New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
FERRY-BOAT IN FLAMES.
THE GARDEN CITY PARTLY DESTROYED.

FIRE BREAKS OUT JUST AFTER SHE LEAVES HER
sLIP-THE LOSS $4,000.
The ferry-boat Garden City, running from James
slip to Long Island City, left her dock in New-York
at 1875 q. IN. yesterday, having on board about
thirty passengers and four double and four single
teams. The boat is double-decker, having a cabin
on the hurricane deck. The turn up the river had
been made, and the boat was opposite pier
No. 40, at Pike-st., when James Rogers,
deck hand, told Pilot Cornelius Nelson
that he smelled something burning. Rogers was
ordered to go below and investigate. When he
reached the upper cabin little negro girl who was
playing there, began screaming Fire, Firep at
the top of her voice. pointing to flames breaking out
around the smoke-stack. Rogers gave the alarm
and rushed for the hose. Captain Nelson, hearing
the ALARM turned and saw the canvas on the hurri-
deck near the smOke-stack beginning to smoke'
He Immediately signalled the engineer to reverse the
engines, telling him through the speaking tube to
"back fast" He then ordered the deckhands to
remove the pin which held the forward rudder in
place, in order that he might steer the boat back
wards to her slip. In the excitement the pin could
not be withdrawn, and the boat steamed rapidly
back, controlled only by her padde-wheels. A
sharp wind was blowing and the flames spread with
great rapidity eating their way down through the
saloon into the centre-hOuse and spreading for
ward, filling the cabins with dense smoke. There
was considerable alarm among the passen-
gers Women rushed to the windows of
the cabins and waved their shawls |;
men shouted, children screamed all was confusion.
The horses on the main deck became as uumanage-
able as their drivers were excited. Traces cut,
brides broken, collars loosened; everything was
done which might enable the animals to escape if
the worst should come.
Meantime Captain Nelson and Samuel Facey, the
engineer. stood at their posts, and through their
efforts the Garden City WAS driven toward her
slip She struck below 1t, however, striking
the long rack of the Roosevelt Ferry, close
to the foot of the Bridge tower. Her impetus,
when she struck this. sent her with
sharp turn upon the Idaho of the Roosevelt Street
Ferry. The passengers, who had all descended TO
the main deck, were quickly transferred, Us were
also three horses. Captain Nelson then attempted
to leave the hurricane deck. His first step on the
canvas sent his foot through far as his knee.
Scramblmg up somewhat hurt. he made for the end
of the boat, and by succession OF leaps, reached
ly bruising if not breaking it; Facey, the en-
gineer who did not leave his post until the
boat, was brought to a stop, gTasped the
the flames up the gangway. His shirt was burned
of, and his head and hands were terribly blistered
He had left James Reel, the fireman, opening the
The flames increased and Reel given up for lost
He was found half an hour after cngng to the IRON
braces outside and under the deck, Just out lhe
water. He had crawled through port hole II
inches squaIe. boat took him off.
The Garden City was pushed into her slip by
tugs, when she was given over to the fremen. All
her cabin structure was total wreck, but her
main-deck and hull uniujured. The loss is
estimated at $50, 900. She valued at 100000
and insured for $4,000 in the North British lnsur-
ance Company. She was towed for repairs
to John RoGchs ship yard, where she was
built in 1872. The Garden City was con-
sidered one of the strongest boats on the East
River A III the trucks eXceut two DESTROYED
and four horses are missing. Three animals stood
on the end Of the boat till the fire put out,
when they were led to the shore.
With the exception of the Huntington, which
was destroyed by fire about years ago, this line
has not lost boat. The origin of the fire yester-
pay is unknown.