The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-12
THE DELAWARE LOST
This clyde Line Steamer Burned OF
Barnegat-Her Seventy Passengers
All Safely Taken From the Steamer.

II
Atlantic City, n. j., July e.-The
Barnegat, y. J., life saving station re-
ports at S o'clock this morning that
the Clyde Line steamer Delaware, from
New York for Charleston and Jackson
Vile, was abandoned off Barnegat at
1890 o'clock last night, the steamer
at the time being on fire. The passen-
gers and crew left the burning vessel
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 the aid
of the fishing smack s. P. Miller.
New York, July 9.-Advices from
Barnegat say that the life saving crew
on nearing the Delaware found that the
passengers had been driven from the
steamer by flames and heat and were
floating on the surface of a calm sea
in small boats and on life RATS. The
Cedar Creek life boat was the first to
arrive. The life boats We're found to
be dangerously overloaded and were
lighted in haste until the life boat was
full. The fishing smack S. p. Miller
came up soon afterWard and took
aboard the rest of the endangered per-
sons. At this time one boat had dis
appeared in the darkness, and some
fear was felt for her safety. The Mil
Ter cruised about in search for her
without success for many hours; she
was found when day light came.
At dawn the Luckenbach Towing
COmpany's tug Ocean King steamed
up, drawn to the spot by the appear
ance of disaster. The passengers and
of ho t,~n, TO
her, and she continued on her voyage
to this city. The captain and twelve
of the crew were taken ashore in the
surf boats, and boarded a train for
New York, to report to the head Office.
John H. Mabie, of Hackensack, N
j., who was on the Delaware, said:
Il had retired at about 9:45 o'clock on
Friday night and had barely disrobed
when steward began hammering at
the state room shouting All up.' The
members of the crew commenced cut
ting holes in the saloon flooring with
axes and hatchets 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
showing the complete discipline under
which Captain Ingram had his crew.
No boat capsiZed, neither man nor wo-
man got wet and the transfer was con-
Quoted in a manner most praisewOrthy
to the officers and crew Of the Ship
Thomas H. Wholes, of Austin, Texas,
a correspondent of The Galveston
News, said there were three loud ex-
plOsions and two minor ones on the
ship. Mr.. WhOles said: "It was a
moon light night, there was very lit
tie wind and the surface of the water
was by no means rough. These con-
ditions enabled the ships officers and
crew to effect the transfer of the pass
engers to the boats with almost mill
tary precision. The captain was the
last man to leave the ship. He lower
ed himself over the side. by a rope
into a raft. Boat No. 2, in which I had
left the ship, was rOWed up to this
raft, a line thrown out and we towed
the raft clear of the ship out Of gan
ger and away from the fierce flames
and terrible heat. The passengers es-
capped, many only partially dressed.
Passengers and crew alike lost their
baggage and effects. The passengers
and crew were saved by means Of our
life boats and the two RATS, all of
which were provisioned and watered
The women behaved splendidly and,
indeed, there was no excitement
among passengers Or crew."
The Delaware was formerly a freight
er, but recently when the government
secured some of the Clyde Lines pas
senger ships, the Delaware had to be
used for passenger service. She was
a wooden ship, built in Philadelphia in
1880, and Was valued at s125,00O. The
vessel was insured, though for what
amount could not be ascertained
The superintendent of the life saving
stationed at Point Pleasant reported
this afternoon that the Delaware had
sunk about three and a half miles off
that place.