The sun., 1898-10-11
THE WEEHAWKEN IN FLAMES
Biz Oil Tanks Sprung a Leak
and the Infammable Ma
terial Took Fire.
CREW TOOK TO LIFE BOATS
The Steamer Was Beached in About
the Same Place as the Steamer
Ericsson Was Grounded
or This City.

About o'clock yesterday morning as
the oil tank Weehawken was passing out
the Delaware river her cargo of oil took
fire. The fire was discovered just af-
ter the ship passed Edgemocr and as
there was no possible way of extinguish-
ing the blaze she was beached at
nearly the same place that the steamer
Ericsson was beached some months ago.
Tie boat is valued at $500, 600, and the
cargo at $50, 900. The infammable cargo
burned fercely all yesterday morning
and IS still burning, and will be total
loss.
The Weehawken, which is owned by
the Weehawken Steamship Company,
Limited, and chartered by the Anglo
American Oil Company (the Standard
Oil Company, on Saturday took on q
cargo OF 100000 gallons of refined
petroleum at Point Breeze, Philadelphia,
and after coaling left the wharves there
about 6 O'Clock Sunday evening for
Venice, to which place the cargo was
consigned. When she reached Marcus
Hook she anchored for the night. Short
ly after 4 O'Clock yesterday morning she
resumed her outward journey.
About o'clock, just after the boat had
reached Cherry Island Flats, and while
following the channel, as indicated by
the range lights, she scraped on the bot
tom, evidently touching bar. She got
off without difficulty, however, but few
minutes afterwards w. Arthur Richards,
third engineer, reported to Hubert Cogh-
Ian, chief officer that the bulkheads aft
had been strained by the scraping on
the bottom, and that oil was pouring
into the stoke hole and had caught fire.
/ Coghlan at once ordered the boat
beached, and the pilot headed for the
Delaware shore and ran as far in as pos
sble. The tide was running up at the
time, and, as it was high, the boat was
run into within about 400 yards of the
shore. There was no time for anything
else, and, while this was being done, two
lifeboats were being put in shape, and
the crew of thirty-six men we're soon in
them. Some of the members of the crew
were asleep at the time, but there was
no unnecessary excitement, and they
were quietly awakened and apprised of
the danger. None of them was able,
however, to carry any valuables with
him, and nothing was taken off the big
tanker except her papers and the clothes
the men wore.
The members of the crew were glad to
get away with their lives, as the flames
spread rapidly, and in an incredibly
short space of time all of the boat aft
the engine room was like seething fur
mace The crew was picked up by the
lighthouse tender Zizania which was
coming from the Winter Quarter Shoals,
off the Virginia shore, to This city for
supplies. Captain C. w. Atkins of the
Zizania was on deck when he noticed
the burning steamer. He at once gave
orders for his boat to 60 to its assistance
He was about two miles from the burn
ing boat when he discovered the fire,
and it was matter of only few min
utes before he was alongside and had
the crew OF the tanker safely aboard his
boat.
Captain John Casey of the tanker, and
all of the members of the crew, with the
exception of five men, were brought in
to this city ON the Zizania.
The crew had scarcely abandoned the
boat before the flames began to shoot
out of the stack and in very
short time tongues OF fire could be seen
coming through tt e deck.
The Weehawken, which is frst-class
tanker, was built at Sir William Arm.
strong's yards, at Newcastle-on-Tyne in
1891. She is 80 feet long, 10 feet beam.
2S feet depth of hold, with Il gross ton.
mage of ., 7S4 and net tonnage Of >, 1Ol
Boat and cargo will in all probability be
total loss.