New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
BIG FIRE AT NEWPORT NEWS
TWO MILLIONS OF PROPERTY GOES UP
IN SMOKE.

FOUR VESSELS AND TWO PIERS FILLED WITH
MERCHANDISE Observation-Disclosures PEG
PIE BADLY INJURED.
Newport News. Va. April 27.-Fire broke out
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Com
pany's Pier No. 3 at an early hour this morning
and before the flames were checked damage
TO the extent of S2OOO0OO had been done. Two
Of the company's immense piers were destroyed
three vessels were burned to the waters edge
tugboat was destroyed and eight persons were
burned. some OF them seriously.
The flames were discovered In Pier No. D. at
about 4:15 o'clock this morning. They spread
with such rapdty that it impossible to
make any Roadway against them. fierce
north wind famed the flames furiously. and
swept them across the docks 10 Pier No. g.
which soon burning.
The British steamer Clintonia. which was
loading with oil. tobacco and general merchan-
disc al Pier No j. was soon abaze Tugs pulled
her out into the middle Of the river, where an
Intellectual battle waged at terrible odds
against the flames that were raging in her in
fammable cargo She was burned to the water
line at 10 O'clock tonight.
The Norwegian steamship Solveig. which was
loading grain at Pier No 3. next caught. The
crew managed to escape by climbing down the
hawsers TO the pier.
In the mean time the Chesapeake and Ohio
tug Wanderer. which had caught fire. had
burned to the waters edge. The German sail
ing shop. ]. d. Bischoff. taking on slaves from
the north side of Pier No. 6, also caught. The
flames obtained such hold on her that they
could not be conquered. and she went to the
bottom at o'clock this afternoon.
The crew of this vessel had narrow escape
from being cremated They aroused by
John Anderson. one of the sailors, and rescued
with the greatest difficulty. after the captain and
the bcatswain had been badly burned
The strong north wind and the heroic efforts
OF the Fire Department saved the large grain
elevator of the Chesapeake and Ohio Company
from destruction. The fire rapidly spread
ing across the cOnveyOrs which connect the
elevator with the piers, but. with the aid of
locomotive and an immense chain the cohVeyor
supports were pulled out. the ccnveyors them
selves torn down. and this danger averted.
This afternoon the fire had spent its fury, ana
was well under control.
The injured. far as known. are as follows
Captain Forest, of the tug Wanderer, slightly
burned about the face and hands. John Dlggs
mate OF the Wanderer, badly burned about the
head and arms; Captain krite, OF the Bscnoll
perhaps fatally burned and the boatsWain OF
the same vessel, who was terribly burned ABOUT
the arms There are vague rumors OF many per
sons having lost their lives but they cannot De
traced to any trustworthy source.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Rairoa road Company
estimates It's loss at about S3OOOOO, which is
fully covered by insurance. The total loss. IN
GLIDING the three ships and their carSoes, the
tug Wanderer and the merchandise IN the
piers will probably reach S2,Wo.ON
The principal insurance companies car1yln
policies on the merchandise on the piers are the
Virginia Fire and Marine, Aetna, Newton IN
derwriters. North American Fire Association,
of Philadelphia; Mutual, Of New-York; st. Paui
Insurance Company. Commercial Union queen
of Lancaster; German-Amer1can, western Can-
ada Pennsylvania Delaware, Hartford Fire
Company, Hanover. Westchester, Liverpool
London and Globe Sun Fire Insurance COM
pany Scottish Union and Greenwich Royal
The insurance on the piers is carried by a
large insurance syndicate.
The steamship Clintonia was owr red by ROBIN
son & Sons Of North Shields; the Solveig by
C. Nicholson e. Sons. Of Bergen. and the j. d.
Bischoff by j. J. Bschoff, of Bremen.