Evening journal., 1898-11-05
SHIP BURNED AT SEA
Clyde Line Steamer Sunk Of
Cape Charles.
FIVE OF THOSE ON BOARD DROWNED
Two Passengers ana Three OF Crew.
Survivors Brought 20 Vineyard
nnvcn-Thc Captains story
of The nisnster.

of the Disaster.
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass, Nov. o.
A disaster at sea, fortunately with a
small loss of life. five persons in all |
was made known yesterday by the
landing here OF 20 persons who escaped
from the burning steamer Croatan OF
the Clyde line bound from New York
for Wilmington. n. c., and Georgetown,
S. c. The disaster occurred on Nov. ]
about is miles north of Cape Charles
and about 205 miles from New York.
from which port the steamer sailed on
oct. 81 with a general cargo and eight
passengers.
At o'clock in the afternoon the burn
ed hulk of the big freighter sank be-
meath the waves, but of the p persons
who were on board her % have survived
a very tragic experience. They were
landed at this port yesterday afternoon
by the schooner Alice e. Clark OF Port
land, Ne. which was in the vicinity OF
the Croatan at the time she was burn
Ing. The list OF drowned is as follows:
Second Assistant Engineer Jeremiah
Mccarthy Of Nova Scotia; leaves a
widow in New York
Steward James Curtis Of Jersey City.
Mrs. James Curtis. wife Of the stew
ard.
Frank ---, an oiler
Jennie Willard (colored), Wilmington,
y. c.
The story of the disaster is graphic
ally told by Captain Hale and other Off
GERS Of the unfortunate vessel as fol-
lows:
"The Croatan was but 20 hours from
New York on her way TO Wilmington
and going at a good rate of speed, with
a smooth sea and calm weather when
at y. m. a fireman came hurredly on
deck and reported that the ship was on
fire. A general alarm was Immediately
given and an effort made to lower the
boats, but the fire spread with such
rapidity that all efforts TO reach them
were unavailing because of the flames.
In fact. in less than ten minutes after
the fire was reported the ship was com
pletcly enveloped la flames from stem
to stern. Shortly after the fire was dis
covered an explosion took place in the
cargo. which blew off the after matches.
A second explosion followed a few min
utes later and the ship was then a
mass of flames.
] It was at this time that Captain Hale,
! seeing that to remain on the vessel
meant sure death, gave orders for all
] hands to jump overheard and save
I themselves as best they could. The
\ gallant captain was the last man to
leave the ship, remaining on deck with
his first officer until they were COM
pletely enveloped in flames and the
a vessel had commenced to sink.
There seemed to be no panic on board
and men and women. after lashing 81
their life preservers, calmly leaped over
u board. Some of the passengers had theiI
S faces scorched and many had their
q clothing on fire when they leaped inte
# the sea. The captain and first officer
% ! succeeded in securing a yawl boat
which had been damaged in lowering
n and by hard work rescued eight person
from the water
The burning ship was sighted by tn
four masted schooner Alice Clark O
Portland, Captain Clark. Norfolk fo
6. Portland which lay becalmed six miles
u of, and her captain sent boat crew
It to aid in the work of rescue. They sue
y ceeded in saving u persons from ,
Ol watery grave, many of whom had beer
II an hour or more in the water and hat
s become nearly exhausted. They wer'
IS taken on board the Clark and gvel
Is every possible attention.
u Captain Hale. his officers, crew ant
passengers all speak in the highes
praise Of the treatment they received
at the hands Of Captain Clark, his wifi
80 and crew on board the Clark.
3, CAPTAIN Clark not only gave the ship
20 wrecked men and women food an
r clothing. but supplied them with none
to take them to their homes. The res
cued persons are being cared for her
r. at the Seamen's bethel and at tn
3. homes Of citizens and will proceed I
% New York today.
No explosives were known to b
among the ships cargo and the origi
d of the fire is a mystery to her officer