The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-29
BURNED AND DROWNED.
A Terrible Disaster on
Long Island Sound.
A CROWDED STEAMER TAKES
FIRE
And Burns to the Waters Edge.
ABOUT 40 PERSONS DROWN
ED OR BURNED TO DEATH.
Statement of Eye Witnesses Of
the Scene.

the Scene.
COLLEGE POINT, L. l., June 2S.-Steamer
Seawauhaka, running between New York and
Roslyn, L. l.. and touching at various inter-
mediate points generally carrying large
number of passengers which left New York
at O'Clock, was burned to the waters edge
off College Point at 5 O'Clock this afternoon.
Ste amboat Osseo saved the majority of the
passengers although about 40 were lost
SECOND DIsPATcH.]
NEW YORK, June 2S.-Steamboat Seawau-
haka which ran from Peck Slip up the sound
to Glen Cove, L. l., took fire at 40 o'clock
this afternoon while off Randall's Island, East
River. The fire was caused by an explosion in
the engine room and the middle of the steam
boat was soon in flames. The pilot, Charles
Smith, remained at his post until nearly
vessel on sunken meadow adjoining the
Island. Many persons sprang overheard and
were drowned while many others in the stern
of the vessel could not get off and were burned
to death.
OF 500 persons supposed to have been on
board fifty are believed to have persisted. The
bodies of about thirty dead persons were re-
covered. Only those of a Mr.. Debevoise, a
wealthy gentleman, residence unknown, and
Mary Reed, young woman, were identified.
Among the persons of prominence known to
be on board were Charles A. Dana, editor of
the New York Sun, S. NJ L. Barlow, Col. W.
r. Chase and R. III. Rochester, Treasurer of
the Western Union Telegraph Company all of
whom are safe. The vessel was burned to the
waters edge and will be total loss.
THIRD DISPATCH.
A passenger says that there were $50 passen-
gers on board. All went we'll until the
steamer passed He'll Gate when the fire alarm
rang and the flames were seen bursting
through the pilot house. Officers and crew
ger, and the boat was headed for Randall's
Island. She grounded on a bar 200 feet from
the shore. Steamer Granite State, of the
Hartford line, which was passing, went to the
assistance of the Seawauhaka and picked up
thirteen living passengers and one dead body
Osseo picked up the majority of the passengers
and proceeded to College Point. Many of tho
passengers unprovided with life preserver
were saved by clinging to the guards, paddles
and other portions of the burning steamer
Four bodies are thus far known to have been
the former is that of Albert Skidmore, mem.
Der of an old Long Island family. The body
was brought to this city This informant ex-
presses the belief that the loss of life is about
thirty.
Charles Abel, one of the firemen, was found
tonight on the pier at the foot of Peck slip,
from which the Seawauhaka went at 4.15
o'clock. He said: Made ourIlanding at foot of SD
street at 4.30, and it was about fifteen minutes
later when we reached little He'll Gate. was
sitting in the port gangway after having start
ed the bridge pump, when heard a noise, and
on looking around saw fire pouring out of the
freroom. | got up and tried to make my way
into flrnrOOno f1qnpc
much for me. We were just off Randalls
Island, and running forward 1 yelled to the
captain, who was at the wheel, to head for
shore, but he shouted back that he could not.
then ran into the cabins forward and urged
The steward and passengers to save themselves
They did not suspect the vessel was on fire
then as no smoke or flames were blown in that
direction At that time the woodwork Of the
vessel about her centre was burning like finder
and flames were making their way toward
both ends of the boat.
There were probably about 300 persons on
,oard The men were jumping from the hur-
'icane deck into the water, and large num-
Der of terrified children and women were hud-
lied near the stern of the boat. 1 climbed
'ver the rail near the bow, and several men
almost jumped upon me before took to the
water to save myself. I found a life preserver
1oating near me and was going to put it on
when a man clutched it and 1, knowing tina.
'ould SWIM and thinking he could not, let him
lave it and swan for Wards Island, which L
cached, and then helped to man boat and
assisted in picking up passengers in the water.
The Seawauhaka was finally beached on
Sandall'S Island but burned to the waters
dge.
Capt. Charles P. Smith was at the wheel
nd stuck to his post to the last. His face and
,ody were badly burned. Small boats came to
he rescue from every direction. Steamboats,
frantic State, Osseo, Minnehannock andSylvan
How, bod hAok 4l
ance. Many of the children on board had
heir clothing catch fire, and some of them
we're severely burned. I carried lamp in my
land into the the tank room where / changed
ny clothes, brought back the lamp into the
ire room and set it down. 1 am sure the fire
ould not have originated from the lamp as
he oil would not explode nor burn without
vick. I cannot imagine what caused the fire.
Engineer Weeks put on full head of steam,
m told, in response to a signal from the
aptain and then climbed up among the
machinery and was seen standing on the upper
eek trying to raise the valves so that the
team could escape and avert an explosion.
We never carried over "a pounds of steam.
Engineer Weeks son was fireman on the
oat, and at the time the fire started was
7atching the steam and water indicators The
My members of the crew whom understand
re missing are Josiah Hasbrouck and his
randson Charles Hasbrouck. We had about
remen, captain, clerk, superintendent wheel
Ian, superintendent's clerk, porter, steward
nd cook. Crew did their duty like men, and
9w OF them lost presence of mind. You can
nagine how cool they were when the clerk,
Tho was collecting fares, as soon as he realiz-
d the boat was on fire, returned to the
ftice and secured all the money he had
ut there. Among the passengers were
harles A. Dana of the Sun, Richard O'Gor-
ian, s. L. M. Barlow the distinguished law
er, one or two of Harpers. publishers, and
lumber of other gentlemen whose names 1
annot recollect, but who are in the habit of
DING to their homes along Long Island Sound
y our boat. All the gentlemen have named
believe escaped. The vessel burned like tin
er after the flames started and there was a
srrible scene. Shrieking women and children
uddled aft until some Of their clothes caught
re, and those on the forward deck were
'om communicating with or going
} the rescue of their female
,latives and friends by the flames which
armed fiercely about the centre of the boat
lr: Morris, our porter, saw child lying on
S back and was going to jump overheard to
I'VE it when frantic woman clutched his arm
aging You are a strong man and woman
'ithout any friends on board, for Gods sake
clip me-" The porter left the child to itself,
believe, and saved the woman. The only
ne Of the Seawauhaka's boats got out was
ne with canvas fastened over 1t. After the
anvas was got off the body of child about
vo years old was found lying in some water
| the bottom of the boat. No one seemed to
now how it got there. After got on Ran
all's Island was almost exhausted, but the
octors revived me by pouring some liquor
own my throat. L saw several who went over
inward 60 under the paddle wheels.
At midnight II bodies-nine adults, one
lild and two babies, had been brought to the
lorgue at Bellevue Hospital.
A number of persons who had relatives and
lends on the Seawauhaka were in waiting,
nd the scene as the bodies were carried in
ON the boats and the coffins opened was
heartrending one. One old gentleman, Mr..
eBevois Of Brooklyn, was frantic with grief
hen he identified the body of his son. The
ody of a beautiful young woman about 20 was
entifed as Mary Reed, residence unknown.
1t is reported that there are about fifteen
odies on Randall's Island and number on
4 Long Island shore. About forty are sup
osed to have persisted in all. 1t is known
'me of the crew did not do their duty, but
lmped into the river and swan ashore
rvsterfoi1s Disannearanca OF Nor11;oh