Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-06
STEAMBOATS, AFIRE
Two Ohio River Vessels Wiped
Out by Flames.
A CoUPIs OF wHARFBoATs BURNED


Threatened with Destruction-Several
Persons Scorched More or Less severely
in Fighting the Fire-0uick and Hot
Destruction of 500, 900 Worth CT Prop
erty Watched by n Multitude.
CINCINNATI, Aug. 6-At . p. IN. yes.
terday fire was discovered in the Cincin-
natl wharfboat. 1t soon threatened
everything on the public landing and In
port. The conlagration lasted less than
an hour, burning two largo whartboats
and two steamers and causing loss OF
over 500 900. The fire swept everything
in its reach. The whole department was
ont, but it could only prevent 1t from
spreading to other craft in the haroor.
All the loss falls on the Cincinnati AMI
Louisville Mail Limo company, Of which
Commodore L. A. Laidiow is general
manager. The large wharfboat known
as the Cincinnati wharfboat, in which
the fire originated by boys striking
match near bailed hay, was used for the
local boats, and the one known as the
Louisville wharfboat,,for the through mail
line.
Several Pc-soos Somewhat Scorchcd.
The steamers were chained to the large
wharfboats and had no steam up, SO
they could not como out from the fire;
but If they had been able to pull out other
craft in the harbor might have been in
danger. AS the fire occurred three or four
hours before their regular daily starting
time there were only u few passengers on
board, and they were easily landed. There
was multitude about the river banks on
this side, and all the bridges were full.
Intense excitement existed because Oh
reckless reports about loss OF life. Some
still maintained that an unknown man
was drowned, but the river men say all
are accounted for. Fireman Edward Ben
nett was SO overcome with heat that he
became unconscious, but Is all right now.
Superintendent w. NJ. r. Shaw, Of the
Cincinnati wharfboat, was badly burned,
also Clerk Crowley, Fireman William
Kibby, Ben;amin Franklin, and George
H. Schmidt. None was seriously hurt,
however.
buildings on tho Levee Threatened.
The flames licked Saraso Row for some
| minutes so as to scare the colored occu-
pants badly, but none was hurt At
one time the Spencer House was in dan.
! landing began moving. AS the fremcn
worked from boats rs well as from land
the sight was n brilliant one. Three val
| liable horses, en- routo to the Louisville
| races, were rescued from the burning
steamer A horse attached to dray
could not be driven from the burning
wharf, plunged into the river and was
| drowned. The safe in the Cincinnati
wharfboat was left open and 500 III eur
rency. 500 in silver and the books were
| burned.
Slater Mt of Loss and Insurance.
| Commodore Laidlaw says the losses OF
| his company are as follows: The Big
Sandy, steamer $4,000; insurance, $40,
0O0; Carrollton, steamer, S35, Ooo; insur
ance, $4,000. The loss on the Louisville
wharfboat is $500; insurance, 5000
| Cincinnati wharfhoat, $1,000; in
surance, $4,000. Total loss of thu
Mail line, Slo6. 600; insurance, $50,
O0O. The hulls of the boats sank
The steamers as well as the wharfboat
are total losses. There is no estimate OF
the cargoes or the damage to the II. *
Bedford, the latter steamer having Ear
row escape from destruction.