Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-19
Daily 4 ennebec Journal.
SHORT BUT EXCITING.
Steamer Barbarossa on Fire. Besides Ram.
ming Steamer and Two Barges.

New York May 1S.-With thick
smoke flutterng up from her forward
ventiIators and the fire signal displayed
in her rigging the North German Lloyd
ocean liner Barbarossa put back into
mort this afternoon, ending trip,
which though of only a few hours du-
ration was full of exciting incidents.
The Barbarossa, which carries Unit
ed States mails. drew out of her dock
ot II o'clock this morning, ocean
bound. She carried 500 saloon and
cabin passengers, several immigrants
in the steerage, a crew of $50 and a
general cargo of merchandise. in which
were over 5000 bales of cotton. She was
under commanded of Capt. \. Richter
and bound for Bremen. There were
many persons of prominence on the
deck of the big steamship as she crept
out of the North river, among them
Prof. Charles A. Briggs, with his wife
and daughters.
Just as the BarbaroSsa was passing
through the narrows a slight wreath of
smoke was seen curling up from one of
the forward ventiiators In n short
time it grew in volume and it was dis
covered coming from one of the for
ward. lower port compartments, in
which the thousands of bales of cotton
were stored.
sistance'' was instantly run aloft Capt
Richter could not Immediately turn
back because of the narrow channel
and had to steam on to a wider berth.
At the southwest spit he turned about
and headed for port At this the ma
rine observer flashed the news to the
city that the Barbarossa was on fire
and the two fire boats Zophar Mills and
Robert y. Van Wyck We're sent down
the bay. The fire boats and all others
that ran alongside offering assistance
were told that the fire could best be
fought at the pier of the steamship in
Hobollen The Barbarossa plOughed
on towards her dock With the other
small craft all about her.
on rounding the Battery it was ncces-
sary to sacken speed and hug the New
York shore because Of the number Of
craft the river. AS soon as she neared
the ferry slips Christopher street ferry
boat slipped out. The Barbarossa had to
dodge this and also a cattle ship. Then
appeared the United States mail boat and
an Erie lighter. The Barbarossa struck
the lighter and sustained a bent prov.
This threw her into the slips. The side
Of the vessel struck the end of Pier Il
throwing the bow into the French liner
La Bretagne, which lay at the dock. She
struck with such force that La Bretagne
was stove in and was rammed so hard
that all of her gangways and freight
s<ids were smashed into splinters La
Bretagnes Prov was run clear throsgh
the barge Foster, sinking that boat i'm
mediately, and rammed the barge Leroy
50 badly that she sank within a short
time.
The Barbarossa was hauled off. and.
still burning fiercely below decks was
taken across the river to her dock in Ho-
bolen Her PROV was badly twisted.
paint off her sides, and some Of her plates
sprung.
Her cotton laden compartment was
flooded and about o'clock the fire was
cXtngushed. All of her passengers had
been put off. No estimate can be made
of the damage to the Barbarossa and her
cargo, as it is not known how much Of
the cotton was burned, although all Of it
is watersoaked. An enormous quantity Of
cereals was in the hold near the COM
pdrtment in which the cotton was and If
is thought these suffered 1t is believed
the Barbarossa will be put in shape for
sailing, Saturday.
The damage to La BretaSne is heavy.
y wedge-shaped gap appears six or eight
feet wide on the decks and tapers down
to the water line. General Superintendent
DE BOcando of the French Line, said: Il
cannot say how great our loss is until
La Bretagne is put in dry dock. This
will be done Immediately. | hope to get
her off on her regular trip, Wednesday,
Notwithstanding the temporary repairs
and efforts made to stop the flow of wa
ter. the ship has settled considerably, but
fears are not entertained as to her
sinking.
The two sunken barges with their car
goes were valued al about $6lGU.