The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-10
LARGE FIRE AT
MARCUS HOOK.
Deputy Collector Aliens Heroic Work
Helps to Save avesseI.
A CREW DESERTS A VESSEL.
But Determined Men Headed by the Col
Iector Took Her Out Of Danger.

Deputy Collector of Port B. B. Allen
l figured as somewhat of hero yesterday
| afternoon at Marcus Hook during d fire.
| The British steamer Luciline and the
bark L1Vlguesa were at Boar Creek Re-.
fining Compony's wharf when 1t was dis
| covered to be on fire.
, Owing to the oil ON the water around, the
paint on tho vessels sides soon caught on
fire. The crew Of the Lucline were ut din
nor when tho alarm Of fire was given.
When they saw the flames they rushed
to render assistance to tho LaViguesA.
Among thoss on board the Lucilino was
Customs Inspector b. d. Allen Of this city,
who happened to bs taking dinner with
the officers Of the steamer, and he also
went out He was one Of tho first to reach
tho burning boRr, and by this time the
flames had climbed Into the rigging OF the
LaViguesa, End thcy wero in flames.
Arrangements were first made to cut the
Lucilino loose. SO as to save her, and while
Inspector Allon was helping to do this he
saw man swimming near the wharf. He
threw him limo and hauled him ashore.
The man was almost exhausted, and was
one of the crow Of the LIN ViguesA He
had deserted with the rest by jumping
overheard. After the lines had been cut
on tho Luclline she drifted out and away
The n.on,thautusnett their attention to
the.La Vignaia, asVh crew had deserted
and disappoared, 1oavinR the boat to tho
L D1eroy OF tho haihes. Burgess Leo Burton
and George Richagdsen Of Marcus Hook,
With Inspector ASten, fought their way
through the smokS TO tho boat. The first
two bearded her while Inspector Allen re-
mained on the wharf to cut the lines.
While this was going on ths quarantine
tug John Il. Mehrsr had appeared on the
scene and In response to signals came to
the wharf to help. Inspector Allen cut
the bow limo, holding tho LaViguesa to
the wharf, and then loosed the stern line to
hand to the tug. He then looked to see II
he could got of the wharf, but the flames
had spread with such rapidity that the
whole building back Of him appeared to
b. on flro
Retreat toward tho shore was cut of. so
grasping the stern line Inspector, Allen
Jumped aboard the tug. Tho line was
made fast and tho LoViguesa towed out
into tho river, whese the tug put into oper.
alton her fire engines md e1tingulshea
ths flAInes
Tho LaVlgussa had been In regular sea
Of flames for nearly half an hour. Tho
paint was burned Of her hull Oh one side
and much Of the rigging was burned. Ths
fire was so hot that 1t had warped mum.
bsr Of her plates. 1t Is impossible to state
tho damage done to tho boat and this Will
not bo known until tho Board Of Supervi.-
orr finish their work. The steamer Lucl.
line was also damaged. Sho was scorched
along one side Of her hull and one OF her
bpats was destroyed. Tho damage to her
will roach about $500.
While tho mon wero saving the vessels
thu flames had continued to spread and DO.
fore long tho wharf, which was 4So feet
long and nearly 100 feet wide, was mass
offlames and smoke. The tug Asa Hughes
and another tug tried to extingmisn inc
flames, but this was impossible. The sup.
ports OF tho Ioof soon burned away and ID |
fell down filling tho air with hundreds OF
sparks that threatened to sob lire to the
large oil tanks nearby.
Shortly after tho roof fell the floor Of tho
wharf also went In. carrying with 1t hum
dreds Of feet Of iron pipe, used for hlling
the boats with oil. All that now remains
Of the once large wharf is few charred |
pllings, that stick their heads a few feet
above tho water. Tho damage to tho
wharf cannot be estimated. as the greatest
loss will be due to tho fact that no vessels
can BIO loaded until new wharf Is built.
Burgess Burton and Lee Richardson OF
Marcus Hook reInained aboard tho LIE.
Viguesa ind Will put In claims for salvage.
They, with other mon aud tho tug Mehrer,
saved tho boat after tho crew had deserted
her. These two with Inspector Allen and
several others showed great courage In
saying tho LaVigussa, as flying sparks
every minute threatened to ignite tho
thousand OF gallons Of oil In tho tanks Il
tho boat Had it caught fire terrible e!.
plosion would have resulted, in which all
would no doubt have lost their lives.
:. 1t Il expected that the La Vlguesa will
be libelled this afternoon for salvage.