National Republican., 1883-07-20
BLAZING SHIPS.
Three Vessels Burned to the Waters Edge at
Their Docks in East River.
Twelve Fircmen Buried Under Burning
Debris, Hut All are Rescued Alive.

New York, July 19.-Atabout 1890 o'clock
this morning a spark from an engine fell into
a pile of iuto, which had just been landed
on Harbeck's dock from the ship Lawrence
f. Delap, from Calcutta. The dock was filed
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 fire, 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 Perseverance, also
from Calcutta, which arrived yesterday, and
on the north side lay the ship Col Adams
from Calcutta. To both of these vessels tho
flames were communicated, and the
crews jumped overheard for safety.
In the meantime 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 dock, the supports of the roof
gave way, and the roof fell in with terrific
crash, burying overa dozen firemen and dock
hands beneath the ruins. A rescuing party
was quickly formed, and the men were drag
ged out from the blazing rafters. None were
killed outright, but all were more or less
burned or bruised. Firemen Mcnamara Me-
Donald. and McDougall, of hook and ladder
truck No. 3, were injured seriously about the
body. Ambulances were summoned, and the
surgeons applied oil to the burns of the men
and otherwise relieved their sufierings. A
commotion just then occurred in the crowd
and the chief of battalion gave orders to clear
the dock, rs the ship Lawrence Delap, which
was now on fire above and below. contained
$500 bags of salt peter. A rush was made by
the crowd to the further end of the dock.
While all this was going on a hosting der
rick from which the supports had been
burned fell over on the wharf with q crash,
knocking two dock men over board and mar
rowly missing fire engine stationed on the
wharf Custom House Inspector Handen, in
attempting to escape from the ship, Colonel
Adams, was severely burned about tho face
and hands, but reached tho dock safely. In
spector Lamper also narrowly escaped being
burned to death. The ships Perseverance and
Colonel Adams had by this time been towed
far out in the stream, and the tugs poured
streams of water into their holds. The efforts
of the fremen were mainly directed to ex-
tinguishing the flames on board the Lawrence
II. Delap on which it was momentarily
feared an explosion would take place. At
1130 she was still blazing fiercely, but the
salt peter in her hold had not exploded.
- District Officer A. B. Douglass and his as
sistant, Mr.. Cole, could not state the extent
of the losses, but said they would undoubt-
edly be very heavy. The steamer Alvena, OF
JuC AJlaS llue lay alOnRblue NaUSOnS uOCh
adjoining Harbeck's when the fire broke out,
but she was towed out in safety.
The district officer at Harbeck S dock stated
that the captain CT the vessel Lawrence f.
Delap, with his wife and three children, were
reported to have been drowned in leaving
the vessel. Two dock hands were reported
drowned and one sailor killed outright by
| falling timbers.
= Three men were seen to throw the trunk
of Capt. Grove, of the ship Lawrence Delap
overheard containing $4,000 and 1000 worth
of jcwelry belonging to his wife. 1t wa:
picked up by river thieves, who rifled it
| The wife and child of Capt. Grove were saved
Twelve tiremen were badly injured by the
| falling in Of tho burning roof Of the pier, but
only one is thought to be fatally hurt. The
ship Delap was burned to the waters edge
She was valued with her cargo at S150,00O
The ship Col. Adams was burned at the pier
The bark Perseverance hoated into the stream
| and burned to the waters edge. The tota
loss by the fire will aggregate over 81 ,000,00
The cargo on the Lawrence Delap belong
to Rollie Brothers, merchants of this city, an(
consists of hides, salt peter, and jute. TIL,
merchandise on the other vessels was thu
same The vessels belonged to English capi
taists, and were worth about $4,000 each
making 100000. The loss on the cargoe
will be about 100000, the loss on the pe
about $4,000. Mr.. Bartlett's loss about $50,
900, the loss on the lighter $1,000, the loss OF
merchandise on the pier $50, 600, loss on iut,
on the lighter $4,000, making total loss o
| about 5000 900,