The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-01
BURNED TO HER DECK.
THE STEAMER ct. NICHOLAS AL
MOST A TOTAL LOSS.


Caught by the Flsmes-The Origin
OF the Fire Unknown-The Fire De-
partment's Good Work-The Loss
Probably Covered by Insurance-The
st. Nicholas History.
The steamer st. Nicholas burned nearly
TO the waters edge shortly before daylight
yesterday morning, and some Of the crew
had a narrow escape from death. The fire
was discovered at 4:30 O'Clock by the boats
Waterman, Jack Dennison, who immedi-
ately gave the alarm. awakening the crew
and telling them to get out the hose and
stand by the pumps The flames, however,
burst out on the deck and spread with such
rapidity that it was all the crew could do
to save their lives, and two Of the colored
hands jumped overheard, one swimming
ashore and the other being picked up by
the hfeboat.
The fire started in the starboard gang
way opposite the engine room, and under
the engineers room. Chief Engineer
Phillips says it may have been caused by a
spark smOuldering in the gangway from
clearing out the furnace, or from a stroke
of lightning earlier in the night.
THE ENGINEERS ESCAPE.
Mr.. Phillips ran out at the first alarm in
negligee costume. with his pantaloons in his
hand. Half clothing himself, and realizing
that the boat was doomed, he tried to make
his way TO his room to get his shoes, and
came near being suffocated. He had to go
over the boats side and make his way ashore
by, the life line.
Assistant Engineer Tompkins was below.
and the matches were shut down. He said at
one time he almost despatfed of finding bis
\ 49, IT,
when at last, cropping in the darkness, he
touched the door and as 1t moved, with
last desperate effort he pushed it up and got
on deck. Nearly all the crew lost their shoes
and clothing, and the ships carpenter lost
his chest of tools valued at $50.
When the fire was discovered au effort
was made to send a telephone message to the
barracks, but the line would not work. and
the Waterman hurried up the bluff and sent
in an alarm to headquarters, but it couldn't
be understood. Box No. l was turned in
by Officer Fahrenbach and some one turned
an box very shortly before. The fire de-
partment responded promptly, and within
ten minutes from the time the fire started
had water playing upon the flames.
THE RUINS OF THE STEAMER
The wheelhouses and a portion of the star
board cabin are standing, but they are
badly charred. The wharf and the freight
SHED took fire. but it was promptly ex-
tinguished. Engines Nos. l, 2 and 3
played on the fire, and 3 pumping from
the river and No. 2 from the Bay street
main. Some one pulled box a second
time, and the No. engine responded,
breaking her suction after a few revolu-
tions, and she was sent back. A reserve
suction has since been attached and the
engine is ready for service again.
The lighter David Clark, which lay above
was cut loose asteFn by order OF Chief Fire.
man Puder, and thus escaped with only a
slight scorching as she drifted out. Mai
Williams, agent of the st. Nicholas, says
the work of the fire department was excel
lently done. Not pound of freight In the
shed or on the lighter was damaged by
water.
ALMOST A TOTAL LOSS.
The St. Nicholas is almost total loss, as
it is said the machinery and boilers are
badly damaged and the hull considerably
scorched. Nothing was saved from the
boat. The damage will not be less than
$4,000. She is insured in New York
against fire and marine accidents, but Mai
Williams does not know to what extent
The st. Nicholas was appraised at SIS, 900
when she gave bond in what is known as
the St. Nicholas damage cases in the United
States courts after the fatal collision
with the drawbridge of the st. Augustine
creek last July, by which three colored ex-
cursionists were killed outright, and one
died few days thereafter. Last Wednes-
day lightning struck the jackstafP of the
vessel as she was coming into her slip.
THE VESSELS LAST TRIP
The st. Nicholas piled between Savannah
and Ferpandina, Fla, touching at Bruins
wick, Darien and Doboy. She came into port
Ssturdaynight, dischargtng all her freight
but about 900 cigars, which were left in
one of the state rooms and were lost. On
Sunday the ST. Nicholas took a colored ex-
cursion party to Button, returning at 9
o'clock Sunday night, when the fires were put
out aud the water drawn from the boilers,
as yesterday was what is known as boiler
day, when the boilers were to have been
cleaned out. She WAS TO have left for Fer
nandina at 6 o'clock last night
Maj. Williams says the boat will be re-
built il the hull is not too badly damaged.
At any rate, the trade is not to be discon-
tinued, and a new boat will be built for the
line.
The most serious blow will fall on Doboy.
as that place now has no communication
with the outer world, either by rail or
steamer
The lighter David Clark will take the
freight out to-day for the trade in tow of
the tug Samuel Winpenny.
The Forest City pumped the water out of
the hold of the ST. Nicholas yesterday, and
she will remain in her present dismantled
condition until the insurance adjusters pass
upon her.
AN OLD STEAMER.
The st. Nicholas was named for the St
Nicholas Club of New York. and before she
was rebuilt, in 1880, was called the Mamie
r. Childs. She was owned by the Georgia,
Florida and Inland Steamboat Company
and used to ply between Palatka and Enter
prise, Fla. She was originally bought from
the United States government. She is set
down In the United States register of mer-
chant vessels as a steam propeller, IA feet
6 inches in length, % feet 6-inch beam, and
feet inches in depth, with a gross ton
mage of 1904.
The st. Nicholas is the last of a fleet of
five vessels once owned by the Georgia,
Florida and Inland Steamboat Company
The Florida, City of Bridgeton and Howard
Drake were condemned and sold, the David
Clark was burned at Fernandina last sum
mer, and yesterday morning the St. Mich
olas ended her career, leaving the company
without a steamer.
There were fourteen of the crew on
board and all of them but the night watch
man were in deep sleep when the fire
broke out, and as it came up with a flash
and burned fercely their escape was a
fortunate one Chief Engineer Phillips
says he made close inspection Of the boat
shortly after midnight, and everything
seemed to be all right.