Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-15
TERRIBLE DISASTER IN LONG
ISLAND SOUND.
BURNED TO DEATH OR DROWNED.
A Hundred or More People in Peril
on n blazing steamer-BrutaI Cow
ardice of Freight-HandIcrs on
board.

gage master of the Nutmeg State.
Nils Nilsson, member OF the crew Of the
burned steamer.
Charles Anderson. Waterman on the
boat.
Patrick Cofrey, mate.
Bernard Hendrick, oiler.
Thomas Murphy. member Of the crew.
John Connors. member of the crew.
Unknown woman. passenger, % years
old.
Unknown man, a passenger.
Unknown girl. years old.
Most of the passengers who escaped
suffered nothing more than a shock from
immersion 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
tho waters edge.
BODIES DRIFT ASHORE.
The bodies of two victims of the disss-
ter drifted ashore about noon on the
beach a mile east Of the blazing wreck.
One was the body OF a woman about Is
years OF age and the other that Of girl
of years. The child was clad in her
night-gown. This was scorched brown
three heavy skirts-one black, another
brown, and the third gray. She also wore
TWO heavy Jackets, one gray and one red,
and under these several shirt-walsts or
different materials and colors. In her
stocking was found 81. She had also a
bill from the Hartman Brewing COM
pany, dated juno l. 1899, made out to ;.
w Davis. Jr. There was no indication OF
fro about the woman's clothing.
The Nutmeg State, with over hun
dred persons on board, bound from Con-
necticut towns for New York, was dis-
covered afire about half-past O'Clock,
when she was within few miles Of
Sands Point, l.. l. The flames were in
the bow Of the boat between the 1or-
ward cabin and the donkey-engine ROOM
The fire was on the main deck ana seem
ed 10 be a small affair. 50 Captain c. NJ.
Brooks, not wishing TO needlessiy alarm
the passengers, ordered the crew called
10 work as quickly and as quietly as
possible. with buckets and hose. For
about twenty minutes the flames did not
seem to be dangerous, and the men ap-
peared 10 have them in control sud-
denly they burst into q furious blaze
amidships.
AROUSING THE PASSENGERS.
Baggageman Samuel Jaynes was de-
tached from the fire-hghters and sent 10
alarm the passengers and all the mem
bers of the crew who were IN the tor-
ward part Of the boat. He ran through
the passage ways, on the several decks
shouting 70 the passengers ana the
sleeping crew. He remained amldshlps
CRYING out warnings until he was forced
by the flames and sitting smoke TO jump
overheard.
The passengers, in various stages Of
frenzy. rushed from their staterooms to
the upper deck. Life-preservers were
given them. and many Of the men assist
ed I'm putting them on the women and
children.
BY this time the entire middle section
of the Nutmeg state was burning hercs-
". and the people forward were COM
pletely cut off from communication with
those on the after part Of the boat This
left the people on the rear decks IN
perilous situation. as the hfe-bOats on
the 'midship davits were surrounded by
flames. and there few Of the crew in
the rear to give aid.
STEAMER HEADED FOR SHORE.
As the flames continued to spread, both
forward and aft, the pilot headed the
steamer at full speed for the beach at
Sands Point. The draft swept the fire
toward the rear OF the boat. Tho pas
seneers in that part OF the boat went as
far back on the rear deck as possible,
but were enveloped in black smoke, ana
the flames were leaping toward them,
threatening in a few moments 10 roast
them alive. They huddled close TO the
rear rails in fear. waiting for the steamer
TO strike the beach. with shocK'
the Nutmeg State struck the rocky bot
Cd m
her like shot from a sling. They jump
ed into the water and tried TO reach
the ufe-boats which had been launched
from the forward part OF the vessel
CREW IN A FIERY FURNACE.
All OF the passengers were in the water
but a few minutes, but many Of the mem
hers Of the crew had been imprisoned
i'm The forward part of the boat below
decks by the flames There was no out
LEI In the thick sides OF the steamer, eX-
oept the small portfolios. through which
no man could squeeze
The first person to leave the burning
steamer was Baggagemaster Jaynes,
who gave the alarm TO the sleeping pas
sengers. When the smoke and flames
forced him from amidships, he, almost
exhausted, made a leap for the sea. In
doing so he struck his head against the
guard-rail and was stunned, ana fel INTO
the water helpless. A launch from the
steam-yacht Kismet picked him up ana
carried him TO the Kismet where the
brave fellow died shortly after being
taken aboard. $500. ..,.
The Nutmeg State had already struck
the beach when several passing craV
cama TO her rescue, sent out lfe-ooats'
and picked up the Passengers Struggling
In the water.
PASSENGERS LOST.
An unknown woman passenger, afraid
IN lump into the water, although provided
Nth a Iife-belt. was seen TO fall back
into the blazing deck. \ male passenger.
who was trying to keep himself afioat on
an oar. became exhausted and was
drowned.
ALLEGED COWARDL1NESS.
When it became apparent that the boat
was doomed TO destruction, dozen OF her
freight-handlers are said 10 nave taken
uossession Of the first hfe-boat lauhcheu'
They fought back any OF the women 0,
men who tried to get into the BOAT anu
refused 10 take the children. 1t was I'm,
possible for Captain Brooks 10 cohtr"i
,ha rough cowardly freight-handlers, and
thev were utterly oblivious TO the perilS
~ The passengers. When the passengers
were forced from this life-boat, IL uou-
biad the demands on a second when was
lou,ered. and q struggle ensued. Inns poat
was overloaded and overturned IL 'ouiu
not be ngnted, and the men, women. ana
children remained in the chilly water,
cIinsIng TO the boat, until help arrived
from the few passing craft
BRAVE ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE
The tug Reid ran under the stern OF the
Nutmet State. and some OF the passengers
t,,,nnsd from the burning boat 10 It's deck.