The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-14
DEATH BY FIRE.
Steamer Nutmeg State Burns
to Waters Edge.
Woman Passenger and Three of
the Crew Lose Their Lives.

New York, Oct. 1.-THE steamer Nut
meg State of the Bridgeport line was
burned to the waters edge this morn
ing and is now lying a wreck on Old
Hen reef, off Sands Point. a few miles
from here. Most of the passengers
were saved, being taken off by the
steamer City of Lawrence. The freight
was all destroyed.
An estimate OF the loss cannot now
be furnished. Sne took fire at o'clock
while we'll out in the sound and after
the passengers were taken off she was
beached by her captain. At 8 o'clock
she was practically a total loss and
still smouIdering.
The City of Lawrence came up to her
pier in East river with some of the pas
Sengers of the Nutmeg State. Ambu-
lances were sent for.
Captain Charles Brooks of the Nut
meg State reported that the steamer
was a total loss. He said that three of
his crew were burned to death and he
feared that some of the passengers had
suffered q like fate. The vessel is in
y feet Of water a mile east of Sands
Point on the Long Island sound.
Samuel Jayne, the baggagemaster,
was lost He got out of the hold in
which the fire was and jumped over
board to escape the flames. A passing
steam yacht which had sailed as close
to the burning boat as she dared steam
ed up to the man as the yacht owner
saw him trying to swim and Jayne was
picked up. When he was laid out on
the deck he was dead.
Patrick Coffee, mate, was in the low
er part of the hold when the fire start
ed. He could not get out and he was
burned to death.
An Oiler, whose name the captain
could not remember, was also a victim.
He was also in the hold, could not get
out and died from inhaling flames.
Capt Brooks reported that the Nut
meg State left Bridgeport at 3 o'clock
this morning. He said that the first
he knew of the fire was when he saw a
blaze around the smOkestack. The fire
was burning rather briskly then and he
got some men to work in trying to put
out the fire. The steamboat was then
five miles east of Execution Light She
was headed directly for Sands Point
and all steam put on. She made good
time while utmost excitement reigned
on board the vessel
When near Sands Point the captain
directed the bow of the boat direct
ahead for the beach and he ran ashore
about mile east of the point Capt.
Brooks said that the vessel went into II
and a half feet of woater before she
grounded and settled.
There were between 80 and 40 passen-
gers on the Nutmeg State, Capt. Brooks
said. He said that he was afraid that
some of them were lost. Everything
possible was done for the safety of the
passengers. The City of Lawrence, a
to the city saw the fire and steamed
over towards the burning vessel. Boats
were put out from her, and by heroic
work the passengers of the Nutmeg
State were taken aboard the vessel.
with the remaining members of the
crew and brought to the city. Capt.
Brooks reported that the vessel and
freight is a total loss. All the, TOP
works had been burned. Capt. Brooks
said, when he left, and the hold was
then still on fire.
At 10:30 a. m. the following list of
known dead and injured was given out:
SAMUEL JAYNE. baggagemaster of
the steamer Picked out of the water
by the yacht Kismet, died on board.
BARNEY HENDRY. oiler.
UNKNOWN WOMAN.
PATRICK COFFEE.
Some of the injured are:
Harry J. Willie of Philadelphia, and
his mother.
Mrs. H. Purcell, of New York.
49, The he Nutmeg State was valued at
Sl5O,OOO and including the cargo it is
| stimated that the total DANCE done
by the fire viii foot up in the neighbor-
| hood of $500, 600.
| The vessel was built some years ago
| at Noank Conn, and her gross tonnage
| was 1,l24 tons She was a propeller
| craft and had three decks.
MORE DEAD
Later the following additional names
| of known dead were given out:
| TERENCE BRADY, of New York,
| cabin boy.
| CHARLES ANDERSON.
| THOMAS MURPHY
| JOHN CONNORS, all of the crew.
| It IS feared that some women and
| children were lost by the swamping of
! the life boats.