New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-19
ABLAZE IN THE EAST RIVER.
THE CITY OF ATLANTA BURNED TO THE
WATERS EDGE
AN OLD DOMINION sTEAM,HIP LIGHTS Up THE
RIVER FRONT OF TWO CITIES

~ oi>t lOMl NUN SIEAM>UlP LiTVTS UP THE
RIVER FRONT OF TWO CITIES
Tho mon who work along the banks Of the
East River after dark last night saw a spectacle
which will lingcr in their memories for many d
year 10 come II just after } o'cb)ck when
the darkness falling over the two cities and
the waters Of the river tlat the men on the
Brooklyn shor" sudden and binding blaze
Of light that seemed - come from the New-York
side at Eightccnt-st. The light grew larger and
larger, as the minutes wore on, until presently
tic watchers on the opposite side could discern
tho black outline of big steamship abazc from
stem TO stern. The flames, rising high into In"
hlackncss, lit mp the banks Df the river in
deep, generous glow, against which IN" outlines
fthc buildings on the shorr. the sails, spars and
Smokestacks of he boats and barges mOorCd or
at anchor sllonc out with n piercing dstinctnc,'.
The light Of the hamr also showed several little
darting figures SHOOTING = and fro on the water.
They were the busy little steam tuG, trying to help
.hc rrrahing monster Presently the mas, of
iiame moved slowly and heavily at first. and then
with a smooth, easy grace. out into the middle
of TIE stream, drawn by the tug that lay either
side Of her. AZ the moment the :" t ot-toot
of stram whistles could lr heard down the bay,
and then flashing through the water came the fire
Loaf Zorhar Mills The bopt ranged alongside the
burning steamer. and then BEGAN throwing IA dozen
icts OF water into her.
The burning boat was tho handsome single
crew steamer City of Atlanta, of tho Old Domin
ion Line, one of the most popular boats in It."
Virginia passenger scrv'c Her years work
ended on Monday night. when she reached
Ncw-York on her last trip from West Point,
Va. Then she was taken from her pier, No.
20 North River. and shifted round t. the ley
up" pier in the East River al Eightccnth->t.,
and there side by side with her sister the City
of Columbia. began her winters resi-.
The City of Columbia lay next the pier with
her Prov pointing 10 the river. The City of
Atlanta. tied t. the Columbia by hawscr,, lay
with her stem pointing - the shore. just west
Of tho two big boats and nearest the shor' wa
the schooner Patrick Collins. commanded by
Thomas Miller Miller was sitting smoking on
the deck of his schooner when from the midll'
deck of tie City of Atlanta he saw curling
thin wreath of smoke lie sat watching
the smoke lazly. while the wreath grew larger
and larger II took Miller about fifteen minutes
10 make M his nRd that "A fire was burning
somewhere on board the steamer, but when the
fact finally dawncd on HIM. he lost ~ time in
action With all the power of his lungs hc
YELLED an alarm. Three or four sleeping iienrs
ran ont Of cabins started into life and actpn,
and soizci the hand pumps. fairlman Thoinas
pvron. Of the Eighteenth Precinct. standing AZ
the end OF the dock, ran 10 Il fire box ana sent
ont AN alarm md call for iireboats. Then, FOL
lowing Miller, he clambercd up the Ia lder and IN
20 the deck Of :he Columbia, where tn" two
ouarnrn,asters lett in charge were already getting
the ships h,se line into position
In the same moment that Byron and Miller
reached the Columbia's deck. n great burst of
flames seemed 10 leap from the middle forward
deck Of the Atlanta. and the flames were ris-
ing mast-high. On the Atlanta were four men
Peter Nelson. IN" first mate j. H. Warren IN"
second mate: Charles jansen and William John-
son. ouartcrma tiers Captain William Dole" the
commander ard James Haughn. the chief en-
ci,iccr wcrc away from the boat on leave oi
nh.cncr Warren had been strollng through
tho Grand saloon. whcn from little room at
the forward end OF the boat just ontSd" the
saloon, he saw puff of smoke. This littl" room
WAS the portcr's closet. or shop. where The
oil l,mps and other utensils were stored
Warren opcncd the door and staggered back
against the wall, blinded by rho smok" and hr"
that seemed 10 leap ont and emhrar" MN. linen
he rushed aft and yelled for help in the SIN"
instant that the men on the Colnmha g"t 'l"i
hand pumps 10 work. Already th" nan's ia"
got a firm hold Of the saloon The heavy north
west wind swept it along forward ot IA" hnrrlcf''
deck. and then nothing could Sav" the BOAT
The Atlanta's men aft on ih" main deck got
their lines into position and made bray" "hort
10 ponr water on the furnace But the lee
hcat thcm The water came slowly ard fccbly
But one man and only one-Nill'r-was awe
to a new danger He saw thar unless tine boats
were parted the Columbia would share I'll" d'-
structlon Cut the hnw-cr he cried IN axe
was found somewhere, and Miller ran forward ai'
cut the connection. Then. drawn by the Jug tn'
Atlanta. one mass Of flame. ioatcd ont INTO 'he
stream and mp the river escorted ny thc hrepod'
and the tugs. =, r., Dim;
On shc went until She reached the last hly,f
Channel There sllc turned ami drilted unti si"
reached nm icc-roe iust III Hunters Point. sever
more tugs from Long Island City "am" out 20
her and cnc0mpasscd bv tins snail Meet, Slc
burned her lI'" away. - a.,
Tnc itv If Atlanta was seventeen years "iu
HAVING been built NJ Brooklyn IN 1870. Her rS-
timatrd cost was 100000 FIVE Years ago c S,'
became the property Of the ODD Dominion Com
n,nv ,hout S,i, aOO then being her price. She
was rciitted and r,jnrnishcd ana the total loss,
covered by insurance, will not fall idr short OF
Sl0O,OO0