The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-20
WHEN
A MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
Burning of a Brooklyn Pier with
Three Vessels and Cargoes.
Several Lives Lost-A Dozen Firemen In
jured by a Falling Roof-Thieves Steal
What the Fire Spared.

New York, July 19.-About 1890 o'clock
this morning spark from an engine fell
into pile of jute which had just been land
ed on Harbeek's dock from the shipLaw-
renee E. Delap, from Calcutta. The dock
was filled with hemp, jute and coffee. The
flames spread with incredible rapidity, and
in few minutes the entire dock was ablaze.
The Delap was the first vessel to catch IRE,
and all her rigging was burned before she
could be towed out. Next to her on the
south side of the dock was the ship Persever-
ance, also from Calcutta. which arrived yes
terday and on the north side lay the ship
Colonel Adams, from Calcutta; to both of
these vessels the flames communicated and
the crews jumped overheard for safety. In
the meantime the general alarm
had been sent out and five
steamers and four hook and ladder trucks
were soon on the spot. When the fremen
reached the docks the supports of the roof
gave way and the roof fell in with a terrific
crash, burying over dozen firemen and
dock hands beneath the ruins. A rescuing
party was quickly formed, and the men
dragged out from the blazing rafters. None
are dead, but all are more or less burned and
bruised. Firemen MCNAMARA, Mcdonald
and McDougal of hook and ladder truck No.
3, were injured seriously. A commotion just
then occurred in the crowd, and the chief OF
the battalion gave orders to clear the dock
as the ship Lawrence Delap, which was now
on fire above and below, contained $4,000
bags OF saltpetre, and rush
was made by the crowd to the
further end of the dock. While this was
going on the hosting derrick, from which
the supports had been burned, fell over on
the warf with crash, knocking two dock
men overheard. Custom-house Inspector
Harradan, in attempting to escape from the
snip Colonel Adams, was severely burned
about the face and hands. The ships
Perseverance and Colonel Adams had by this
time been towed far out in the stream and
tugs poured streams into their holds. The
efforts of the fremen were mainly directed
toward extinguishing the flames on board
the Lawrence f. Delap, on which it was
mentarily feared an explosion would take
place. AT 11:30 she was still blazing fiercelv,
but the extent of the losses is unknown, but
are undoubtedly very heavy. The district
officer at Harbeck's dock stated that the cap
tain of the Lawrence E. Delap, with his wife
and three children, are reported drowned,
and one sailor killed outright by falling tim
bers. Three men were seen to throw the
trunk of Captain Grove, of the ship Law
renee Delap, overheard, containing $4,000
worth OF iewelry belonging to his wife 1t
was picked up by river thieves who rihed it.
The wife and child of Captain Grove were
saved
Twelve firemen were badly injured by the
falling in of the burning roof of the pier. but
only one is thought to be fatally hurt
The ship Delap burned to the waters edge.
She was valued, with her cargo at $4,000
The ship Colonel Adams burned at the pier,
and the bark Perseverance hoated into the
stream and burned TO the waters edge. The
total loss is now estimated at 81, 100000.