Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-08
Yesterdays FIRE.

YESTERDAYS FIRE.
starin,s Steamboat Freight House
Burned Down - The Steamer John
H. Starin Damaged Seriously by the
Fire-Purser Christopher Badly IN
jured-Loss About $2O,OOO-Insured
The Starin Gone to New York Tor
Repa1rs-Notes of the Fire.
Yesterday morning about $3.50 O'CLOCK
Patrick Culley, the day Waterman at Star
ms dock, discovered smoke issuing from
the small freight Office on the dock Aoor.
He Immediately ran to fire alarm box
321 at the junction of Long wharf and
Basin wharf, and sent in an alarm.
The fire had gained a good hesdway,
however, before 1t was discovered, and
was rapidly consuming several bales OF
rags and cotton which were stored behind
the Office. It spread all over the dock, and
when the fire department arrived the dock
was all a mass of flames.
The steamer John H. Starin, which had
come up from New York, was moored at the
dock. Purser Christopher was upstairs
over the dock in the main Office, preparing
his accounts. The first intimation of dan
ger he had was small puffs of smoke blow
ing in the Office door. -,
When he heard the cry of fire he rushed
to the door, but was driven back by the
smoke. He turned to an old unused door
on the front of the building, from which
the stairs had been taken. He opened this
and stepped out. He was thrown head
long to the ground, distance of twenty
feet. When he was picked up 1t was
found that his collar bone was broken.
He was taken to Officer Allan's house, on
Olive street.
DR.. vishno was called and after setting
the bone he ordered the man sent to the
hospital.
The blaze on the dock became fiercer and
the western wind blew the flames toward
the beat, which soon caught fire. 1mme-
diately the whole hurricane and saloon
decks were in a blaze. The boat was loos-
ened from her moorings and allowed to
drift to the opposite pier. Three streams
of hose were turned on her, and soon the
flames there were subdued. The attention
of all was then turned toward the dock.
The flames could not be fought from all
sides, and consequently the fremen were
handicapped.
The James were finally extinguished,
but not until nearly all the freight except
some bundle cotton and rags was consumed.
The cafe in the Office was hauled out of
the fire in good condition and the valu-
ables and few way bills were found in 1t
unframed.
The damage to the boat is from IS 900 to
$40, 900 and it will be month before she il
again ready for use. The saloon deck and al
the state-rooms are completely Quilted, but
the lower deck and the@boilers were IN,
touched.
The fire is supposed to have originated
in the small freight Office, catching from 6
large stove.
The boat is injured for $40, 600 with New
York parties. The freight house is insured
for So, 1000 with Il. G. Warren & Co. of thil
city. Mr.. Miller, the agent, has no way o.
estimating the loss until be receives wore
from the New York Office, as the freigh
bills have been consumed: 1t is thought
however, that the loss will greatly exceed
were brought up for the coming week.
trade.
The John n. Starin left for New York
whore she will put up for repairs. Tn,
steamer Edgerton will take her place
making regular trips between here snt
New York.
The boats will load and unload at tn
| end of Long wharf until the old dock
| repaired, or the new dock on Water stree
| is made ready.
The new dock ia nearly completed, Blu
| a freight house is yet to bs erected upol
it and the channel dredged out so that tn
| steamers can land there.
The purser. Mr.. Christopher, who wa
so badly injured, only came to work TO
the line last Friday. He was formerl,
captain of the Hudson river steamboa
Dean Richmond He said last even
ing that Friday had proved an IN
lucky day for him.
The freight at the New Haven end o
the line was insured. The company hav
a continuous yearly blanket insurance Q
SIC, 600 covering freight at this end of tn
line.
The Starin went to New York las
night unaided under her own steam. Sh
will be repaired In time to take hand i
the Starin line excursions to Glen Islan
this summer. She will be repaired at Nj
Starin's own shipyard on Staten Ialant
She had only just been repaired and rene
| waited for this seasons business.
The large tugboat William, under til
command of Captain William Wilson (wh
lives on Franklin street, and manned by q
efficient crew assisted by Mr.. G. F. Bsrtle
of Olive street, rendered most excelle1
service at the fire yesterday morning
They had large line of hose on the boa
and big stream of water was directed IL
to the hottest part of the fire. The tn
came up before the fremen could arriv
and thus materially assisted in saving tt
property. Captain Wilson and his me
were all drenched to the skin and Capital
Wilson had new suit of clothes ruined.
The James H. Hogan was the first tut
boat to arrive at the scene Of the fire.
large scow prevented the steamer John Z
Starin from being moved. This Capital
DOVE towed farther down and then towe
the steamer out of her berth to place ool
venient for the fire depsr tment and the
sent stream of water into the burnin
boat from her own steam pumps. Tn
was great help to saving the boat.