The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-05
A CLYDE LINER
BURNED AT SEA.
The CrOtan Totally Destroyed Of
Cape Charles.
FIVE PERSONS WERE DROWNED
The Passengers Icapcd Into the sea-
Where Twenty-Five We're Hcsc"cu
by the Schooner Alice {. Ciark'
Origin n Mystery.

VINEYARD HAVEN. MASS. nov g
A disaster NJ sea. fortunately with n
small loss Of life-hve persons ID all
was made known to-day by the iahoing
here OF twenty-five persons VINO escaped
from the burning steamer Crotan OF the
clyde Line bound from New YORK FOR
Wilmington. y. c.. and Georgetown s.
c. The disaster occurred on November
LIST. about eighteen miles north OF Cape
Charles and about 2o5 miles from New
York. from which port the steamer sailed
on October Slsi. with general cargo and
eight passengers.
FiVB DROWNED.
At . o'clock in the afternoon the burn
ed hulk Of the big fIcghtcr sank beneath
tho waves. OF the twcnty-seven persons
who were on board twenty-five have sur
vivod These passengers were landed
here this afternoon by Schooner Alice &.
CLARK. Of Portland. Maine which had
been in the vicinity Of the Crotan at the
time she was burning. The CrOtan's list
OF drowned is as follows. Second Assist
ant Engineer jeremiah Mccarthy. Of
Nova Scotia. leaves "A widow in New
York. Steward James Curtis. of Jersey
City. Mrs. James Curtis wife Of the
steward Frank . an 0iler, Cast
name unknown; Jennie Willard. (colored)
Wilmington y. &.
The story OF the disaster is graphically
told hy Captain Hale and other officers
OF the unfortunate vessel as follows
"The Crotan was but twenty hours from
New York on her way 10 Wilmington una
going az "a good rate OF speed. with n
smooth sea and calm weather when at 3
=. NJ. a fireman came hurriedly on deck
and reported that the ship was on fire. \
general alarm was Immediately given
and an effort was made 10 lower the
boats. but the fire spread with such
rapfdity that an efforts 10 reach them
were unavailing. because of the fire. In
fact in less than ten minutes after the
fire was reported the ship was COM
pletely developed in flames from stem
10 stern.
TWO EXPLOSIONS.
Shortly after the fire was dicovered an
explosion took place IN the cargo. which
blew OF the after matches. A second
explosion followed a few minutes later.
and the shin was then "a mass Of flames.
10 was az this time that Captain Hale.
seeing that 10 remain on the vessel
meant sure death. gave orders for all
hands 20 jump overheard and save them
selves a. best they could. The gallant
captain was the last man 90 leave the
ship. remaining ON deck with his first
officer until they We're completely en-
veloped in flames and the vessel had
commenced 10 sink. There seemed TO
be no panic ON board, and men and
wcmen. after lashing on life preservers.
loaped into the water.
Some of the passengers had their faces
scorched and many had their clothing
on fire when they lcapcd into the sea.
The captain and first officers succeed
Cd in securing "a yawl boat. which had
been damaged in lowering. and by hard
work rescued the persons I'm the water.
THE RESCUE.
The burning ship was sighted by the
f0ur-maetcd schooner Alice Clark, Cap
tain Clark. Norfolk. for Portland, which
iav bcralmcd siN miles on, and her
,apiaon sent "a boat crew TO aid In the
work ~ rescue. They succeeded in say
ing twelve persons from a watery grave,
,,.rv of whom had been an hour of
more I'm tho water. ana had become near
Ia exhausted. They were taken on board
the Clark. and gwen every possible at
teutilh.
c8Dtain Clark not only gave the ship
wrecked men and women food and cloth
ing. but supplied them with money to take
them to their homes. The rescued per-
sons are being cared for here at the Sea
mems Bethel ana at the homes Of citi-
zcns and w!ll proceed TO New lork TO-
morrow.
ORIGIN a MYSTERY.
No explosives were known 10 be among
the ship's cargo and the origin of the fire
IS "a mystery 90 her officers and crew.
The Crotan is said 70 have been valued
at 100000 She was fully insured. The
Crotan was n steel twin screw steamer
built az Bailey. Scotland, IN 1881. She
registered 1924 tons gross. and so tons
net. was 2olG feet long. 321 feet beam,
and 1875 feet deep. Her name when butt
was "Joaouin Ancona.' which was chang
cd 10 "Alpin" previous to the last name
borne by her