Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-10-17
DEATH ON BURNING SHIP.
Eight Persons Known to Have Per
ished with Destruction of the
Steamer Nutmeg State.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT ON BOARD BOAT,
City of Lawrence Renders Aid in
Rescuing the Passengers = Fire
Discovered After Leaving Bridge
port, Conn. Life Boats Capstzed
with Loss of Life, 1t Is Feared.

New York, Oct. 16.-The Bridgeport
Steamboat company's steamer Nutmeg
State, which left Bridgeport at three
o'clock in the morning, caught fire
three hours later off Execution Light
and was totally destroyed. AT IL
o'clock it was known that eight persons
had persisted, as follows:
The Dead and Injured.
DEAD.-Terrence Brady. of New York,
cabin boy.
Charles Anderson.
Thomas Murphy.
John Connors, all of the crew.
Samuel Jayne, baggagemaster of the
steamer Picked out of the water by the
yacht Kismet; died on board.
Barney Hendry, oiler on the steamer.
Unknown woman.
Patrick Coffee, first mate.
INJURED.-Harry ]. Wilt. of Philadel-
phia, and his mother.
Mrs. H. Purcell, of New York.
steamer City of Lawrence to Rescue.
The steamer City of Lawrence came
in sight soon after the fire was discov-
cred and stood by to rescue the passen-
gers and crew. The Nutmeg States
lifeboats We're launched as soon as the
City of Lawrence got within hailing dis
lance, but several of them capsized and
it was feared that some of the women
and children were drowned.
Captains Account of Disaster.
Capt. Brooks reported that the Nut
meg State left Bridgeport at three
o'clock in the morning. She was two
hours late. 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 that could be got
up was put on her. She made good time
while state of the most intense excite
ment reigned aboard the vessel.
On coming near Sands Point the cap
tain directed the bow of the boat dead
ahead for the beach and he ran her
ashore about mile east of the Point.
Capt. Brooks said that the vessel
went into 1917 feet of water before she
grounded and settled. There were be-
tween 80 and 40 passengers on board.
story of Passenger.
o. ]. Hurlburt, of Bridgeport, pas
senger, was asleep when the fire was
discovered. He said the fire was first
seen by Baggagemaster Jayne, who aft
er arousing all the passengers he could,
jumped overheard and died from In
juries which he received from striking
aportion of the vessel.
1.-THE fire broke out about five minutes
after six and in few minutes was in full
possession of the boat amidships." said
Mr. Hurlburt. "Lifeboats and RATS were
thrown overheard as quickly as possible
and the passengers were put on them.
Some of the lifeboats were so overloaded
that they capsized, but the passengers,
many of whom had life-presevers chung
on to the side ropes until the yacht Kismet
arrived and helped them
The Total Loss.
The Nutmeg State was valued at $780,
900, and including the cargo it is est
mated that the total damage done by
the fire will foot up in the neighbor.
hood of 100000. The vessel was built
some years ago at Noank, Conn, and her
gross tonnage was 1924 tons. She was
propeller craft and had three decks.