The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-02
THE NEW YORK DOCK FIRE
Further Details of the Burning of the
Docks of the Inman Line.


burning. Most OF the buildings On the pier
and their contents are now consumed. The
loss is roughly estimated at 81 900, 900. The.
steamer Egypt, of the National line, which
was lying at the pier, caught fire, and she
was towed out into the stream and the flames
extinguished after she had been greatly dam
aged, The fire department and two fire.
boats are at work on the flames.
OF the large covered sheds on the pier
nothing remains save fragments OF the
framework at the entrance that totter in the
wind and threaten to fall at any moment.
The pier itself, with all upon it, is burned
down to the piles upon which the structure
rests. Along the waters edge the flames are
yet playing hide-and-seek among the wreck,
and licking up the remnants of $1,000, 900
bonfire Great throngs of people surround
the scene of desolation.
The National Line steamer, Egypt, lies out
in midstream, with her port side scorched
and her rigging and standing gear burned
and blackened. Beyond the pier itself
and its contents the loss proved incon-
siderable The Egypt is made of iron,
and 81 900 or $1,000 will mend her injury.
In twenty four hours she will be in sailing
order.
The wind blew directly in from the river
and carried the smoke and ashes in over the
city, to the embarrassment of the fremen
but to the advantage of the surrounding
shipping. which that fact saved from destruc-
ton. The Savannah steamer, Chattahoochee,
that lay at pier 49, exposed to the full ex-
tent of the flames was hardly scorched, its
crew being on hand with hose and pumps.
The Ocean Steamship Company's dock was
not damaged at all. At the pier on the
north, No. 81, full-rigged ship Henry,
German vessel was unloading soda ash.
She caught fire and was towed out in the
river with her rigging ahame. However,
she is not badly damaged and was towed
over on the flats, where she lies to-day.
The Jersey, an Erie barge, loaded with
-four, was caught in the slip, and vain efforts
made to tow 1t out, butt still remains where
it was The woodwork on deck caught fire
and the deck-load OF flour in bags was partly
burned.
On the bulkhead at the end of the pier a
large quantity of crockery in crates, carboys
of acid and other merchandise was stored.
When the saving of the burning pier was
given mp as hopeless task. the firemen con-
lection OF the goods. and succeeded well.
Catching fire again and again, the bulk of the
merchandise was nevertheless saved. About
sixty 'longshoremen were at work on the
stearm end of the pier unloading the Egypt
when the fire broke out 1t was feared that
some of these had been burned. This fear
has in great measure been dispelled this
morning, by the statement of the engineer
who discovered and fought the fire till the
firemen cane.
1t is still possible that some may have been
caught and have lost their lives, but it is not
probable. The engineer on the pier is Amos
Smith. He was in the engine-room in the
extreme end of the pier, attending to his
duties when the fire broke out and was the
first to discover it. He fought the flames for
fully quarter of an hour, and would have
been the last who left the pier. His hands
and face are burned and his hair and half the
eyebrows scorched.
THE LOSSES AND INSURANCE
Engineer Smith made a statement describ-
ing the manner in which the men escaped,
which shows that they had narrow one.
He did everything possible, with the help of
Others to subdue the flames, but finding it
was useless, he gave warning to those on the
pier to leave. He crawled out to the street
by placing his hands on the rail OF the track
which runs from the end of the pier. He
believes all got out.
The insurance policies held by the dock
department on the buildings on the pier
amount to 100000. These policies were
assigned by Inman to the dock de-
partnIent as security for the lease
held by them on the pier from the
dock department. The lease is for ten
years. and dates from June i, 1881. The
pier itself, which is the nnderstructure, it is
stated, is not insured, and the damage to it
will not amount to much, unless the piles
should be destroyed by fire The cost of the
shed on the pier is said to have been between
$4,000 and 100000 Superintendent Brews-
ter, of the Inman dock, stated that the total
loss will amount to at least $500, 600 He be-
lieved the company was partially insured on
the pier, which was built only last year at q
cost of $l50,0O0 All the books papers and
documents are gone. The only property on
the dock, with the exception of the Egypt's
cargo, consisted of old ropes sails and lum-
ber He thought nearly all the cargo OF the
Egypt had been unloaded.
Mr.. w. j. Hurst, of the National Line Com
pany. said the Egypt was not so much dam
aged as might have been expected. Her
sails and running gear were all burned
away; her masts and standing rigging, being
OF iron, remain intact. The vessel was
slightly damaged below by water. She
will be hauled into the White Star pier
to-day, and her cargo fully DISCHARGED, after
which she will be thoroughly overhaued
The National Line Company does not insure
its vessels and extra precautions are there
fore taken to prevent fires. The losses on
the cargo, which was a general one, will
fall upon the consignees il they were unin-
sured.
Alta meeting of the Board of Fire Under
writers to-day committees were appointed
to adjust the losses on the pier. building
machinery and merchandise. The amount
of insurance on the pier is $4,000: ma
chinery S21 600 and merchandise $3.50 600
Proposed New Excise Law.
ALBANY, N. Y, Feb 1.-The New York
and Kings counties delegations in the Legis-
lature have agreed upon an excise bill for
New York and BROOKLYN The three-hed