The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-07-08
STEINER BURNEDl
Oasoster = the Steamer 0eawanaAakae
Several Lives Lest.

1 ~~>sAsA>
Disaster t. the steamer seawa.aAaka-
Several Lives Lest.
NEW YORK, June q.
Another shocking steamboat disaster
was added to the already long list this after
noon. The Seawanahaka, plying between THU
city and Glen Cove, Sea CHI, Roslyn and Satlny
Cltf, Long Island, on the Sound, took fire from
an explosion, whose origin nobody seems to
know, at five minutes to i've O'Clock. on her
afternoon trip outward. She was then be-
tween Hell Gate and Little Hell Gate. A pun
OF black smoke and q flash of flame out of the
smoke-stack followed the dull thud of the ex
Pl9sion, and an instant afterward q huge
volume OF fire enveloped the forward
Who was At the wheel realized the
70 the right or left for several minutes on ac.
count of the steamer Granite State. which was
r1nning outside of her, and number of
shore Jets of flame darted up the chain-hOlds,
cutting on communication with the engineer,
ara sa burning the helmsman's hands 60 that he
spokes Of the wheel, being forced to drop
them instantly. again. With consummate
bravery he held the burning vessel on her
his face and hands slowly blistered, and, when
ne nad succeeded In passing them, turned her
no nose sharply about, and headed her direct for
and Randalrs Islands. The spot was
admirably chosen. On both islands were large
hospitals whose medical stats could be count
The distance from the shore was not great.
ana there was ample means of succor I'm ev:
cry direction. Taking into consideration the
captain smith Ss Soa
when she struck she would lie brOadside to
tne breeze: This was for the purpose of keep.
giving those n hot
opportunity to save themselves. Had the fire
been allowed to sweep from stem to stern
the disaster would undoubtedly have been
much greater. The seawanahaka ran with
such force upon the Meadow that forty feet
Of her lay high and dry before she stopped, and
she was less than 100 feet from shore.
vailed among the passengers, and long be-
Tore she struck they began to drop overheard.
Those who remained were quickly driven to
scribe the appearance of the surrounding
water as similar to that Of Rockaway beach
on warm Sunday, so thickly was it dotted
flames caught their clothing, burning their
bodies and rendering them comparatively
helpless, SO that nearly all in this condition
son to believe that several were unable to
make the attempt to save themselves, and
persisted miserably in the steamers hull.
lowered five boats to the rescue. Dr.. Howard,
Superintendent Of Randalls Island, saw the
nr0 almost as soon as 1t started. and instantly
to be manned and put on to the Meadow the
doctor himself hailing passing fisherman in
small boat, jumped into it with two other
as the Seawanahaka ran up on the other. The
Osseo and Minnehannock soon came into
sight, and running down to the spot rendered
Wards Island, including the steam passenger
launch, were also quickly on hand, and nu-
merops other crafts darted out from the
labor of rescuing the STRUGGLING passengers
was performed by willing hands with all posi-.
BILE speed. Those who showed signs of exhaus-
islands, and the physicians promptly made use
OF all the appliances known to medical skill
to restore them. The majority proved to be
more frightened than hrut: Alter drinking q
simple remedies, they recovered sufficiently
to proceed at once to their homes. Twenty
hve remained on the Island Hospitals tonight
-hfteen on Wards Island and ten on RandalIs
Island. Only few were badly injured, and
the doctors say that all will recover.
From fifteen to twenty-nine are known to be
cries of floating cOrpses were constantly being
made in the river during the night. There is
only too much reason to believe that the list
Eleven bodies were taken to the Morgue to-
night. The body of 3 baby remains on RAN
dalrs Island: that of Il man on Wards Island;
and the remainder lie tied to stakes at differ.
ent points along the river shores.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Captain Charles H. Smith, who had charge OF
the Seawanahaka, lay tonight in bed at the
a Island thoroughly enye
partly hidden under an oil silk cloth, which
was kept down by rubber bag filled with ice.
Two huge bundles lay on the bed, and nearly
burned so badly that the flesh had peeled of
and left them raw. The Captain readily told
bis story, despite his sufferfngs. He said the
her last city dock. at 4:3O. She then had on
ular Ipsssenserss. the boat was running
was in the piiot-house with his
nephew, Stephen Vernon, who was assisting
at the wheel while running through He'll Gate.
$50, the Captain heard a heavy thud and
shock, which shook the vessel from stem to
stern The report was dull one, but heavy
would be. The boat was then just of Niger
Point. II looked up said Captain Smith,
g toward the smoke-stack, and l saw a dense
steam, but such as would come from ~ tar nor or
powder. 1 said to Steve, You'd better step
out and get your, water.buckets ready:
FL Lists stop ,,a here and denim mind the Wheel
In a bad place. The dense cloud of
black smoke was followed by draft of fire.
When I saw that. 1 knew what would come
next. Almost as soon as you'd speak the fire
broke out forward, and began tc climb toward
the pilot house. I looked ahead, and saw the
Granite State close before us on our star
board. On the port were four schooners and
q tug. saw the engineer run out on the deck
below. and could see also that he was badly
burned, and that could not expect any help
from him. My nephew did not come back, so
l found must manage the wheel myself. Tho
heat began to rush up into the pilot-house, and
could tell it was fierce underneath. From
the moment of the explosion 1 resolved to
beach the boat when the engineer left
his room and It became impossible to reg,l-
late the speed. 1t was necessary to
steer between the Granite State and
the schO0ners to make for shore, which did.
There was q great deal of confusion and
screaming as soon as the explosion occurred,
and | saw men in the water almost imme-
diately. From the explosion till tho boat was
beached could not have been more than ten
minutes Before the boat touched the shore
the flames were running up the wheelpost
and licking my hands so that had to change
hands to hold the wheel. knew must hold
on, and did so until felt the boat strike. 1
could scarcely see then for smoke, but man
aged to climb out of the house and drop
overheard. l believed the Bleaching was the
only thing to do, and they say it was good
thing. The boat was in excellent condition.