Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-11-09
CAUGHT FIRE At SEA.
The Clyde Line Steamer Croa
tan a Total Loss.
ONLY FIVE LIVES LOST
Out of Twenty-Seveu Persons
on Board

Vineyard Haven, Mass, Nov. 4
A disaster at sea, fortunately with
a small loss of life, FIVE persons II
in all, was made known today by
the landing here of twenty-five per
sons who escaped from the burning
steamer Croatan, of the Clyde line,
bound for New York, for Whining
ton and Georgetown, S. c. The
disaster occurred on November +
about eighteen miles north of Cape
Charles and about 200 miles from
New York, from which port the
steamer sailed on October 81 with
a general cargo and eight passen-
gers.
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon the
burned bulk of the big freighter
sank beneath the waves. Of the
twenty-sevan passengers who were
on board, twenty-five landed at this
port this afternoon by the schooner
Alice E. CLARK, of Portland, Me-,
which had been in the vicinity of
the Croatan at the time she was
burning. The Croatan's list of
drowned is as follows: Second AS
sistant Engineer Jerry Mccarthy,
of Nova Scotia, leaves widow In
New York. Steward James Curtin,
of Jersey City; Mrs. James Curtin,
wife of the steward. Frank -,
an oiler, Qast name unknown).
Jennie Willard, colored, Whining
ton, N. c.
The story of the disaster is told
by Captain Hale and other officers
of the unfortunate vessels, as fol-
lows:
The Croatan was but twenty-five
hours from New York on her way
to Wilmington, and going at good
rate of speed with smooth sea and
calm weather, when al 3 p. m. a
fireman came hurriedly on deck
and reported that the ship was on
fire. A general alarm was imme-
diately given and an effort made to
lower the boats, but the fire spread
with such rapidity that all efforts to
reach them were unavailing be-
cause of the flames.
In fact, in less than ten minutes
after the fire was reported, the ship
was completely enveloped in flames
from stem to stern. Shortly after
the fire was discovered, an explo-
sion took place In the cargo, which
blew off the after-hstches. A sec
ond explosion followed a few min.
utes later, and the ship was then a
mass of flames. 1t was at this time
that Captain Hale, seeing that to
remain on the ship meant sure death
gave orders for all hands to jump
overheard and save themselves as
best they could. The gallant cap
tain was the last man to leave the
ship, remaining on deck with the
first officer until they were COM
pletely enveloped in flames, and the
vessel had Cmmenced to settle.
There seemed to be no panic on
board, and men and women, after
lasbing on their life preservers
calmly leaped into the water, know
ing that the chances of escape were
much more certain than if they re
NAMED on board the burning ship
Some of the passengers had theil
faces scorched, and many had thei,
clothing on fire when they leapee
into the sea.
The captain and first officer sue
ceeded in securing a yawl boat
which had been damaged in lower
Ing, and by hard work secured
eight persons from the water.
The burning ship was sighted b.
the four-masted schooner, Alic'
Clark, of Portland, Captain Clark
from Norfolk for Portland, whicl
lay becalmed six miles of, and he
captain sent a boats crew to aid Ii
the work of rescue. They succeeded
in saving about twelve persons
many of whom had been in tn
water an hour or more, and ha'
become nearly exhausted. The,
were taken on board the Clark an
given every possible attention.
Captain Hale, his officers, GREY
and passengers all speak in tn
highest praise of the treatmen
they received at the hands of Car