Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-16

children. 1t was imposs lble for Capt
Brooks to control the rough, cowardly
set of men, and they We're utterly OBJ
livious to the perils of the passengers.
When the passengers were forced
from the lifeboat. it doubled the de-
mands on second which was lowered,
and a wild scramble of the panic strick-
en- people ensued. This boat was over
loaded and overturned. 1t could not
be righted, and the men, women and
children remained in the chilly water,
clinging to the boat until help arrived
from the few passing craft.
The tuSboat Reed ran under the Nut
meg States stern and some of the passen
gers jumped from the burning boat to IFS
deck. Then the tug went forward and
made an effort to save the imprisoned
men in the crews quarters. The heat was
so intense that ii drove the tug away
and it again turned its attention 10 PICK
ing up the people from the water.
1t made another attempt and some 81
the tugs men chopped away some Woou
work at the bow of the Nutmeg State.
Two Of the tiremen were saved, but ,Ic
other men of the crew, VINO i''op 49,, or'
We're exhausted from the smoke: W.
unabie 10 climb out of the mole Deioit wv
Reed was again forced away from "
ship on account of the spread OF -.
flames. 1t is now believed that seHen
ltflG3pnDTL
Mate Coffcy. were burned to death III
their quarters below decks al the DOW
Capt. Brooks was the last 70 leaEe ihc
Nutmeg State. and just rev stcoiiuS -
fore hinr Pilot NeathcrW3A '1iT I,,i.,,,i,,,.
Hurlburt of Bridgeport, leIt inc oui "'"7
The passengers ana rescued members
from the burning ship were placed anu':u
the City of Lawrence, ana '"e u""I c,n
BaggAgemaster Jaynes was alSp con
yevCd 10 the Hartford liner. which pro
ceeded on her way To- ms Guy. ana =,
rived about 10 o'clock in the morning NJ, ol
the 10 of The rescued aboard the city 81
Lawrence, only four needed hospital
: The Reed and the Ilismet also took
care Of number, or me res, tb I,.+ ,,e
the passengers ana crew had left tn
Nutmeg State that her dangerous cargo
.nxnIOded There was tremendous sound
of muske;ry in her hold. but ii did no
damage unless it was To the poor. burned
corpses of those who had never from the
first puff Of flames amidSnips had
shadow If chance to escape.
The City Of Lawrence lowered her boat 5
and they were rOWCd in alongside, Will
the tug boat itself went as near to the
burning vessel as il was possible to Do.
MANY were rescued from the water. bus
there were some on board the Lawrence
when she later reached the city who de,
clare that they saw more die than would
br accounted for i'm the lists given OUt.
often returning with water soaked ana
shivering passengers. in order that they
might receive proper care, dry clothing
and Stimu!antS.
Many jumped overheard. either Of th"lr
own volition or when asked to do 50. ana
were picked up from the water when IN
Nutmeg State became too hot Tor furthtr
company Thanks to the care ana
Of J. Stevens, the purscr.
and " NJ. Williams, the head waiter the
heroes of the disaster these passenger
had all had life prescrvers properly hNeu
50 that their wetting was nothing worse
than an inconvenience.
Las. Of all the heroes-black men both
the summons To jump. They
looked about and saw the BLAZING craft
deserted Of living men. The captain was
gone. the crew. the passengers
Then Stevens and Williams jumped To
gcthcr ard were picked NJ, by a boat Of
The City Of Lawrence. ana when theN
lacked AT their watches a little later,
found that both had stopped at $40, me
time of the ending of the tragedy.