The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-26
BURNED At SEA.
The Clyde Liner CrOaten De-
stroyed Off Cape Charles.
FIVE PASSENGERS WERE DROWNED.
Heroism OF the Captain. Who Save.
Many LiVes-Picked up Exhausted
by Passing Vessel.

Vineyard Haven Mass. "A disaster
at sea, fortunately with a small loss of
life, five persons in all, was made
known by the landing here OF twenty
two persons, who escaped from the burn.
ing steamer Croatan of the Clyde line
bound from New York for Wilmington.
N. c., and Georgetown, S. G.
The disaster occurred on November
LIST, about eighteen miles north OF Cape
Charles and about 2O6 miles from New
York, from which port the steamer
sailed on October lst, with general
cargo and eight passengers.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the
burned hull of the freighter sank be-
meath the waves OF the twenty-seyen
persons who were on board, twenty.
two have survived. These passengers
were landed at this port by the
schooner Alice L. Clark of Portland.
Me, which had been in the vicinity Of
the Croatan at the time she was burned.
The Croatan's list of drowned is as
follows:
Second Assistant Engineer Jeremiah
McCarty of Nova Scotia; leaves q
widow in New York
Steward James Curtis of Jersey CITY.
Mrs. James Curtis, wife of the
steward.
Frank -, an Oiler Qast name un.
known.
Jennie Willard, colored, Whining
ton, N. c.
The story OF the disaster is told by
Captain Hale and other officers of the
unfortunate vessel, as follows:
The Croatan was but twenty hours
from New York on her way to Viii.
mingtOn, with smooth sea and calm
weather, when, at 3 p. M, fireman
came hurriedly on deck and reported
that the ship was on fire. A general
alarm was Immediately given and AN
effort was made to lower the boats, but
the fire spread with such rapidity that
all efforts to reach them were unavail.
ing. In fact, in less than ten minutes
after the fire was reported the ship was
completely enveloped in flames from
stem to stern.
Shortly after the fire was discovered
an explosion took place in the cargo
which blew off the after matches. A
second explosion followed few min
utes later, and the ship was then
mass of flames. 1t was at this time
that Captain Hale, seeing that to re-
main on the vessel meant sure death.
gave orders for all hands to jump over
board and save themselves as best they
could. The gallant captain was the
last man to leave the ship, remaining
on deck with his first officer until they
were completely enveloped in flames
and the vessel had commenced to sink.
There seemed to be no panic on board
and men and women, after flashing on
their life preservers, calmly leaped into
the water, seeing that their chances of
escape were much more certain than if
they remained on board the burning
ship. Some of the passengers had their
faces scorched, and many had their
clothing on fire when they leaped into
the water. The captain and first
officer succeeded in securing yawl
boat which had been damaged in lower
ing, and by hard work rescued eight
persons from the water.
The burning ship was sighted by the
four masted schooner Alice +. Clark,
which lay about six miles off, and her
captain sent boat and crew to aid in
the work OF rescue. They succeeded in
rescuring twelve persons, many Of
whom had been an hour or more in
the water and were nearly exhausted.
They we've taken on board the Clark
and given every possible attention.
The rescued persons are being cared
for here at the Seamen's Bethel and at
the Home OF Citizens.