Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-16
Steamer Nutmeg State Burned
in Long Island Sound.
Thrilling Scenes as Passengers Are
1aker from the Steamer.
Heroic Work Of Purser ard Head Waiter in
Saving Lives and Properly.

point l.. L., at sunrise, SATURDAY HloiH-
ing The list of injured is very short,
as most of the passengers who escaped
suffered nothing more than shock from
ssubmersion in the chilly water, and
only four persons were sent to the
hospital The steamer was run to the
beach at the outbreak of the flames
and burned to the waters edge.
The list of dead as far as known, in
cludes: Patrick Coffey, mate of the
Nutmeg State; Samuel Jaynes of
bridgeport, baggage master Nils Nil
son, "A member of the crew: Charles
Anderson, watchman; Bernard Hendry.
oiler; Thomas Murphy, member of the
crew; John Connors, one of crew: I'M
known woman, passenger; unknown
man, passenger, drowned.
OF these only the body of Jaynes was
recovered. 1t is now at the morgue in
this city.
The injured Mrs. Joseph Wilt of
of Philadelphia; Harry J. witt, son of
the above; Mrs. Wilkes Of Philadel-
phia; Mrs II. Purcell of New York
city.
The Nutmeg State. with over 100
persons on board. and bound from Con
necticut towns to New York, was dis
covered afire about so o'clock, when
she was within few miles of Sands
point. Just how the fire started viii
never be known. Chief Cook Brown
first saw smoke at $50, and Immediate
iy reported to Capt. G. NJ. Brooks, who
had just gone to his stateroom. The
captain Immediately made an investi-
cation, and the flames We're located be
tween the forward cabin and the don
key engine room. 1t was on the main
deck and seemed to be a small affair,
so Capt. Brooks, not wishing to need
icssly alarm the passengers. ordered
the men called to work as quickly and
as quietly as possible with buckets and
hose. For about 20 minutes the flames
did not seem to be dangerous, and the
mon appeared to have them in con-
troll but suddenly the flames burst out
amdships.
Baggage Master Jaynes was detach-
ed from the fire fighters and sent to
alarm the passengers and all the mem
bers of the crew who were in the for
ward part of the boat. He ran through
the passagcways on the several decks.
shouting to the passengers and the
sleeping crew and remained amid
ships. crying out warnings, until he
was forced by the flames and sitting
smoke to jump overheard. The pas
sengcrs, in various stages Of frenzy.
rushed from the staterooms to the up
per deck. Life prcservers were given
them, and many Of the mon assisted
in putting them on the women and chill
dren.
by this time the entire middle Soc
ficrccly. and the people forward were
completely cut off from communication
with those on the after part Of the
boat. This left the people on the rear
decks in Il perilous situation, as the
lifcboats ON the amidships davits We're
surrounded by flames, and there We're
but few of the crew in the rear to give
aid. AS the flames continued to spread
both forward and aft, Pilot Weather
wax headed the steamboat at full speed
for the beach at Sands point. Tha
draught swept the fire toward the rear
of the boat. The passengers in thai
part Of the vessel went as far back as
possible. but We're cnvelo2ed in black
smoke, and the flames were lcaping
toward them, threatening in a feW
moments to roast them alive. They
nuUNlct tl'lSt 10 Ille rear lStll III itrl',
waiting for the steamer to strike the
beach.
With a shock the Nutmeg state
struck the bottom, and peOpl" seemed
to shoot from all parts of her like shot
from Il sling. They jumped into thu
water and tried to reach the lifeboats.
which had been launched from the
forward part of the vessel. All of the
1,r,t
few moments. but many of the mem
bers of the crew had become imprison
ed in the forward part Of the ship be
low decks, by the flames. There was
no outlet in the vessels side, except
the small port holes, through which no
man could squeeze
The first person to leave the burning
vessel was Baggage Master Jayncs.
In leaping into the sea he struck his
head against the guard rail and was
stunned and fell into the water help
less. The launch from Il. Roger Max
wells steam yacht I\ismet picked him
up and carried him to the kismct,
where the brave fellow died shortly af-
ter being taken aboard.
The Nutmeg State had hardly struck
the beach when several passing craft
came to her rescue. The tuSDcat w.
F. Reed and the I<ismet We're first on
the spot, and after these came the
Hartford liner City of Lawrence. The
latter had followed the Nutmeg State
down the sound several miles in her
wake. and when she arrived on the
scene put out six lifeboats, which were
sufficient to save all of the people who
We're in the water.
Sidney Mather of East Orange. n. j..
had his wife and four small children
aboard the burning boat. He could not
jump. With the assistance of his wife,
however, he lowered the children into
the Kismets launch and then, with the
assistance of two other men, lowered
his wife from the steamer. They Were
conveyed to the City of Lawrence.
An unknown woman passenger
afraid to jump into the water, although
provided with lifebelt. was seen L
fall back to the blazing deck and was
roasted alive. A man passenger wh-
was trying to keep himself afloat on ar
oar, became exhausted and was drown
ed
"hen 1t became apparent that tbs
Nutmeg State was doomed to destruc
tion' the dozen or so of her freigh
handlers are said to have taken nos
session of the first of her lifahoa +.