New-York tribune., 1899-05-19
MAY 10. 99.-EIGHTEEN PAGES.
FIRE AND TWO COLLISIONS.
BARBAROSSA. FLAMES IN HOLD, TURNS
BACK; SMASHES LA BRETAGNE

THE FRENCHMAN IN TURN SINKS TWO ICE
BARGEs LYING NEAR HER AT HER
PIER. THE BARBAROssA HAVING
PREVIOUSLY RUN DOWN
LTGHTER-DR. BRIGGS ON
THE BARBAROssA
The North German Lloyd steamship Barba
rosa, which sailed from Hoboken yesterday a
little after II a. m. with list Of cabin passen-
gers numbering nearly three hundred and fifty
OF whom the Rev. DR.. Charles A. Briggs was
one, had passed only a short distance beyond
Quarantine when Captain Richter discovered
smoke Issuing from a ventilator on the port side
forward. He at once sent the second officer
below to find out what the trouble was, and the
officer reported fire in the cargo slowed In port
compartment No. Of the under deck
The vessel had left Quarantine and was in the
regular ship channel In the Lower Bay. which is
six hundred feet wide. when the fire dis
covered AS the Barbarossa is herself $50 feet
in length. Captain Richter was obliged to go as
far as Southwest Spit, just inside Sandy Hook
before he could put about. At ITO p. m. she
bad turned and on her way back. She sig
nailed that she had fire in her cargo and needed
assistance.
The marine observer at Sandy Hook tee-
graphed to Oelrichs Co., the vessels agents,
and to the Maritime Exchange that she needed
aid. Captain Moeller the superintendent Of the
line was directed TO proceed at once down the Bay
on tug the Fire Department was Informed
and dispatched the freboats NewYorker and
Zophar Mills to the liners assistance, and the
Merritt G. Chapman Wreckng Company also
sent tugs md derricks down to meet her. BY
the time the Barbarossa reached Quarantine
dozen vessels were on hand to give her help.
When Captain Moeller reached her he ordered
the captain OF the ship to proceed to Hoboken.
In the mean time the matches had been closed
and the ventilators covered over with canvas to
prevent draughts. The compartment was filed
with steam and in this way the fire kept
under control sufficiently to enable the ship to
reach her pier.
A SERIES OF COLLISIONS.
The Barbarossa passed up the Ray and river
at rapid pace. hugging the east shore. AS she
approached the pier CT the French Line, at Nor
ton st. she veered in, striking Erie Railroad
lighter, and. sliding up against the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Railroad pier. which
is next below the French Line. she crashed into
the steamship La Bretagne. OF that line, cut
ting a big hole in her starboard side near the
stern All the lines OF La Bretagne parted, and
she IVES forced ahead, cutting in two the ceboats
Richard j. Foster and lie Roy. which lay
athwart her bow at the end OF the slip. The
stern OF La Bretagne crashed into the French
Line pier. doing considerable damage. Fortu-
nately, although large force of men were busy
loading the Frenchman and others were on the
iceboats no one was injured by the collision
The Barbarossa whistled for assistance. and
in a few seconds dozen towboats had started
for her She was pulled out and towed across
the river where she was tied up to the ends OF
two North German Lloyd piers.
The fire meanwhile had continued to shoulder,
and two engines from the Hoboken Fire Depart
ment were called to the pier. while on the river
side the Zophar Mills was tied to the Barba-
rossa The matches covering the hold were
taken of and the work Of taking out the cargo
began. The first thing to be pulled out was
bale of cotton AS more and more OF the cargo
was removed the smoke rose In sunocating
clouds and Chief Engineer r. Rose, OF the
steamship, who directing the work. was
overcome and had to be taken on deck. II soon
became necessary to pour water Into the mold,
and before long five streams were being played
on the cargo. AS soon as the smoke would
cease for few minutes men would be sent be-
Io. m get the cargo out and when the men
were forced out by the suffocatng smoke the
streams OF water would be poured in until the
smoke was reduced sufficiently to allow the work
to continue.
CABIN PASSENGERS LEAVE THE SHIP.
The steerage passengers had been sent to the
stern OF the ship. and the cabin passengers
crowded on the upper decks to watch opera
tions They allowed to take their choice
OF remaining on the vessel all night or OF going
to hotels or to their homes the agents Of the
line promising to inform them when the ship
would again sail Many stayed on board all af
ternoon but all left the ship in the evening.
some going to their homes and others to hotels.
the latter being cared for at the company's ex
pense.
Among interested observers on board the Bar
barossa was DR.. Briggs. who took passage with
his family on the vessel He was curious to
know what damage had been done La Bretagne.
but would not talk Of the fire or the way 1t was
managed by the officers and crew.
Some OF the passengers thought the discipline
among the crew when the fire was discovered
was decidedly lax. and that the appliances on
board for fghting the blaze were of a rather poor
order w. d. Boyce, publisher Of Chicago.
was one OF these He had a party Of seven on
the vessel and. 90 as he was able. went
ashore with them all ] ,eclared that the sailors
when the fire became known ran here and there
like a lot OF boys. The captain, he said. had
row with the chief officer. who could get no
work whatever from his men, and was finally
obliged himself 10 take charge and force the
sailors to their work. There were three sec
tions OF hose brought out. and when the water
was pumped through the hose much water
came from the joints from the nozzle Mr..
Boyce said 1t became necessary he declared.
to tie up the joints with canvas to make the
hose OF any use. And further. he said. there
seemed to be no caps to cover over the vent
lators. and tarpaulins had to be torn up to
make caps.
Other nassenRers declared that the crew