The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05
STEAMER BURNED At SEA.
FIVE PERSONS LOSE THEIR LIVES
ON THE FREIGHTER CROATIAX.
Flames Spread 90 Fast That They
Were Unable to Lower Boats, and
Crew and Passengers Jumped
Into the Sea, - Being Picked Up.

VINEYARD HAVEN. Mass, Nov. A.
A disaster at sea, fortunately with small
loss, 1--WE persons in all. was made known
today by the landing here of twenty-five
persons who escaped from the burning
steamer Croatan. Of the Clyde line. bound
from New York for Wilmington, ~. G..
and Georgetown, S. {.
The disaster occurred on November 1.
about eighteen miles north of Cape Charles
and about 200 miles from New York. from
which point the steamer sailed on october
81 with general cargo and eight passcn-
gers. AT O'clock in the afternoon the
burned hun OF the big freighter sank be-
meath the waves. OF the twenty-seven per-
sons who We're on board twenty-five have
survived These passengers were landed
at this port this afternoon by the schooner
Alice L. Clark. of Portland. Me-. which
had been in the vicinity of the Croatian at
the time she was burning.
The Croatian's list of drowned is as fol-
lows: Second Assistant Engineer jeremiah
McCarth, of Nova Scotia. leaves widow
in New York: Steward James Curtis. OF
Jersey. Mrs Ja:ces Curtis. wife OF the
steward: Frank an oi.er: Jennie VIII
lard. colored Of Wilmington. N. C..
The story Of the disaster Is told By Capt.
Hale and other officers of the unfortunate
vessel as follows; The Croatian ~as but
twenty hours from New York. on her way
to Wilmington, with smooth sea and calm
weather. when at b.. m. fireman came
hurriedly on deck and reported that the
ship was on fire, A general alarm was i'm
mediateiy given, and an effort was made
10 lower the boats, but the fire spread with
such rapidity that all efforts 70 reach them
we're unavailing because OF the flames. In
fact, In less than ten minutes after the ire
was reported, the ship was completely en-
veloped in flames from stem to stern I'm
mediately after the fire was discovered an
explosion took place that blew off tho at.
ter matches A second explosion followed
a few minutes later, and the ship was then
a mass of flames. II was at this time thar
Capt. Hale, seeing that to remain on the
vessel meant sure death. gave orders for
all hands TO jump overheard and save
themselves as best they could. The gal
liant captain was the last man TO leAveStne
ship, remaining on deck with his frs. Of
ficer until they were completely envelopes
in flames and the vessel had commenced t.
sink.
lnere seemed to be no panic on board.
and men and women. after lashing on their
life preservers, calmly leaped into the wat
er, seeing that their chances OF escape
were much more certain than II they re-
manned on board the burning ship. Some
of the passengers had Their faces scorched
ana many had their clothing on fire when
they ieaped into the water. The captain
and first mate succeeded in securing yawi
boat which had been damaged In lowering,
and by hard work rescued eight persons
from the water.
The burning ship was sighted by the
which lay about SIX miles of, and her cap
tain sent a boat and crew TO aid In tho
work Of rescue. They succeeded In rescu-
Ing twelve persons. many OF whom had
been an hour or more IN the water and
had become nearly exhausted. They were
taken on board the Clarke and given ev-
cry possible attention.
The rescued persons are being cared for
here at the Seamen's Bethel, and at the
homes Of citizens, and VIII proceed 10 New
York tomorrow. No explosives were
known 10 ne among the ships cargo. and
the origin of the fire il mystery 10 her
officers and crew.