The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-02
ANOTHER MARINE DISASTER.
Destruction by Fire Of the Steamer
Seavanahaka,N Near New York City
Fifty Lives Lost.


Seavanahaka, Near New York City
Fifty Lives Lost.
The steamer Seawanahaka, plying on Long
Island sound, between New York city and Glen
Cove, took fire OH the afternoon of the 28th
ult., when off Randall's island, and burned to
the waters edge. There were about 500 pass
engers on board 450 were saved by passing
steamers, but the remainder either jumped over
board and were drowned, or remained on the
boat and persisted by fire. Charles A. Dana, of
the New York Sat,a and two Of the Harper Broth
ers were among the rescusd passengers From
the Geographic accounts Of the disaster printed
IN the metropolitan press, we CLEAN the follow
ing particulars The Seawanahaka, one of the
fastest and trimmest steamers running out of
New York, left her dock at Ais o'clock p. M,
her deck well crowded. Many were returning
to their country residences, and others were
leaving town to escape the heat of the city, and
spend the night in the cool villages along the
sound. When off College point, in the sound
few miles from the city, cloud of thick
dark smoke suddenly rose through the
grating near the pilot-house. It was first
thought that the smoke came from the engine
room, and no danger was for the moment ap.
pretended; but, before the passengers had re-
| covered from their first surprise, flames shot
up through the grating, crept around the pilot
house, attacked the dry, infiammable deck, and
spread with wonderful speed i'll all directions
The Captain was in the pilot-house, and was
first to see the danger to which his human
freight was so unexpectedly exposed.
The cry "The boats on fire. was raised. and
in an instant the steamer was the scene of ap-
palling confusion. A rush was made for the
lockers in which the -preservers were kept
Many of the men retained their presence of
mind, and aided the officers of the steamer in
equipping the women and children with pre-
servers. The voice of the Captain was
heard above the din and confusion coun
selling the people to maintain order, but order
was out of the question, and, although the
Captain and his crew were said to have acted
with frmness and celebrity it was beyond their
power to control the panic-stricken crowd. The
tire-extinguishing apparatus was set at work,
but in vain. The flames swept the steamer
| amidships, and spread both ways. Most of the
passengers huddled together toward the for
ward end of the boat. The port side was all
ablaze, but on the starboard there was still
9 narrow space along which the passengers
thronged toward the bow.
When it became certain that the steamer was
doomed heartrending scene of terror ensued
Mothers clasped their children to their breasts
and sprung overheard with them. Capt
Smith ordered his boats lowered, and headed
the vessel, under full head of steam, for the
low land at the north end of Wards island
The steamer Granite State was behind the
Seawanahaka when she caught fire, and her
boats were at once lowered, and many persons
on the water were picked up. The tug
Refuge and a score of row-boats were soon
around the blazing steamer, which kept moving
toward the island. It was discovered that
the water was too shallow to permit land
ing at Wards island, and the vessels head
was turned toward the Sunken Meadows, q
strip of marshy ground on the south side
of Randal's island. There the Seawanahaka
was run aground. A hundred people in the
tug and row-boats were picking up the passen-
gers in the water. The persons who appeared
to be dead were at first passed by, in order that
speedier succor might be given to the others. It
is feared that many were lost of whom no rec
ord has yet been obtained, and that their bodies
drifted out into the sound with the tide.
DR.. A. E. Mcdonald of the Ward Island Insane
Asylum, says that when he saw people jumping
from the steamer he ordered force of 500 par
TALLY insane men, who were working on the
farm near the shore, to save what lives they
could. Many of them jumped into the water
y