Minnehannock and
ylvsn Glen lad BEATS manned and at
snt to our assistance. The clothing of ne
lany children on board caught Are, =.
nd some Of them were severely burned. NJ
lamp wh!oh carried in my hand in.
} the tank room, which Is back of the til
re- room, and separated by board petit 81
on, where changed my clothes, l -
rought back into the fire room and nj nj
1t 1t down. Su
l am sure the FIRE could not have
risinated from the lamp, as the oil he
ould mot explode nor burn without a Ss Ss
iCk. You could put some Of tAs oil in ,
saucer, and it would not burn If you th'
ut q match TO it. Therefore FEEL car lro
lin it could not have caused the fire, ~
nd | cannot imagine what did. Ensi- mr.
ner Weeks put on full head ofstsam 5r4
am told, in response to signal from fa
le Captain, and then climbed up n
nong the machinery, and was seen n. n.
anding on the upper dsck trying to Of
lise the valve SO that the steam could loo
,caps and an explosion be avoided. a
70 never carried over thirty four nV to
ounds OF steam. Engineer Weeks son me
as fireman on the boat, and at the oo
me tho FIRE started was Watching the "a
cam and wafer lndlca1of. The only wi
e l.. 4