New-York tribune., 1880-07-01
HAIRBREADrH ESCAPES.

| AssEMpLYMAN STEIN -GEORGE r. HODGMkS
AND SON sAFg-GToRGE W. sKiDMORg's Ac-
COUNT or THE BURNING.
Charles Spro n lawyer OF this city, an intimate
friend of OfexAssemblyman Stein. and the last person
who him the burning Seawanhaka was
| found last evening bya TRIBUNE reporter at No.
100 East Eighty ysecond-st. He was still much ex-
hausted. and had only lately left his bed. Mr.
Spiro said: Mr.. Stein and frequently went up on
the boat together On Wednesday we were sitting
chatting together in the forward part OF the boat
He was looking for some friends 10 arrive st the
Thirty landing. but they didn't come
was probably the only on board who kncw him.
The last saw of HIM when, as were talk
ing an uprising Of the people occurred, and a
crowd went rushing back. thought there was no
danger, and we both rose TO learn the of IL.
looked into the saloon ard saw all amid
ships aire. There was terrible blaze. Tho
flame was famed in my direction. ard 1 called
Joe! Joe!' twice, and ran fast through the flames
TO the after part Of the boat. There was great
deal of CONSERVATION on the boat. went TO tho
balcony and climbed over the raj, and stood thero
as long as | could. woman overhead asked me 10
take her child. / said would do the best could.
had chance to take the woman to shore, and
never dreamed that 1 would be rescued. When tho
fire struck me, and felt it begin to scorch me-
jumped. was in the water some time when a boat
man rescued me and the child and tOwed Ms 10 tho
shore. was too exhausted to get into the boat. l
was on the marsh short time, and got TO RandalPs
Island, where | was given some brandy. could
hardly walk through the swamp. | thought Cap
tain Smith a very brave man. Tho child / left
the boat alive. / did not learn to whom it be-
longeG, as | was too exhausted to ask questions,
Lut L believe the mother found it,
Il never saw Mr.. Stein after we both
tha oil Of fra hut anil
whom saw afterward said that he
thought he had been burned to death. | do noa
think it was right to keep in Ignorance of tho
fro more would have had time to get life-preserv-
ers if the alarm had been given sooner
"Do you not think il possible that NT. Stein may
have got ashore. Mr. Spro ~ asked the reporter.
81 do not think it is possible thar he was
saved" was the answer. " He had a num-
Der of diamonds about him, beautiful
diamond ring and diamond studs, and a
beautiful watch, and there a lot OF pirates and
river thieves about. While | was in the water
heard man cry to bOatman to take him in. and
the fellow asked, What Is it wOrthp I myself
called to a large boat, where there was plenty Of
room and was answered, There f. another boat
coming They could at least have taken tho
child. Finally was rescued by young man in a
bathing suit. He wouldn't give me bis name at
first think it is OKane, and shall take pains to
find him."
FATHER AND son SAVED.
George f. H0dgman, of the firm Of Hodgman rs
CO., No 425 Broadway, whose name, with that ofhis
son, had appeared in,sOme papers as being among
the missing. is safe and we'll " | am not suffering
from the effects of the accident all" he SAID yes-
terday. " / was in the bow of the main deck when
heard the explosion first and a few minutes after
ward | saw the flames. 1t seemed to me Ii soms
cOmbustibe matter had exploded in the engine
room. l saw in an instant that all on board were in
great danger. but l thought that l would keep
cool and wait for opportunity TO save
myself My son, George b. Hodgman, boy four
teen years old. had just left to 20 on the upper
deck to watch the Granite State when the explosion
occurred. called TO him and he came running 20
me. Ny son is a good swimmer, aud knew that
he would be able to ia Ike care of himself in tho
water. When we were only short distance from
Wards Island my son got the rail OF the steamer,
and as he was jumping in the water gave him
push SO that he would strike the water at a safe
distance from the paddle-bOx. was confident that
he would be able to swim TO the shore, but was
not so sure of my own powers
IL then examined the situation was in, and saw
that we were only short distance from the marShy
ground. knew that the momentum Of the boat
sufficient TO drive her to the marsh even If all
Inc machinery WAS out OF Orucr. 30 concluded
TO stay IN the bow Of the boat until we reached
shore. More than hundred persons staayd in tho
bow with me- and everyone OF was saved aud
came out uninjured Some people thought it best
10 jump III the water, but don't know what be-
.ame of them. When the boat struck the marsh
jumped oil and sank in mud up TO my waist
rs did everyone else, | stayed there a short time
md asked the captain If he Thought
here was any danger of another
explosion and he answered that he did not loo
much cannot be said IN praise Of the captain. Bat
or him the loss of life would have been doubled.
Ie stayed in the pilot house directing the caurse Of
II the boat until he saw that everyone could jump
mt with perfect safety"
"As soon as got out of the mud got boat to
axe me over to Wards Island to see ii | could find
ny son. Although knew he was a good swimmer
felt a little ANXIOUS about him. When / reached
he island he was about the FIRST person l saw
ALFRED wALDRoN's ESCAPE.
Alfred Waldron, cotton broker, who was on
oard the steamer and who was supposed to be
Ost, arrived in the city yesterday, and was well
omed in cordial manner by the members OF tho
'otton Exchange. He told how he saved himself
o party of friends in his Office in the afternoon.
| was aft talking TO a friend when the explosion
ccurred," he said. :" remarked TO my friend
hat 1t must have been box of fireworks or q
team chest. | could not move either way in tho
Oat then on account of the great crowd. | went
lto the cabin, and within two or three minutes
fter the explosion l saw that tho
oat was on fire. The passengers had
rowded aft got life-preseryer and secured it
my body was thrown over the rail by tho
reat crowding aud rushing. | held fast and was
truck by several persons who had jumped into the
ateF went forward to get out Of the crowd and
'alked through fire in trying to get around tho
addle-box, but in that failed. tried three times
, walk on the rail that extends along the paddles
OK and at last succeeded. | theu jumped over
oard. Two women caught me. bat had TO tell