New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-22
BRIGHT BLAZE on NORTH RlVER.
ONE MAN KILLED IN A FIRE AMONG HAY
BARGES.


Two thousand bales Of hay, the same quantity OF
straw lot OF lumber and the hulls Of several
barges furnished material for a spectacular nre
on the North River at Thrty-fourth-st early yes
terdav morning. The fire was discovered al ~
O'clock II started the barge Harvest queen
owned by snngland Co.. Of Coeymans, which
was moored the north side OF the pier One
man was burned TO death.
Captain Joseph B. Feline, his wife and daugh-
ter Mary. five years old. and his brother Conrad
were asleep on board the barge. Policeman McDon-
aid OF the West Thirty-seventh-st station from
his post in Eleventh-ave saw smoke curling OUT
Of the Harvest Queen iand he got as near the
boat as possible at the same time blowing his
whistle vigorously. This awakened Captain RENE
and while Mcdonald ran 10 send out an alarm
Captafn Feline and his brother succeeded In getting
the family safely out OF the barge.
The charred body OF a man was found IN the
ruins OF the barge last evening by Captain Beg
gins. Of Hook and Ladder Truck No n The body
had been burned beyond recognition. but 1t is
thought TO be that Of Robert Ternan, hfty-eight
wears old homeless man who slept on the barge.
brisk south wind was blowing. and the flames
soon spread TO the barge Andrew NJ ChurCh,
rnoored further up the same side OF the pier ana
loaded with two hundred bales Of straw, owned oy
F B Vunk Of Esperance, y. Y, the barge being
the nropertv Of Corning & Smith OF this city Cap
tain Hackenham and his deckhands. John F1nkle
and Walter Montenay, were on board the barge
They too had been awakened by McDonaId >
whistling and lost no time in clamberins 70 the
pier In a few minutes the Church took hre from
the sparks
Alongside the Harvest Queen lay the lighter W.
= Smalluan with a carload Of lumber consigned
10 a firm at One hundred-and-twenty- ninth-st and
North River and five hundred bales Of hay belong
ing TO Slingland & Co. This boat also took fire in
few minutes. and when the fremen came all
three vessels were blazing hercely. The canalooat
nv
crosswise further in the slip. and behind It were
two mud scov-s and three fee barges The Hall took
fire but not before Captain Townsend. who was
on board had succeeded in reaching a place or
safety With its stern close against the side OF
the lighter sma.lman was the tug Robert n Duy.
gineer and two deckhands, whose names could
not be learned, We're aboard the tug, and dld not
bistered by the heat from the blazing boats. They
ouickiy got up steam and put their fire apparatus
in operation Playing the hose the blistered side
Of their own boat. they ran her out OF the SIP IN
The hremen succeeded in preventing the blaze
from spreading 10 the mud scows and Ice barges
Some Of the bales Of hay and straw the crew, Of
hard work in preventing from floating under the
pier at Thirty ourth-st and setting it fire AS
Of the ireInen's hooks they would be forced under
men however and hoated out on the other side OF
the pier close by the stern or hoWaro EouLu ;
yacht Niagara Thy did not, however, come close
enough TO the yacht to endanger IT, The captain
and crew Of the Niagara were up and ready 10
st IL WAS 4u said by captain Feline that while he was
making his escape from the barge he looked back
and saw jump from the w. +. Smallman
into the river. He was not seen again. Captain
Cooney Of the West Thirty-seventh-st. station
not find any one who knew who the was, nor
could he find out whether or not there was man
It is Believed that IS 900 will cover the loss to
vessels and cargo The Harvest Queen me small mall
poured into their holds.