New-York tribune., 1896-03-31
FIERCE FIRE AT A PIER.
BARGE CAPTAIN JUMPS FROM HIS
BLAZING CRAFT.

he WAS AWAKENED AND RAN THROUGH TIKI
Ff.AMEs-REscUED IN A YAwL-THE PIER
DEsTRoYED-Loss 10000.
Fire DESTROYED one OF the long. inclosed freight
piers OF the Erie Railroad Company at Jersey CITY
Yesterday. Three barges were damaged, and one man
was seriously scorched by the flames. lie saved
himself by plunging overheard, and was promptly
rescued.
Tn. burned per known as No. ., ana was
used exclusively for westbound freight 1t was the
first pier north of and about two hundred feet dis
tant from the transhed. Several barges and tugs
were moored to the pier at o'clock yesterday morn
Ing, when Edward Riordan the watchman, VINO was
at the shore end of the pier. noticed smoke issuing
from the northe-ly side OF the river end he sup
posed It was the fog until flames appeared at the
side of the incosure and rapidly ascended toward
the tar and gravel coated roof. The company has
fire alarm system, and Riordan sent In the signal
from the pier. It aroused the crews OF the tugs
Buffalo and Whipple which were doing fire service,
and sent in the alarm for the city Fire Department
The two tugs quickly at the scene, but the
city department was slow in responding Something
was am:ss with the box, or another box was simul-
taneously rung, and confusing alarms reached the
hre-engine houses.
The delay almost disastrous. The names
rushed wildly along the structure toward the land
and the intense heat bstered the trainshed and
station and il seemed as If they doomed and
serious confagration inevitable.
Guided By the light the iremen reached the
scene. Assistant Chief Engineer Denmead. who ar
rived before the fire apparatus was in action sound
ed a third alarm The box worked promptly, and
all the heavy engines IN the department were called
to fight the blaze. They worked at disadvantage,
as they could not enter the railroad yard. and sew
eral Of the engines nearly quarter of a mile
away. The department is fortunately well equipped
LoI aHa ofr D n a6
against the smoking station and trainshed and
averted the danger OF the flames spreading from the
shore end The tugs were doing good work at the
other end.
The tugs Allendale Kaiser. Princeton, Norwood,
Tonawanda. Seneca and Annie c., which were laid
UP at the pier. were towed out. and barge loaded
with naphtha and the schooner Empress were
speedily moved out of the way of the flames. The
fire reached the sheds of the barges Greycourt AMI
herst and Mulligan
Peter Hagan, sr.. captain of the MulIigan. was
asleep on the boat when the fire began. He ran
through the blaze toward the bow and dove into the
water. He was rescued by Joseph White, one ofthc
crew Of the tug Buffalo, who went 10 his aid In a
yawl. Hagan burned about the hands. arms
and face and was removed to St Franciss hospitaai
where his burns were dressed He was able TO take
charge of his boat after the blaze
The sharp spasmodc footing Of the whistles OF the
Rochester Ramapo Don Juan. shohola, Nyack and
Morgan and the fire tugs Harsmus sinus. Linden Pal
sylvania Railroad Companys fleet. The tugs as
sisted In removing the vessels lying AT the aoJohns
piers and prevented the blazing barges from being
carried by the tide against the adjoining pier or
other craft. Their streams saved the three bargcs
from loss and only the light superstructure or
shed on each was destroyed. The hulls were saved.
The fireboat Zophar Mills OF the New York De-
partment. also steamed across the river TO render
aid but the danger had then passed, and the flames
were under control. The tide fortunately al
the fire occurred and this reduced the loss mate
rally by saving the pilng that supported the per
The picrshed was totally destroyed 1t was oullt
thirty years aeo. but had been repaired once the
structure was 700 feet long and 30 feet wide. There
was little freight on the pier. as II had been moved
day A dozen hogsheads Of tobacco and few bags
of oats were all that the pier. which Is usu-
ally packed with freight The damaged barges
ere empty. The entire loss will not exceed $4,000
The company is insured. The origin OF the lre Is
unknown and the officials OF the company are d.
vided on their opinions as whether II started on
the pier or on the barge Mugan.