New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-05
PANIC ON A STEAMBOAT.
THE NEwBURGH ON FIRE IN THE HUDSON
RIVER
DISASTER AvERTED BY THE PROMPT ACTION
OF THE CAPTA1N-THE sIEANE" NUNS
INTO A PIER AT FIFTY -EIGHTH-sr'
AND THE FLAMES ARE PUI


The forethought, calmness and courage OF Cap
tain James Beattie, of the river steamer New
hrrob ovorted last evening what might easily
have been one of the most fatal steamboat nres
in the history of river navigation. The screw
steamboat Newburgh, belonging to the Homer
Ramdess Transportation Company of NewburS.
and carving freight and passengers between that
place and New-York took fire last night while on
hcr pnriver. massage. and only by the courageous
efforts Of the captain and crew and the prompt
aid Of the river Ere squads she saved from
destruction. The boat left PIER No. 35
North River. at Franklin-st, at 3
o'clock carving large quantity Of
drv.coods groceries, miscellaneous stores and
other general merchandise; about sixty passengers
and crew of thirty.three under the command OF
Cantain James Beattie and Chief Officer Merritt
Directly the boat started the passengers crowded
on "a the upper deck enjoying the beauty of the
uipht and the scenes along the river side; leav-
ing the cabins and saloons, winch were under
the main deck, almost deserted
The boat had been under way only half
bonr when. as She was passing Thirtieth-st,
Young man rushed TO the upper deck and ex-
claimed that a fire had broken out in the fore
cabin Some of the young mans friends merely
laughed and persuaded the other passengers that
he was playing a joke on them. Chief
Engineer John Capls heard of the report, but took
no heed of il at first. few minutes afterward,
however it occurred TO him as matter OF pre-
caution to look into the cabin What lac saw
there caused him TO rush wildly out sounding
an alarm that penetrated to every part of the boat
The whole of the after part OF the fore csDln was
ablaze Capis tried 10 get into the cabin, but
was forced back, choked by the smoke and blinded
fhraa
buckets of water and threw them into the cabin,
irving TO extinguish the burning bulkhedds. In
another moment the captain and crew were at
work on the flames with couple Of fire hose.
All this while the boat speeding along,
and when she had reached Fiftieth-st. the captain
found that the fire was steadily gaining on him.
.If the boat had reached Manhattanvile before the
fire was discovered" he said afterward nothing
could have saved her. and we must have per
ished"
Just after passing Fiftieth-st the river tug
Interstate came along and poured two streams
Of water on the boat. Up to this time the pas
sengers, though much agitated, had behaved with
admirable coolness the women. usual. setting
he example TO their male companions, when a
negro began 20 scream wildly and fell on his knees
praying in loud tone of voice. instantly
violent panic took possession of the passengers.
Men ran wildly up and down the deck utterne
wild cries while above the din could be heard the
shrieks and cries of the women Captain Beatte
who had givn the order to put into the MY,
eighth.st unfinished pier, ran on 10 the deck ana
with the greatest ficulty succeeded IN quctnG
the pass, myers As soon the boat reached the
pier Waterman, Berry, of the city Dock Depart,
ment ran off and gave tie alarm, ana
i'm the hrieiest space OF time HOOK
and Ladder Company No. q, from Forty
eighth.st and Eighth-ave and the river
fre-b boats Gopher Mills and HaVemcyer, ana me
police patrol boat We're the scene, ana afler
hout two hours work succeeded in getting the
flames which fortunately had not extended ne
vond the cabin, under control.
In the meantime the tug Manhattan had taken
off many of the passengers, while others landed
bv tbe pier being compelled to walk along narrow
blanks a few inches wide. The majority OF them
went to Newburg by the West Shore road.
Whsn the fire was under control the captain
was able to report that there had been no loss
of life, or even injury of any kind. The caDln
is Of course. destroyed. and a small part OF the
freight is injured by water. The origin OF the
fire which broke out in q diSuscd stateroom OF
he cabin, is not known, but will probably be
traced 10 the overhcating of boiler.
The Newburgh, which is 81 0 feet long, ~ feet
beam and 100 tons net was built at Philadelphia
in $50 by Neafe d Levy. She is said to he one
Of the fastest boats on The river, holding the
record Of 3 hours Is minutes for sixty miles
without stops The damage. which Is covered by
insurance, is estimated at $4,000.