The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-06
A MAD RACE WITH FLAME
THE LEONA FLIES FOR PORT WITH BAT
TENED MATCHES.
Firemen Battle vainly With the Flames When
she Reaches New York. The Cargo
Practically Destroyed.

New York, Oct. 5.-The Mallory Line
steamer Leona. was burned and sunk
at her wharf in East River tonight. The
cargo, consisting OF tobacco AMI 5000
bales of cotton, and valued at $2J0,O00
to 100000 is total loss, and the boat
as little better than wreck
lit is believed that the Leuna, which
sailed from Galveston September 9th,
caught fire at sea several days ago, since
which time she had proceeded at full
speed with battened matches, for This
port. AT $3.50 this afternoon the Leona
came racing UP east River to her pier,
where haste was made to debark the
passengers and open the matches. An
hour later am army of men were vainly
fighting a fire in the steamers hold.
FINALLY the ship was scuttled.
As soon as the Leona made fast t.
her pier, about four o'clock the officers
of the vessel, commanded by Captain
Wilder, ordered the members of the crew
to try to put out the fire i'm the hold
without calling the fire department. This
was soon found to be impossible, and al
alarm was sent i'm. BY $50 o'clock ten
streams Were playing from fire engines
and siX, streams from fire boats. The
iremen had a hard time to get NJ the
flames as the boat came into her dock
steTImOSt, leaving the burning portion
out in the water. The fire at first was
confined to the forward hatchway, di-
rectly forward of the fCremast. The
matches being lifted, a TREMENDOUS vol
mne of smoke came out, making il inn
possible for the tiremen to see. Soon
tons of waiter were pouring into The
doomed vessel, and the ship began to hist
to starboard settling a little as she did
so. AT six O'clock about seventy frcm N
with the chief and deputy chief were on
the boat working to keep the fire from
spreading toward the stern. 1t was found
to be beyond the efforts of the firemcn
and am order was given to open the fore
and aft portfolios in order TO allow the
boat to enter and make her settle. The
water already polurtng into the boat was
managing to run along the bilge kees
until it had reached aft and the ship
showed evidence of listing to sta board
Most of the fireGnen finally left the ship
by sliding down a hose which was fas-
tened to the wheel.
About half a dozen men who were on
the starboard side of the boat were un-
able to get to the pier and kept ON work
ing as if nothing was happening to en-
danger their lives. They continued Gatil
the ship was partially submerged beside
her pier. The men were thrown into the
water. Deputy Chief Duane and tier-
man Thomas Mcfarland of engine M.
II, had to battle for life and were res
cued with difficulty. Several of the
fireboats engaged i'm the work of resell
ing the firemen were nearly carried down
by the sinking of the Leona.
At 1880 O'Clock tonight report tlas
shook the deck plates forward showed the
presence of gas and possibly powder in
the forward hold Another report came
about fifteen minutes later and a third
in about 10 minutes. The explosions
were not serious enough to cause a FUR
ther inflow of water AT about SD
the flames were under control Mt the
MAIN hatchway and the entire work was
confined to the forward hatch The
fianles were so persistent that they We're
not under control for long time, and
the New York was kept at the boat play
ing ON her an night.