Helena weekly herald., 1880-07-01
ANOTHER STEAMBOAT HORROR ON
LONG ISLAND SOUND.
4 Large Number or Passengers Lost.

~
wanhaka, which ran from Peck Slip up the
Sound to Glen Cove, Long Island, took fire at
t30 this afternoon while off Randall's Island,
Fast river The fire was caused by an ex-
nlosiOn in the engine room, and the middle
of the steamboat was soon in flames. The
nIot, Charles Smith, remained at his post
rnt he was nearly burned to death and sue
ceeded in Bleaching the vessel on a sunken
meadow adjoining the island. Many persons
Jumped overheard and were drowned, and
many others in the stern of the vessel could
not get off and were burned to death. OF
800 persons supposed to have been on board,
fifty are believed to have perished. Of the
bodies of about thirty dead persons recovered
only those of DR.. Beboise, wealthy gentle
man whose residence is unknown, and Mary
Reed, young woman, were identified.
Among the saved are Charles A. Dana, editor
Of the New York Sun, L. NJ. Barlow, Col.
W. r. Chase, and R. II. Rochester, treasurer
of the Western Union Telegraph Company.
The vessel was burned to the waters edge.
Another account by passenger says there
were about $50 on board All went we'll until
He'll Gate was passed, when the fire alarm
rang out and flames were discovered bursting
through the pilot house. The officers and
men assured the passengers that there was no
danger and headed the boat for Randalps
feet from shore. The steamer Granite State,
of the Hartford Line, passing at the time,
picked up thirteen passengers and one dead
body, which she landed at White Stone. The
steamer Osseo rescued majority of the pas
sengers and proceeded with them to College
Point. Those without life preservers saved
themselves by clinging to the guards, paddles,
and other sheltered parts of the boat.
The body of Abe Skidmore, of a well
known Long Island family, was recovered
and is now at the Coleman House, in this
city. The Seawanhaka lett the city every after
noon after the close of business hours for
various places of popular resort along the
Sound, and many we'll known citizens sailed
in her every day for their summer residences.
Charles Abel, one of the fremen on the
boat, was found on the pier at the foot of
Peck Slip, from which the Seawanhaka
went this afternoon. He said: We made a
landing at the foot of Thirty-third street at
4:3O o'clock. 1t was about ten minutes later
when we reached He'll Gate. was sitting !
in the wing or port gangway after having
started the bilge pump, when l heard noise,
and on looking around saw fire pouring out
of the fire room. got up and tried to make
my way into the fire room, but the flames
were too much for me. We were just off |
Randall's Island, and running forward
yelled to the Captain, who was at the wheel,
to head for the shore, but he shouted back
that he could not then ran into the cabins
forward and urged the steward and passen-
gers to save themselves. They did not sus-
pect that the vessel was on fire then, as no
smoke or flame was blowing up that direc-
ton. AT that time the wood work of the ves-
sci about her center was burning like tinder
and the flames were making their way to-
wards botn ends of the boat. There were
probably about 800 persons on board. Men
were jumping from the hurricane deck into
the water, and large number Of terrified
women and children were huddled near the
stearn of the boat. climbed over the rail near
the bow and several men almost jumped upon
me before took to the water to save myself.
| found life preserver floating near me and
was going to put it on, when man snatched
it away from me.
The Eastern Boulevard Club ground, East
121st street, is opposite the scene OF the dis
aster. Some dozen members were present at
the time and gathered number of the neigh
bors, manned all the boats of the club and
hired others at the adjacent floats. These all
went across the river and brought about forty
persons to the club house, who were burned
about the body, hands and face. The wounds
of these parties were dressed and clothes
given them.
Challes Hasbrouck, who was employed on
the boat says: 1--WE had crew OF four
deck hands, one deck boy, engineer, two hre-
men. captain, clerk, superintendent wheel
man, superintendent's clerk, porter, steward
and cook. The crew did their duty like men,
and few lost their presence of mind. You
can imagine how cool they were, when the
clerk, who was collecting fares, as soon as
he realized that the boat was on fire, returned
to his Office and secured all the money he had
left there. Among our passengers were Chas.
A. Dana, Richard o. Gorham, S. l.. nj. Bar
low, one or two of the Harper publishers
anG number of other gentlemen whose
names cannot recolIect, but who are IN