The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-08
In Spite Of Binding Smoke and
Tongues Of Flame
DECKHAND BOSSHOP WAS SAVED
by Gallant Ofacer Mayno-The Police Win
New Honors-But for tho Self-Posses-
sion and Quick Thought of Officer An
thony the Pomham's Crew Were Lost.

The steamer Pomham. one OF the
swiftest screw steamers on the bay
caught fire this morning while lying at
the South Water street dock and was
badly burned, while one OF her
crew is ut the hospital dying
The fire broke out at about
4:4O a. m. and although small at the start
burned 80 rapidly that the crew barely
escaped with their lives. Within three
minutes after the discovery OF the blaze
sheet of living flame which wound
itself in ana about. the
woodwork, cracking and Kissing In 1end-
ish glee as new material for
destruction was reached. The
tire department. worked energetically
before the flames were extinguished and
the blackened. smoking steamer left a
wreck OF its former self on the water.
Onicer Anthony Saw the Smoke.
Shortly after . 4:30 o'clock Officer
Anthony, who travels the South Water
street beat in the Central District.
passed by the steamer. He
glanced at the boat and to his surprise
saw smoke arising from the deck. Think
ing that the crew was firing up" the
boilers, he passed by, but had proceeded
but few steps when a curious. cracking
noise, with the smell OF burning wood,
stopped him. He started back to the
boat aud was horror-stricken when he
saw q shower OF sparks raining from the
boat.
Instinctively the officer realized the full
horror of the situation, and without
moments hesitation he rushed on to
the boat, through the shower Of
live sparks that fell on and
all about him, and into the
forecastie where the crew were sleeping
out on to the deck. All were gotten safely
out. and then the officer ran to the box
at the corner OF South Water and Craw-
ford streets and pulled IN an alarm from
box sl2.
The Alarm was Sounded.
In an instant the changing gongs of
the fire apparatus broke the morning
stiluess aud soon the firemen were work.
ing on the boat. BY the time the depart
ment arrived the flames had wrapp Ell the
Pomham in a close embrace and roared in
furious joy, ,darting long tongues of Yellow
fire here aud there in defiance OF the huge
streams OF water which were heing
poured into the very heart OF the furnace.
The firemen worked with good will
aud eventually the fire was forced to sue
cumb to the greater force brought to
bear upon it.
Went Back for His Effects.
The crew were by the officers thought
full action all gotten safely from the
burning steamer. but one man, Manuel
Bosshop, a Portuguese, after getting
safely out, started back into the mass
of seethiDg flames and made his
way to to the forecaste where
Mayno and Anthony shouted to him to
come back, but the man did not heed
them aud the officers endangered their
lives by rushing on board the
steamer after him. 1t was
well that they did, as Bosshop was found
writhing in the midst of the flames
Il, the entrance .s,rn Of the foTecaste
seemed crazy with agony. Officer
Mayno although beaten back time aud
again by the fire which seemed possessed
TO destroy the man. at last succeeded
In getting this man up on to his feet
and started with him toward. the deck.
lie took the mans hand to lead him as
Bosshop was so crazed With pain as to be
unable to fiud his way alone
deck. the officer felt curious sensation
in his hand. He looked and saw that
Bosshop had fallen on to the deck, but as
he fell the skin and flesh OF his hand held
by the officer, had peeled off and was left
in bis grasp.
A siokening Occurrence.
This sickening occurrence was nearly the
death of both AS the officers head at that
moment began to reel and in a moment
he too was lying PROSTATE on the red
hot deck. "A well.directed stream OF water
dispelled the blaze about them aud will
ing hands soon dragged both from their
terrible position.
Posshop was horribly burned and was
taken TO the hospital in the ambulance
He was nearly wild and the skin and
flesh Of his body, arms and legs was fairly
baked.
Injuries Regarded Fatal.
AT the hospital his injuries are regarded
as fatal and his death is momentarily
expected.
When the crew were awakened by
O1cer Anthony, one of them.
boy named John Sumner, dszed by the
fire, ran to the side of the boat aud threw
himself into the river. An instant later
he cried for help and man named
John kretz dashed In after him and got
the boy safely ashore. The prompt nc.
tion OF Officer Anthony saved the
DEATH DEATH for sfeI had iiUm Ss not owsEraas ,eFroia
them before pulling the alarm. there
would have been no chanc, Tor their es-
cape. as when the officer returned from
the box the boat was then burning fierce
ly: One OF the crew was sleeping ia the
pilot house.. but he got out safely.
Names of the Grow.
The names Of the crew are: Captain.
Durkee. mate, Manuel Rabt. seamen.
Manuel Bosshop. Manuel Il. Davis, Man-
uel Roberts, Manuel Jass, Joseph Lima
aud Frank Brown.
The blaze originated on the under side
OF the deck about the boiler aud was
probably caused by overheated wood
work. The suddenness with which
the flames spread caused great comment
among the spectators who had gathered
and nas due to the light woodwork aud
canvas which constituted the larger por.
tion of the upper works.
Leased by tho Continental Company.
The boat was built by c. c. Peck OF
this city, and was leased t. the Con-