The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE FAMOUS OLD STEAMER C0RC0RAN
GONE AT LAST.
President Harrison, Like any Other Man,
Must Take Out License if He Wants
to Shoot Reed Birds on the
Marshes at Cape May.

b WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-"It nigh
have been," can be aptly quoted in re
ferring to the recent catastrophe or
our river front-the burning of the
staunch old steamer, WV. Corcoran
whose ample decks had carried mil.
lions up and down the broad Potomac
without single accident during all
the years she has walked these waters.
Indeed, her record is remarkable. She
was built in 1878 by the Quintard iron
works of New York for Capt. l.. l..
Blake, representing the Mount Vernon
company, and was placed on the route
as the regular steamer to that ancient
home and last resting place of the i'm
mortal Washington. During the
years it is estimated that fully 1,1OO,-
600 passengers have sailed in her, and
yet there never has been a single loss
of life from the boat. Mr.. Ramage,
manager of the company, said: at
almost broke my heart to see her burn,
for she has been a good and faithful
servant" The Corcoran had made
her usual trip on Wednesday to Mount
Vernon and Marshall Hail. on the OPP
posite shore, and two additional trips
to the latter place, where a grand
tournament was the feature of the
dow Che cniIaI intn hn,. lo
tween l and o'clock in the morning,
bringing the last crowd from the beau
tiful picnic grounds. Owing to the
lateness of the hour, Capt. Bell,
Mr.. S. J. Stuart, the mate,
and several deck hands re-
manned aboard the steamer, and
all went quietly to their hunks after a
heavy days work. About o'clock
the mate awoke, and discovered
smoke issuing from the lower win
dows. Instantly the captain and deck
hands were reused and the city fire
engines called up, but in ten minutes
the whole steamer was wrapped in
sheet of flame and the heat so intense
that the workers were pushed back
some distance from the wharf. The
scene was one of wild confusion. AS
the flames leaped and writhed over
masts and deck, over pilot house and
wheel, darting hither and thither like
fiery serpents, they soon touched the
wharf, and the ferry watch, thinking
the tide would carry off the burning
ship, cut the hawser. Away she
floated, not out into the stream, but |
up against her neighbours elbow-the
Macalester-as though seeking help. |
Twas fiendish touch for she left her |
flaming imprint and then drifted on
to the Leary whose awnings were
quickly swept by the Bosom of de-
struction. Then came the hero of the
scene, Captain Taylor ofthe tug d. M.
Key, who in the midst of the flames
to fasten small line to the
Corcoran and slowly towed her across
to the flat, where she burned to the
waters edge. One life was sacrificed
the faithful bootDlack of the steamer
who tor several years had piled his
trade there and grown to be fixture.
1t was not known that he had re-
manned on the boat, and his presence
was only discovered as the burning
mass drifted out into the stream. Men
shouted: "Jump, and boat will come
to you.n 81 can not SWIM" he cried.
Then working at the surging flame as
it swept nearer and nearer he gave
one bound and sank under the wave;
twice, thrice he rose to the surface,
I,N 81 Cfu
stretched to grasp him, he was lost
forever.
This life might have been saved,
the good old steamer might have been
saved, the damage to other steamers
and property along the wharf might
have been avoided if only a tireboat
had been at hand.
Capt. Taylor saves a quarter of a
TO the energy and heroically
prompt action of this officer debt of
gratitude is owing, for in the steam
ers, wharves and warehouses fully
$3.50, 900 was saved. The whole river
front was in danger and the entire
shipping would have been swept by
the flames but for his intelligent man.
agement. OF course the fire
responded most
promptly to the call, but I'M
fortunately, their wheels are only
made for terra firma, and the neces-
sary delay,in getting the hose near
to the burning steamer made
help from that quarter almost impos-
sible.
1t does seem incredible that an i'm
mence steamer, whose home is in the
very bosom Of the water, should be at
tackled by that other powerful ele- {
be compelled to sue |
cumb.
ASK CONGRESS.
There is always a lesson to , be
learned, and this unfortunate occur I