The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-11
BURNED TO THE KEEL.
Steamer E. ". Purdy Quickly
Goes Up in Smoke.
GREW sARELy ESCAPE rHL,FE.
Whist Cape. Harry Dsvnvs Hes - Oay
Ceosesnfng Smuggling oteRiee
Abs1t His SHY.

Inc odoe.WUeet USeexn6T -. W. ufUy WIS
entirely destroyed by IRE early yesterday
morning In 6ullivan's slough, . few miles
from L. Conner. Capt. w. K. Merwin
and the crew returned to this city on the
steamer Fairhaven yesterday and gave an
account Of the disaster.
The steamer arrived in Sulliyan's slough
Saturday and got part Of her load of hay
on Sunday forenoon. Az she could only
work 1t high tide, work vas stopped until
evening. Soon after IL O'Clock the crew
began to finish loading. and soon had
thirty-ons tons Of hay on board.
few minutes after midnight the boat
backed away from the dock and the fire.
man, who had according to custom been
working the clutches on the shaft to assist
the engineer. started below to put more
wood into the furnace. He found tho
room full Of smoke % dense that he could
not ret below and Immediately reported.
the fact TO the captain. This had hardly
been done when the fire broke out and
flames completely enveloped the house.
Capt. Merwin ct once ordered the pumps
ct going, but the smoke was 80 thick
nothing could BE- done. The boat and
cargo burned like finder, and it was found
necessary 70 abandon her Immediately.
All this had happened In the short space
of time in which tho boat was making
about three boat lengths of the dock. The
engineer was ordered TO give her full
steam and had to grope his way into the
engine room TO do it But he found the
throttle. pulled her wide open, then went
into his room. got . coat and pair Of
trousers and climbed out through the
window.
The light boat was lowered and the men
Jumped into it and upset it, but by this
time the steamer was not more than
twenty-five feet from the bank, and the
men got ashore, having had barely time to
save themselves. Their best clothes and
what money they had were all destroyed.
The engine made steam for about fifteen
minutes after the steamer grounded. Al
tho tide went out, leaving the water shall
low, the vessel burned down to the keel.
Capt. Merwin was tho last 10 leave the
burning wreck.
On the boat at the time were Capt. w.
4. Merwin. H. A. Soper, mate; John A
Williamson. chief engineer; John H.
Skinner, steward; Andrew Orange, fire.
man; II. 3. Campbell. purser; James
Stuart deck hand. and also Mr.. Foster, of
Foster & Smith, Of La Conner, the firm
that was loading the boat. Apart from
the captain and Mr.. Foster. the men, when
rounded up on shore, had As cents all told,
one of them having lost over $50 in the
tire and the others smaller sums. Mr..
Foster took them to the hotel and pro-
vided for them till they left on the Fair
haven for this city. Capt Green, of the
steamer Fairhaven, brought the boys
home. and they all join in praising him
and Mr.. Foster for their kindness.
Of tho cargo twenty-five tons of hay be-
longed to Mr.. Smith, Of Foster d Smith.
and the rest to gentleman at Everett.
The r. ". Purdy was q sidewh heel
steamer. built at Utsalady in 1883. and was
owned by w. K. Merwin and James
Young. The boat cost $l3. 200 and $lO5O
was spent in repairs during the past
winter. Her value was about s., 900. and
che 10 total loss. An insurance policy
for IS 600 in the Sun company was on the
boat. but expired April and was not re-
newed, consequently there was no in
surance.
The boat was 1o7 feet long, o feet beam
and feet depth OF hold. Her nominal
horsepower was o. She had been used
principally Is { jobbing freight boat, for
which she was built.
The cause OF the FIRE is not positively
known. but 1t 10 supposed to have caught
IN the 6re room while all hands were
working the cargo. and to have gained
considerable Roadway before she left the
dock.