El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-14
PASSENGERS RESCUED
BY The City Of Lawrence But
Many Are Known TO
Have Lost Their
Lives.

NEW YORK, Oct. 14.-The propeller
Nutmeg State, of the Bridgeport
Steamboat Co., which left Connecticut
city at midnight with good sized
passenger list and freight cargo,
caught fire at O'Clock this morning
off Port Slocum and quickly burned to
waters edge.
The fire started in the engine room
and was beyond COL troll in few min
utes. The passengers took to the boats,
but were rescued by the City of Law
renee of Providence, L. l., which was
coming in close behind. The burning
ship was beached on old Hen Point
where the fire completed the destruc-
tion of the boat. The Nutmeg State
had 55 passengers aboard, and large
pumber of the passengers had narrow
escape from death.
1t was impossible at noon to tell how
many perished, but the following are
known to have lost their lives: Sam
uel Payne, the baggagemaster OF the
steamer, was picked up from the water
by the yacht Kismet and died on board.
Bergarney Hendry, an oiler, an un-
known woman. and Patrick Coffey, the
fret mate. Many of tie passengers
we're injured, but SO far It is learned
that none fatally.
Wreckipg tugs are dragging the
sound for more bodies. After the ex-
citement attending the rescue Of the
passengers and crew of the burned
steamer had subsidized, it was learned
that a number of persons bad jumped
overheard from the burning vessel and
q search was commenced for the
bodies.
How many persons perished by
Some persons say they saw a life boat
containing several women and children
capsize. The occupants were thrown
into the water and disappeared. The
survivors who claim to have witnessed
the accident were unable to say how
many persons were in the boat, and it
was impossible to confirm the report.
Captain Brooks says he knows that
three of his men who were in the hold
of the vessel had no way of escaping.
He believes that they burned to
death.
Two women of the Salvation Amry
are reported missing ard 1t is feared
that they were burned, as they were
not seen during the burning of the
ship. 1t is believed they perished in
the state rooms.
It is believed that the force of the
explosion in the engine room threw
some sparks into the hold, where
com bustible cargo was stored. The
fire spread 30 rapidly that in short
time the steamer was wrapped in
flames from stem to stern.
The passengers were asleep In the
bsrths and were awakened either by
the smoke and cracking Of the flames
or.by the efforts of the crew, who ran
from state room to state room calling
to ali the occupants.
The passengers became panic strick
en- and the crew were compelled to hold
down several who attempted to Jump
overheard.
Life boats were lowered by some
men among the passengers, while some
fought the fire. Just then the
steamer City of Lawrence appeared
and many of the passengers were cafe
ly transferred by the small boats.
The flames Of the burning steamer
could be seen up the shore for miles.
People along the shore watched the
spectacle. For long time small craft
with all hands hOvered about the
wreck.
The City of Lawrence brought the
passengers who were saved to this city,
who were sent in ambulances to the
hospitals. Nutmeg State was 2O6 feet
long with "a feet beam and 13 feet
deep: it displaced 1912 tons gross and
carried crew of so.
Licensed to Wed.
r Monouna1 ap6 Miss Janet Fraser