The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08

A Pier Destroyed and Several Vessels Are
Damaged.

A Pier Destroyed and Several Vessels Are
Damaged.
A fire which at one time threatened to do
considerable damage to the big warehouses
and vessels In the Erie Basin was discovered
at 6:35 o'clock last evening in tho centre OF
the long covered pier at the foot OF Richards
street. Brooklyn. within the basin at the time
wure over fifty vessels. Those most in danger
were towed out into the river. There were
| several, however. that could not be handled
owing to the heat.
Roundsman Thomas Farrell Of the Hamil-
ton avenue station was on Conover street
when he saw smoke coming from the Rich
ards store pier. He sent in an alarm which
brought three engines and hook and ladder
company to the place. In I'VE minutes sec
ond and q third alarm were sent In. and six
more engines and two hook and ladder COM
panies responded as did also the FIRE sboats
Van Wyck. Seth Low and David A. Boody.
Deputy Fire Chiefs Dale and Murray were
soon on the ground and directed the nremen
In their efforts to save the property.
BY the time the FIRST engine arrived the pier
was all in flames. 1t was frame structure
covered with corrugated iron 500 feet long
and 20 feet wide. 1t was filed with jute. bur-
lap. tea. rubber. plumbago and cocoanut oils.
On the north side whore the steamship Buceros.
which arrived from Calcutta only few days
ago. and the barge. Railway. On the south
side were the barge Lester. the canal boat
James O'Donnell. the lighter Emily and several
other lighters.
The flames from tho pier soon set nre to tho
rigging OF the Buceros and then ran down to
the deck part OF the cargo. Several tug boats
were signaled and In few minutes the steam
ship was towed out into the river. whore tho
fire was extinguished. The vessel is con signed
to Norton Son OF the Produce Exchange and
WAS in nd ~ la N, Dirdip
The barge Lester was set on FIRE and. being
hemmed in. was burned to the waters edge
She was chartered by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Co. and had 135 barrels Of pumbaRo
aboard. The lighter Emily. owned by John
Johanson and chartered by the Pennsylvania
Railroad with cargo Of no bales Of goat
hides. was badly damaged. The steam barge
Railway and the canal boat James O'Donnell
were slightly damaged. The barge Jasper
Murphy was lying at the adjoining pier and
as there was no tug boat handy to take her
out OF the slip. Detective Sergeant Daniel Far
rell. Patrolman Lind and eight young met cut
the ropes and towed her down to tho end Of
the dock.
Tho energy OF the fremen was directed to
soon seen that It would be impossible to save
for che men to remain at work for long at a
time, The pier was left a masS Of EN- bers. and
ase last night the ITte fqra and other
tinped to pour water on the mass
shortly after the f1remen arrived IL was
found that several workmen had been
burned. and am bulances were sent from the
Seney. Norwegian and Brooklyn hospitals
William Vreeland. Waterman at pier 49, badly
burned on tho hand and arm. was taken to hjs
home. Robert Maxwell. watchman. Of 2O6
Thirty third street, was burned about the
hands and face. He also was taken home.
Amos Godfrey. Waterman on the pier which
was destroyed. was badly burned on the face.
hands and body. and was carried TO the Seney
Hosp.tal He lives at 527 Tenth street.
The pier Is owned by the Brooklyn Wharf
tho loss will amount to about $4,000 on ths
building and contents. The damage TO the
Steamship Buoeros Is estimated at SIC. 900.
canal boat. O'Donnell. 1000: barge RshWay.
$500: lighter Emily. 81. 800
le.sness o. the longshoremen In lighting their
pipes.