Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09
Fire Seizes the Clyde Liner Delaware
of Barnegat.
PASSENGERS PERIL IN fHE MIGHT
They Dangerously Overloaded Rats
and Life Boats.
ALL SAFELY r ESQ U E d

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., July 9.-The
Barnegat, N. j., life saving station report
ed this morning that the Clyde Line steam-
er Delaware, from New York, for Charles
ton and Jacksonville, was abandoned on
Barnegat at 1870 o'clock last night, the
steamer at the time being on fire. The
passengers and crew left the burning YES
sci in boats and On life RATS.
There were seventy persons in all and
they were rescued by the members of the
Cedar creek life saving station with TIE
aid of the crew, of the fishing smack s. p
Miller. All were transferred to the tug
Ocean Queen and the captain and twelve
of the crew Of the Inflated steamer were
landed at Barnegat, presumably to look
after the ship. The others were taken by
the Ocean Queen to New York.
Dangerously Overloaded.
The life saving crews on nearing the
Delaware found that the passengers had
been driven from the steamer by flame
and heat, and were floating on the surface
of a calm sea, in small boats and on life
RATS. The Cedar creek lifeboat was the
first to arrive.
Some of the RATS were found to be
dangerously overloaded and they were
lightened in haste until the lifeboat was
soon afterward and took aboard the rest
of the endangered persons. At this time
one boat had disappeared in the darkness
and some fear was felt for her safety.
The Miller cruised about in search for her
without success for many hours; she was
finally found when daylight came.
The Rescue.
AT dawn the Luckenbach Towing Com
pany's tug Ocean Queen steamed up,
drawn to the spot by the appearance of
the disaster. The passengers and some Of
the crew were transferred to her and she
continued on her voyage to New York
city.
The captain and twelve Of the crew were
taken ashore in the surfboats and boarded
a train for New York to report to the head
office. They were expected to arrive this
afternoon. Late reports from Barnegat
say that the Delaware is drifting off shore
with large clouds of smoke rising from
her.
The Delaware was built in Philadelphia
in 1880 at Hillman's shipyard. She has
three decks and is PSI feet long 81 feet
beam and Ii feet deep. Her register is
1927 net tons ard 1,646 gross tons.
Passengers Story.
NEW YORK, July 9.-John H. Mabie of
Hackensack, N. j., who was on the Della
ware, said: Il had retired at about 9:45 on
Friday night and had barely disrobed
when a steward began hammering at the
state room, shouting AN up! The mem
bers of the crew commenced cutting holes
in the saloon flooring with axes and hatch
cts, and from. every hole thus cut great
flames burst forth and began consuming
the cabin furniture. 1t was apparent at a
glance that the vessel was doomed
Preparations were quickly made for
taking to the boats. The transfer was
made safely and without any incident of
note, showing the complete discipline I'M
der which Captain Ingram had his crew.
No boat capsized; neither man nor woman
got wet and the transfer was conducted
In a manner most praiseworthy to the
officers and crew of the ship.
Thomas II. Wheless of Austin Tex a
correspondent of the Galveston News, said
there were three loud explosions and two
minor ones on the ship.