The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-28

new BRUNSWICK GONE
The Old Pennsylvania
FerTyboat Burned to
the Waters Edge.
SUNK OFF BEDLoE's ISLAND
No One Knows How the Fire
Started Engineer Provost
Driven Out by the Flames.
SUNK OFF BEDLoE's ISLAND


The Pennsylvania Railroad double-
ecked ferryboat New Brunswick was
-rned to the waters edge this morning.
hat remains of her is lying under water
the beach off Bedloe's Island. She is
stotally destroyed and it is doubtful if the
ampany win ever rebuild her
The boat has been unfortunate ever
since constructed and has always been
known as the 'hoodoo" of the Pennsyl-
yanta line. In 1881, when first brought
into the passenger carrying service be-
tween this city and New York, she ran
into the Hobolen ferryboat Netherlands
was badly wrecked and narrowly escaped
sinking in midstream In April, 1882 while
lying in her slip on this side of the river
she caught fire. The flames spread so
apidly that the ferry shed was only
tved by the prompt work of the fire.
en-. A team of horses was drowned on
at occasion by plunging overheard
lille attached to heavy truck, after
burning boat had been drawn out in
stream. The New Brunswick at that
me was a single decker She was burned
the waters edge. The company re-
fuilt her. making her double-deckef.
Then pressed into service the boat was
Jun between this city and New York on
he Cortlandt street line.
Last Saturday night under orders from
Superintendent Bloomsbury, the New
Brunswick was tied up in one of the
Desbrosses street slips on this side of the
river. She was not to be used until to-
day Sleeping on the boat were George
Provost, the engineer, and his nephew,
George Provost, who is a fireman. 1t
was about fifteen minutes after three
O'Clock when Joseph Wilson, a watchman
at the ferryhouse, discovered clouds of
smoke pouring up through the coal holes
over the engine room on the boat. He
Whlie these men were endeavoring to ex-
tlngush the flames he sent in an alarm
to the local fire department.
The fire spread with lightning rapidity
ana IN short order flames were shooting
out OF the hold and tapping the wood
work of the wagon driveway Engineer
Provost went to the pilot house and
footed the boats whistle until flames
threatened his life Ferryboats on the
New York side took up the alarm and in
few minutes a dozen or more boats
We're giving shrill alarms
The Pennnsylvania Railroads fleet of
IRE tugs was tied up just above the
Adams Express pier. The men jumped
from their bunks and in remarkably short
oIaer nag the tugs on the way to the
burning boat In the meantime the fire
had spread SO rapidly that the whole
Doat seemed enyeIoped In flames Bridge
man had cast the lines which held her
IN the slip off and did Their utmost to get
her out as the flames were crawling
dangerously close to the wood work of the
ferryhouse. hawser from one of the
flre tugs was finally attached TO the fated
New Brunswick and she was drawn out
into midstream. The wind fanr.ed the
flames to greater fury and the fire tugs
mad TO keep at respectful distance SO
great was the heat. Twenty or more
large streams of water were turned on
the boat. but still the flames gained head
way and 1t soon became apparent that
It was useless to attempt TO save the
The burning boat drifted slowly down
the stream, the fleet of fire tugs con-
stantly increasing and turning streams
on her She was kept clear of other YES
sells in passing down the straam by the
tugboat which had drawn her from the
slip
At five O'clock after nearly two hours
hard fighting. the fire tugs. abandoned
the boat. only. one remaining to beach
her on Bedloe's Island. At that time
nothing remained above the hull and iust
before o she was beached the heavy ma
enineTy s,naa r, carried what was left Of the
The New Brunswick was the first
double-decked boat operated by the Penn
sylyania Railroad. She was a side
'--~SaeAt I'LL wco Oi4S VI Inc 0auQSOneSI
4erryboats belonging to the company.
Vine loss Is estimated at $12G,O00 which is
covered by insurance. How the fire start
ed no one knows Fireman Provost had
been in the engine room raking the fires
preparatory to starting the boat on her
run this morning, but he knew nothing
Of the fire until alarmed by Waterman
Wilson. Superintendent Bloomsbury was
at the ferryhouse early this morning. He
refused to discuss the burning Of the
boat except so far as to say that a rigid
Investigation as to the cause of the fire
viii be made.
William Longstreet, of Jersey avenue.
wick.