Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13

time after the fire started oil could be
seen pouring out of the stern of the
boat. 1t is presumed that when the
boat was beached the stern was lowor
| than the bow and the oil from the leak
ing tanks found its way to the deck aft
and poured over the side through the
rail. Burning oil could also be seen
finding its way TO the river over the
sides Of the boat, and at times flames
could be seen from almost every quar-
| ter.
All Of the compartments were closed
before the boat started from Philadel-
pilia on her voyage, and as there was
no opportunity after the fire started of
releasing any Of tho oil, it is not known
how many of the compartments were
damaged by the collisionwith the bot
tom, but it was thought Immediately
afterward that only one had been
sufficiently damaged to allow the oil to
leak out and it was feared that If there
were any tight compartments that there
would be some explosions, and for that
reason other craft kept at distance.
The news of the fire soon spread all
over the city and during much of the
day the banks were lined with people
who were interested in the strange
spectacle. 1t was indeed interesting,
and as the boat was very close to the
end Of Fourth street it was not ditfi-
cult matter to watch the blaze and
smoke from that point, which could be
reached by going over Eleventh street
bridge.
The flames spread to all parts Of the
boat eventually. For time after the
fire started it appeared as if the blaze
was confined to the engine room and
the portion of the boat aft of the
smoke stack, as smoke and fire poured
out of the stack for several hours,
while now and then smoke would find
it's way out of the tunnels and through
holes in the deck. A high wind was
blowing from the north and the fire
was famed. which was partially re-
sponsible for the rapid spread Of the
blaze. Steam was in the boilers for a
long time and the whistle, which blew
for hours, could be heard in the heart
of the. city.
Various stories were afloat concern
ing the disaster, but diligent inquiry
revealed the fact that all of the men
were saved and none were injured in
making their escape, although some
were in very hot places before they
reached the lifeboats.
The officers and crew deserve great
deal of credit for the manner in which
they conducted themselves after the
fire broke out. Everything was done
in systematic manner and the men
not only looked out for their own in
terests and those of their fellowmen,
but also for the interests of their en-
ployers. They did all that could possi-
bly,, be done before leaving the ship and
were simply forced to retire when they
did by the heat and the peril in which
they found themselves.
The officers and men on the zizania
are also entitled to great credit for
their efforts in going to the assistance
of the Weehawken's men and saving
them SO promptly.
The Weehawen, which is first-class
| tanker, was built at Sir William Arm
stropg's yards, at Newcastle on Tyne,
in 1891, and had been in the oil trade
for several years. She is 31o. feet long,
40 feet beam, 2S feet depth of hold,
with a gross tonnage of 2,7S4 and net
tonnage of 2,10l.9 Boat and cargo will
in all probability be total loss.
Capt. John Casey, who was in COM
niand, is an experienced skipper and
has been engaged in the Atlantic trade
for 13 years.