Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-03
BURNEDATHER WHARF
CONTINUED from FIRST Pace.

tie. The heat was still scorching the boats and
| wharves, and the danger Of general confia
grafton was not entirely averted. While the
4 Key was putting away the small line, which wal
used Tor soundings and was not much larger
| than clothes line, parted, and the steamer wal
drifting back again toward the wharf.
The tug Potomac arrived Just then and rem
| dered timely assistance to the Key in towing
| the blazing wreck out into the river. They
| gradually pulled her over to the fats and there
she grounded in about four feet Of water, and
there she went to her fiery grave.
THE FIRE ENGINES PROMPT.
The fire engines had been quite prompt in
| arriving, No. reaching the wharf from the
house on Virginia avenue in about twenty
minutes after the first discovery. The
steamer was then far out in the river, beyond
tons were made Immediately Tor getting line
to her. The police boat Blackburn was ready
with steam up and slowly laid q cable Of hose
from the shore to the Corcoran.
Signals were arranged for boats going up
| stream to make slow Roadway while passing the
line OF hose and a stream Of water was being
played on the steamer from one o. the tugs in
about twenty-five minutes from the time the
alarm was given.
There was little use in playing water upon
the boat. She was lost beyond recovery and
all that could be done was to prevent her from,
drifting of the mud and spreading the fire.
She gradually burned to the edge Of the water
and 10y $50 she was but ghost OF her former
shape.
FIREMEN ON THE BURNING BOAT.
There was some danger at first that the
walking beam tower might fall with the action
OF the steamer, which lurched with the waves
caused by the tugs that hurried and scurried
around her in their endeavors to get the line to
her. But finally she came to standstill in the
mud and though lightning every minute as
the flames ate their way into the woodwork, the
motion ceased and the danger was over. As
the flames were subdued the hremen were
enabled to get closer to her, and finally they
made their way to the after deck, which was
less burned than the bow. At last they man.
aged to get foothold there, and, in the midst
OF danger OF going through the charred beams,
they fought the fire at close quarters. They
gradually drove the flames back to the stern,
and there they ragged until the steamer shipped
tons Of water and settled further down. The
huh was burned below the water line and the
hold was full Of black, greasy water that flowed
In from the river unimpedsd.
Occasionally fireman would step on burned
board and so dogn into the hold up to his neck
in water, emerging with streams Of black flow
ing to the iloor Half II the time the men we're
up to their knees III the mixture OF water and
charred wood, and by 10 O'Clock their faces pre-
sented the appearance OF a half-washed min
strel troupe.
NothiHS Was SaFeu from the steamer. lue
upper works were burned entirely off and
there is but a small portion of the lower deck
remaining solid and that is burned half
through. The furniture is all gone and the en-
glnes are warped SO that they are quite de-
stroyed.
NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.
Capt Bell, standing with one hand on a
burned stanchion, said to q reporter in q
melancholy tone: ''She is all gone. There is
nothing to save and her life is ended. She is a
total wreck and do not think that there will
be any value left III her. Her engines will be
worth only what they will bring az old iron and
her wood work will be but char. Her hull is
undoubtedly burned. and l do not see what
there Is to be done with her unless it is to get
her away from here and break her up for what
may be In her. / hardly think that 1t would
pay any one to buy the iron.
Il have no idea what caused the fire. / was
asleep in my bunk when the mate called me.
He had smelled smoke and could see when l