New-York tribune., 1898-11-05
CROATAN BURNED AT SEA.
FIVE OF THE TWENTY-SEvEN PERSONS
On BOARD LOST.
FIRE SWEPT OVER HER QUICKLY AND
PASSENGERS AND CREW JUMPED
INTO THE WATER RESCUED
by A SCHOONER

vinevard Haven. Mass, Nov A disaster at
sea with a loss OF FIVE lives. was made known
to-day by the landing here Of twenty-five per-
sors who escaped from the burning steamer
Croatan. Il the Clyde Line bound from New
York for Wilmington. n. c.. and Georgetown.
s c. The affair occurred on November l. about
eighteen miles north OF Cape Charles The
Croatan sailed from New-York on October 81
with a general cargo and eight passengers AL
3 o'clock in the afternoon OF the next day the
burned hulk sank beneath the waves Twenty
two OF the passengers and crew were landed AT
this port this morning by the schooner Alice
f. Clark OF Portland. Me.
The persons lost from the Croatan were:
CURTIS. James steward; OF Jersey CITY,
CURTIS James. wife ~ the steward
MCARTHY jeremiah second assistant engineer Of Nova
Scotia: leaves a widow IN New ,,e,i for. r
-. Frank oler last name not known
The Survivors are: Captain c. NJ. Hale. b.
C. Conklin. first officer; F.. w. Corning. second
officer; c. Kennedy. chief engineer: Charles r.
Rounce first assistant engineer: w. H. Kelley
oiler; r. Lee cook; Richard Jordan, walter;
George Spanger. stephen Duncan, James Bur
rs. John Hanson and Harry Hanson, sailors;
three Spanish firemen. names unknown; X W.
White, wife and brother Of Wilmington y. c.;
" Tpperman. Of Hamburg. Germany; Evelina
steadman (colored). and Jennie Hamilton (col-
oreD. of Wilmington. y. c.. passengers.
The story Of the disaster is told by Captain
Hale and the other officers OF the vessel as fol-
lows
The Croatan twenty hours out from New
York her way to Wilmington. when. at 3
n m. a fireman came hurriedly on deck and
reported that she was on fire A general alarm
was Immediately given, and effort was made
I, fra wit
such rapidity that all efforts TO reach the boats
were unavaillng. In less than ten minutes after
the fire was reported the ship was enveoped
in flames from stem to stern
An explosion took place in the cargo which
blew off the after matches. A second explosion
occurred a few minutes later.
CAPTAIN Hale seeing that 10 remain the
vessel meant sure death. gave orders FOR all
hands to jump overheard and save themselves
as best they could The captain the last
man 10 leave the ship remaining on deck with
his first officer until the vessel began 10 sink.
There was no paric board. Men and
women after putting their life-preservers,
eaped into the water. Some Of the passengers
had their faces scorched. and the clothing OF
some was on fire when they leaped into the sea.
The captain and first officer secured yawl boat.
which had been damaged in lowering. and by
hard work rescued eight persons from the
water.
The burning ship was sighted by the four
masted schooner Alice Clark. OF Portland. Cap
tain Clark, Norfolk for Portland. which lay be-
calmed six miles off. and her captain sent a boat
to aid In the work Of rescue. Its crew succeeded
I'm saving twelve persons who had been An hour
| or in the water and had become nearly eX-
hausted. They were taken OF board the Alice
Clark and received every possible attention.
Captain Clark not only gave the shipwrecked
men and women food and clothing. but supplied
them with money 10 take them TO their homes
The rescued persons are being cared for here at
the Seamens Bethel and the homes Of citizens
They will proceed to New-York tomorrow.
No explosives were known 10 be among the
ships cargo and the origin Of the fire is a mys-
terry to her officers and crew.
N ph.<,I I, I,ntr Ann uxfu