Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-05
CLYDE STEAMER cRoATAx LOST.
Burned on Cape Charies-Five Per-
sons Drowned.

sons Drowned.
VINEYARD HAVEN, MASS, NoveEa-
Der A disaster at sea. fortunately with
a small loss of life-five persons in all
was made known to-day 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, N. c., and Georgetown. ).
c. The disaster occurred on November
1st. about eighteen miles north OF Cape
Charles, and about 2os miles from New
York, from which port the steamer sailed
on October 3lst, with general cargo and
| eight passengers.
At o'clock in the afternoon the burn
ed hulk Of the big freighter sank beneath
the waves. OF the twenty-seven persons
who were on board, twenty-five have sur
| viyed. These passengers were landed
| here this afternoon by the schooner Alice
C. Clark, Of Portland, Me-, which had
been I'm the vicinity OF the Croatan at the
| time she was burning. The Croatan's list
| OF drowned is as follows: Second-Assfst-
| ant-Engineer jeremiah Mccarthy, OF
Nova Scotia, who leaves a widow In New
York; Steward James Curtis, OF Jersey
| City; Mrs. James Curtis wife of the stew
ard; Frank -, an oiler 0ast name I'M
known; Jennie Willard (colore0, Of Will
mington, n. c.
| The story OF the disaster Is graphically
| told by Captain Hale and other officers
Of the unfortunate vessel as follows:
THE FIRST ALARM.
The Croatan was but twenty hours
from New York, on her way to Whining
ton, and going at a good rate OF speed
with a smooth sea and calm weather
when, at =. NJ, fireman came hurried
~ on deck and reported that the ship wa:
| on fire. A general alarm was Immediately
given and an effort was made TO lower
the boats, but the fire spread with suci
were unavailing, because Of the fire. IL
fact, in less than ten minutes after th'
fire was reported the ship was completely
enveloped in flames from stem to stern
Shortly after the fire was discovered
an explosion took place in the cargo
which blew of the after matches. A Sc
cond explosion followed a few minute;
later, and the ship was then a mass Of
flames. IL was at this time that Captain
Hale, seeing that 10 remain on the yesse
meant sure death, gave orders for al
hands TO jump overheard and save them
selves as best they could.
The gallant captain was the last mar
10 leave the ship, remaining on decl
with his first officer until the two wer'
completely enveloped in flames and tn
vessel had commenced to sink. Their
seemed TO be no panic on board, and mel
and women after lashing on life-pre
servers, leaped into the water Some 0
the passengers had their faces scorche'
and many had their clothing on fire whel
they leaped into the sea.
WORK OF RESCUE.
The captain and first officer succeede
= In securing a yawl-boat, which had bee
damaged in lowering, and by hard wor
rescued the persons n the water.
The burning ship was sighted by IN
rour-masted schooner Alice Clark, Car
tain Clark, Norfolk for Portland, whic
lay becalmed six miles off, and her car
tain sent boat-crew to aid in the wor
n OF rescue They succeeded in savin
twelve persons from watery grave
4 many Of whom had been an hour c
more IN the water and had become
! nearly exhausted. They were taken o
board the Clark and given every possib
attention.
Captain Clark, indeed, not only gay
= the shipwrecked men and women foe
= and clothing, but supplied them wit
money 20 take them TO their homes. TT
rescued persons are being cared for hel
h az the Seamen's Bethel and at the hons
L OF citizens, and will proceed TO Ne
= York tomorrow.
4 CAUSE OF FIRE A MYSTERY.
e No explosives were known 10 be in Il
=, ships cargo, and the origin Of the III
. is a mystery to her officers and crew.
: The Croatsn is said 70 have bee
8 valued at 100000. She was fully insure
e She was a steel twin-screw steame
J. built at Bailey Scotland, in 1881. 81
. registered 1O24 tons gross and sN TOT
net, was 2Ol.6 feet long, S2.l feet bear
and 1875 feet deep. Her name when bui
d was joaquin Ancona," which WI
:. changed 70 Alpine" previous 10 the la
vo,,,o Eorra -