Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-29
70 the WATERS EDGE.
Terrible Calamity on . New York
Passenger Steamer.
OVER FIFTY LIVES KNOWN TO
HAVE BEEN LOST.

NHw YORK, June %. Steamboat Sea.
wanthaka, which ran from Peck Sin nm the
Sound to Glen Cove, L. T.. took fire At 4 SC
this afternoon while of Randall's Island
Est river. Fire Was caused BY explosion in
the engine room and the middle Of the steam
er VAS soon in flames. Pilot Chas. Smith
remained at his post till nearly burned to
death and succeeded in Bleaching the vessel
on q sunken meadow adjoining the island.
Many persons sprang overheard and were
drowned, while many others in the stern Of
the vessel could not get of, and we're burned
to death. OF 500 persons supposed TO have
been on board, 80 are believed to have per-
ishcd. The bodies of about so dead persons
were recovered Only those of a Mr..
Deberaire. wealthy gentleman, residence
unknown, and Mary Reed, & Young woman,
were identified Among persons of promi-
nepce known to have been on board were
Cbas A. Dana. editor of the sun. :. NJ. l..
Rarlow Col w r. chase and Il II Roehes
ter treasurer of the Western I'uian Tele
yraph Co. all of whom are safe. The YES.
sci was burned 10 the waters edge and will
be a total loss.
passenger saws there were $50 passcn.
gers ON board. Allwen, well till the steamer
passed He'll Gate. when a fire alarm rang ON,
and flames wer, seen bursting ,hrouyh The
nil ND roll
sepyers there was no dancer and ho,, was
bea,l,.l far RandalIs island SIN. Grounded
on . har oo0 t.e, srom shor. S,,.mar Cr.n-
~, Sat. ~ u.r,s,rd l;na wh;,h 80 nass;n'r
won, ,o The ass;s,,rca ~ tho S..wsn,h.t,
81 49,. -, 10 r., rs,.,,~s .,,a -
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S.a'N - .':.,S IN ....AHr.'
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S:s ~. .,ss,,,,. ~, rossol was IN fra Thor, a.
~, .saL ~ a.,,os ~erc bIown In that d;re,..
.;on A. ,hot time tho wood work of the vcs.
sol obont her centre was burning like tinde,
and Aamas making their vav toward botl
ends of The hoat There were nrobablv 400
,arsons nm hoard Men were ;nmninu from
Tho hurricane deck into the water and larp,
nnn,ber, of terrified women and children
,.r. fn,,,lled near tIe storm of the boat.
climbed over the rail near the bow and sew
oral men almost iunp.l upon me before
took IA the water to save myself. | found .
life 1r.saryer near me and was going to pu
n on whe,. a man clutch.d it. Knowing
conId swim and thinking he could not. | le
him have II and swam for Wards Island
WHICH I reached. and then helped 70 man .
hoat and assisted in picking up messengers il
the water. The steamer was beached on
Randalrs Island and burned to the water.
edge. Cant. Charles +. Smith was at the
wheel and stuck to his post to the last His
face and BODY were badly burned. Small
boats came to the rescue from every direc.
ton. Steamboats, Granite State, Osseo,
Minnehannock and Sylvan Glen had boats
manned and sent to our assistance. Many
of the children on board had their clothing
catch fire and some of them were severely
burned. carried lamp in my hand into
the tank room. where l changed my clothes.
Brought back the lamp into the fire room and
set it down. Am sure fire could not have
originated from the lamp, as the oil would
not explode nor burn without a wick. Can
not imagine what caused the fire. Engineer
Weeks put on full head of steam, am
told, in response to a signal from the Capt
tain and then climbed up among the machinery
and was seen standing on the upper deck
irving to raise the valves so steam could
escape and avert an explosion. We never
carried over "a pounds of steam.
Engineer Weeks at the time fire started
was watching steam and water indicators.
The only members of the crew whom un
derstand missing are Josiah Hasbrouck and
his grandson. Charles Hasbrouck. We had
about four deck hands, one deck boy, engi
neer, two firemen, captain, clerk, superin
| tendent. wheelman, superintendents clerk
porter, steward and cook. The crew die
their duty like men and few of them lost theil
presence Of mind. You can imagine how
cool they were when the clerk. who was col
lectng fares, as soon as he realized the boa
was on fire returned to the Office and secure'
money he had left there.
| Two of Harper's publishers and othe
gentlemen whose names cannot recollect
| who were in the haiti of going to their home