The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-06
STEAMER LEONA
BURNED AND SUNK
Cargo Valued at 100000 a
Total Loss.
JUST REACHED NEW YORK
Believed That the Fire Started in the
Ships Hold Among the Cotton
Sailed With Battered
Hatches Three Days
JUST REACHED NEW YORK

New York, October 5.-The Mallory line
steamer Leona was burned and sunk at
her wharf in East River tonight. The
cargo, consisting of tobacco and 5000 bales
of cotton, and valued at $3O0,00O is total
loss and the boat is little better than
wreck.
1t is believed that the Leona, which
sailed from Galveston September q, caught
fire at sea several days ago, since which
time she has been proceeding at full steam
with battered matches for this port. At
$50 D. M today the Leona came racing up
East River to her pier, where haste was
made to debark the passengers and open
the matches. An hour later an army of men
were vainly fighting a fire in the steam
er's hold. Finally the ship was scuttled.
AS soon as the Leona made fast to her
pier about o'clock the officers of the YES
sci, commanded by Captain WILDER, order
ed the members of the crew to try to put
out the fire in the hold without calling the
fire department. This was soon found to
be impossible and an alarm was sent in.
By $50 o'clock ten streams were playing
from fire engines and fire boats. The fire
men had a hard time to get at the flames,
leaving the burning portion out in the
water. The fire was at first confined to
the forward hatchway, directly forward of
the foremast The matches being lifted
tremendous volume of smoke came out,
making it impossible for the firemen to
see. Soon tons of water were pouring into
the doomed vessel and the ship began to
list to starboard, settling a little as she
did so.
AT o'clock about seventy fremen, with
the chief and deputies, We're ON the boat,
working to keep the fire from spreading to-
ward the stern 1t was found to be beyond
the efforts of the firemen, and an order was
given to open the fore and aft port holes
in order to allow the water to enter and
make her settle. The water already pour
ing into the boat was managing to run
along the bilge keels until it reached aft,
and the ship showed evidence of listing TO
starboard. Most of the firemen finally left
the ship by sliding down hose which was
fastened to the wheel. About half dozen
men who were on the starboard side of the
boat were unable to get to the pier, and
kept right working as If nothing was
happening to endanger their lives.
They kept on and on until the ship COM
menced to. sink slowly and surely until with
a final list she went down. The men were
thrown into the water. Deputy Chief
Duane and Fireman Thomas Mcfarland of
engine company Il had to battle for their
lives and were rescued with great diff
Guilty. Duane lost his aemet and was
dragged out more dead than alive. Several
of the fire boats engaged in the Work of
rescuing the fremen were nearly carried
down by the sinking of the Leona.
At 1880 o'clock tonight the report that
shook the deck plates forward showed the
presence of gas and possibly powder in the
forward holds. Another report came at
about Is minutes interval, and a third 10
minutes later. The explosions were not
serious enough to cause a further inflow of
water. At about s:15 the flames were un-
der control at the hatchway and the en-
tire work was confined to the forward
hatch. The flames were so persistent that
they were not under control for long
time, and the New Yorker was kept at
work playing on her all night.
The cause OF the fire Is a mystery. The
boat left Galveston Wednesday, September
N, and made her eight days run without
special Incident. It was said by one Of the
passengers that for three days the matches
were battered down and upon a question
!