Daily Republican., 1881-07-08
BURNING ON THERIvER.
An Oil.I.aden Bark struck by
Lightning Near Delaware City
LOoe Of Life.

/
Particulars reached Wilmington this
morning of the burning of the British
bark Beatrice, Captain Stewart, loaded
with oil, which was struck by lightning
yesterday evening abOut o'clock while
off Eeedy Island, near Fort Della ware,
and with her cargo was entirely con-
sumed by lire, One life was lost and
four men seriously injured.
A terrible thunderstorm arouse about
fifteen minutes before 7o'clock, and
ragged with the greatest fury for nearly
three quarters of an hour. 1t rained
here at the same time, but there was no
laundering and lightning. Indications
of a heavy STERN was observed to the
south Of the city, however, at the time
The Beatrice was bound for Rouen,
and was being towed down the river by
i the tug Startie. The storm came up
from the northeast, and the rain fell in
torrents for ter minutes before the light
ming appeared. The bark was directly in
the storm center and when it broke her
miZZenlnast was struck and shattered.
| The fluid ran down the mast into the
hold, and IN au instant fred the intlam-
mable cargo.
A terrible explosion followed a few
moments later, and the main hatch was
| blown into the river and with it sailor
who Immediately sank and was lrown-
ed. A column of flame shot high into
the air aud.the standing rigging and
masts were wrapped in flames.
The plot, Israel Hughes, was stand
ing in the after part OF the vessel when
the explosion occurred. A yawl boat
was blown bodily into the river, and in
its passage struck him on one leg and
broke it. Captain Stewart, the mate,
and two sailors had some Of the flying
timber hurled against them and all Of
them were Injured about the head and
chest. As soon as the vessel took fire
the tug cut her tow.line and steamed
with ali speed to the ill-tated craft. The
pilot was found clinging to a rope, with
his body halt in the water, and he was
rescued when just ready to drop into
| the river from exhaustion. The rest of
the crew and the Captain were together
in the after part OF the vessel, to which
| the flames had not yet extended. Tney
We're taken of and put on hoard the
tug.
The miZZeninaSt was shattered from
top to bottom, and where the lightning
had entered the hold IA ragged hole was
torn in rhe deck. The fire gained such
headway that in very short time from
, the moment she was struck the bark
was II dlS,nantIed hulk. The tug Inca,
formerly OF Wilmington bound for Phil
adelphia, was within q few miles OF
Reedy Island when the ire broke out.
She steamed RAPIDLY up to the burning
craft and attempted to eXtinguish the
fire, hut without success. When the tug
resumed her way mp the river the Beat
rice had turned or her side and was
sinking rapidly.
\ GENT .ln.tn, who was on the river
at the time reached here this morning.
| He said the storm was the most terrible
he had ever SEEN III twenty years. 81
passed the burning bark coming up IT,
night" SAID he, ''ahd then she was
going fast. 1t seems to me that she
must have been directly in the path OF
the gale, which was simply terrific.
never remember OF seeing such a storm
in nay life before. 1t was short bu1
furious. The thunder and lightning
were tr:ehtlul and feared for a while
that we might be struck ourselves.
did not stop to do anything for the
burning vessel as | saw the tug there
At any rate, nothing could be done to
her wneu we passed, aS she was burn
ing to the waters edge.