The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-26
Dreadful Catastronhe I

offer single thought where an extended article
would perhaps, find neither room nor readers
Dreadful Catastrophe!
STEAMER ROYAL TAR BURNT. THIRrY-Two
LIVES LOST.
From The Weekly Eastern Argus Nov. l.
1886.
Intelligence was received in town on Friday
evening Of the entire destruction by fire of the
steamer Royal Tar on her passage from ST.
John, n. b. to Portland Maine The particu-
lars as far as we have been able to ascertain
them are As folows-having been gathered from
Joseph T. Sherwood, Esq. of Portland. Me-,
who was on board and who barely escaped with
life. The Royal Tar having on board about
ninety persons besides the crew, mostly emf
grants, and caravan of wild animals, when
near Fox Islands, at the mouth of the Penob-
scot river, on Tuesday last about , O'Clock p. NJ.
was discovered to be on fire. The fire caught
over the boiler, and spread with great rapidity.
AS soon as the accident became known there
was great cOmmOt0n on board, each one strv-
ing to get possession of the boats. The boats
not being large enough to contain the whole.
many jumped overheard clinging to ropes and
whatever articles came in their way, until they
were picked up or drowned. The cutter on The
Castine station was happily near by, and imme-
diateIy went to the relief of the sufferers. The
caravan which WAS on board was entirely lost
excepting The elephant, who resisted all efforts
to drive him overheard until the fire became
very hot when be went over, and when last
seen was swimming for the shore. Fears were
entertained on the reception of the news that
several sentIeilen belonging to this city had
been lost, and great excitement existed here in
consequence, but we are happy TO be able to
state that no one was lost belonging to this uty.
-Four of those drowned We're male cabin pas
sengers-one of them. it is said, belonged TO
Boston-al>o four Of the caravan keepers, and
four of the crew. The remainder of the unfor-
tunate sufferers were emigrant>. Much proper
ty was lost, particularly in money. One gentle
man, Capt. Edward Waite of Portland, had
about $4,000 entrusted to him, which was lost.
Ii is said that Capt W. secured himself and
trunk on the steps Of the boat, until the rope TO
which they We're attached was burnt off. when
still retaining possession of his treasure, he
swan TO another part of the steamer. where he
sustained himself and properly until cabin
passenger, Il lady, toattd near him, when be let
90 his trunk and seized and sustained the yo-
man lutil they were both saved The amount
of sursie and notes lost j, NOT les, than $40 600
One OF the caravan keepers tied $3.50 in specie
| about his person, jumped overheard and was
drowned The scene on board bcggars ,Ie,crip-
ton Many passengers We're much fright
ened that they Jumped overheard, some of th,m
mothers with their infants la>hed to them.
Only one person. an elderly woman, was burn
ed-the remainder of the b were drowned.
The sea WAS running very high, which render
ed the efforts TO save The sufferers more difficult.
Had the accident occurred in the night the loss
of life must have been much greater The boat
at the time of the discovery of the fire wa, ut
anchor for the purpose of filling her boilers,
about mile and 4 half from land, the wind
blowing of. The anchor was Immediately cut
away, Il sail hoi>ted, and every Effort made 10
run her ashore but as the steam had been
blown of, that end could not be accomplished.
lue hre was communicates TO the boat from
the boilers winch had been suffered to get red
not. and in which the water was very low at
The time. some oI the above facts may not be
strictly correct IN all their details. bui khoWin8
the intense anxiety OF the pubic to learn the
particulars, we have gwen the facts furnished
10y capt sherwood which arg doubtless correct
we sr"ii uou'''eNS 'c "''e u give IuI'nei par
'''u'"'s "oiio"H'
h'N' oi passengers ioS' NI' = fleFce' Mf. D
'"'l' WI "a Nul'N' ''4' l. hH"n' hi"'9
honoSn' MdltE om'h ana thllu' ttSSE coeh-
l"h' Mary Ca'oh' Ch'' CURTAIN VIE anu chHu'
MARY hoSah' N'cholas Ihumka' lhomas Ma
"ohe4' bchh'N y br'eh' MARY flcdi'!' ram!
hFloh' o"hh hoSah' tllza Hogan. tre"
loS'' ohs' foru' seaman Johh Day do' Mary
Burr, stewardesS. List of passengers saved:
J. T.. Sherwood. Esq. Mr.. Owen NJ Glueley
n. r,h,, p;x N pa,,a. NJ ,1
w. ''"H "'7o'' hl' ~ 0''Ni' WI 1h"Oio"
Garrison, MI John Hammond, Miss Mary Lin-
ton, Mr.. John Amley, Mr.. James H. Fowler,
Mr. u,,,.,, Euuo,. NJ ,rIr,,,. ,,,,o. =, L,,1
i' - :" "''0'' 'i' A"N''N" "'''i' " u"
ler, MI. ). w heeler, Mr, IN. happ, MI. j.
Marmon Mr. NJ Lourv Mr. Uilherty Mr.
1, NJ, A., ~,
9'eSe"s' WI Icy 'oi' MI ooi son' WI burgess
Mr.. Hodges, Mr.. Ganson. Mr.. Willouby, Mr..
Potter Owen Doberty Mary Nuldoon Jnan
,r.; M, vt; D ,,,,
'.A't''' ""'S !'"i''n' vt ioole' nieu'el
Moore, Mchael Dortan, John Dorian, \. Ho-
gan, Mr.. Mahonev, MIR. Mu>rom, Mr. HowaIl,
Ihr rur,or ,.ut L. ui,o NJ G,
0''' o"f' M "''o' ii' oeoiso
Eaton, MIR. Harrison, Miles Murphy, Mr.. Ma
honey Crew saved: Thomas Reed, waiter;
shall. engineer: J. Kehoe. ID do; Mr.. Kthoe.