Helena weekly herald., 1880-07-01

flercely up about the center of the boat. Mr.
Moires, our porter, saw child floating on its
back, and was going to jump overload to
save it, when frantic woman clutched his
arm, saying, ''For Gods sake help me-" The
porter saved the woman. Only one of the
Seawanhaka's boats got out after. One lady
was climbing down the ladder leading from
the promenade deck to the main deck, but as
the ladder is pretty hard thing for man to
get down on at any time, she fell into the
gangway amid the flames Myself and about
half a dozen others rescued her from her
perilous position. l saw butcher, who be-
longs either at Great Neck or Sands Point,
grab up an asparagus box, and before l could
stop him, jumped overheard with it. yelled
at him not to jump or he would be struck by
the wheel. He did not heed me and went
over forward. The last I saw of him he was
going under the Wheel Several others who
went over forward also went under the pad
die box.
New YORK, June 27.-Chas. Smith, Captain
of the Seawanhaka, was found in the hospital
on Randall's Island, suffering from severe
burns about his arms and face He said: At
about 4:30 heard loud, dull report or ex-
plosion. Quick as thought l turned to see
what was the matter, when | saw that the
vessel was in flames about midship. | saw
the steamer Granite State on my starboard,
and turning my port side, finding that my
steamer was on fire, l Immediately headed her
for the shore with full head of steam, al
though the engineer had been driven from his
post. landed her about forty feet upon the
meadows. Most of the passengers were on
the bow of the vessel, and those on the stern
were at the mercy of the flames, as all the
passages to the bow were cut off. Many
jumped on land, while others jumped into
the water. stood at the wheel until the last
minute and then jumped overheard and was
picked up by small boat. We had no freight
on board, and do not know what caused the
explosion. The Seawanhaka can carry ], 300
persons, but she had only $50 or 300 on
board this afternoon.
The engineer of the steamer, Frank Weeks,
and his son Edward, who was a fireman on
the steamer, were at their posts at the time of
the fire. The fireman explains that some of
the small tubes of the boiler must have burst,
throwing the furnace door open and scatter
ing the hot Goals around so as to fire the YES
sel He, like his father, was driven from his
post by the flames, Both escaped with Sc
we're burns.
The number of lives lost by the accident
cannot be learned, as the steamer, being
merely daily transport used between near
points, kept no register. 1t is not likely that
the list of the lost will number more than so.
AT midnight, eleven bodies, nine adults, one
child and two babies were brought to the
Morgue at Bellevue hospital. A number of
persons who had relatives and friends on the
Seawanhaka were waiting to identify them
if among the unfortunates lost, and the scene
as the bodies were carried in from the boat
and the cofins opened was heartrending.
One old gentleman, Mr.. De Bevers, was
frantic with grief when he identified the body
of his son, David 81. De Bevers, of No. 392
Pacific street, Brooklyn.
The body of beautiful young woman.
about 20 years of age, was identified as that |
of Mary Reed. The body CT stout lady, |
about 80 years of age, was supposed to
be that of Mrs. Retchil, of Locus Grove, L. l. |
1t is reported that there are about 100 bodies
on Randall's Island, and a number on Long |
Island shore. The body of young man was
picked up by a row boat and moored to
stake at the foot of 115th street. 1t is known
that some of the crew did not do their duty,
but jumped into the river and swan ashore.
When the flames broke out the Seawanhaka
was passing through He'll Gate, but was run
on until nearly burned to the waters edge, and
had entered Little He'll Gate. The members
of the crew say she could not have been !
beached sooner No doubt more bodies, if |
not already picked up by boats, will be found
on Long Island shore tomorrow.
The Seawanhaka was about Il years old.
She was regular day boat, running between
New York and Roslyn, L. l., calling at White
Stone, Great Neck, Sands Point, and Glen
wood. She arrives in this city about a. III.
and leaves on the return at 4:15. The pas
sengers on her are generally bankers, busi-
ness and literary men, who live on Long
Island and come to the city in the morning
and return in the afternoon. Frequently
the lady members of their families and SER
wants accompany them. She was run IN the
interest Of four owners, whose names are
G. A. Dana, S. L. M. Barlow, M. Kirk, of
Glencove, and Mr.. Ends, of Great Neck.