The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-01

NEW YORK June 3o-Almost 30 900 900
worth of property was destroyed by nre.
many lives were lost, many persons were
injured and at least 1900 lives were i'm
perilied by a fre that started among
cotton bales under Pier No. of the
North German Lloyd Steamship Com
pany. in Hoboken, N. j., at 4 o'clock
this afternoon. In less than fifteen min
utes the flames covered an area a quar-
ter of . milo long. extending outward
from the actual shore line to the bulk
heads. from 600 to 900 feet away and
had caught four great ocean liners and
a dozen or more smaller harbor craft in
Its grasp.
Hundreds Of Dead and Wounded.
Stories In regard TO the loss OF life are
conflicting. the number being varously
estimated At from nifty to 200. Up to
midnight ten bodies had been recovered.
but they were all so badly burned and
blackened that identifies eation was lmpos-
sibie.
The hospitals In New York. Hoboken
and Jersey City are crowded with the
wounded and men are being brought In
by scores.
Those who gathered along the shores
Of the Hudson river to witness the great
conflagration. saw 4 spectacle that they
can never forget and one that always
will have a conspicuous place in the his
tory Of New York.
Tragic Spectacle Presented.
River and hay were enveloped In a pall
Of black smoke through which angry
flames, bursting as from volcanoes on
the Jersey shore and in the water itself
leaped like red sprites into the sky. The
surface OF the water was covered with
floating and blazing masses OF freight
thrown In haste from the doomed ves-
sells. all unnotced in the mad race TO
rescue moro precious human life threat
ened or being sacrificed in the great
ships. And through the pall OF smoke a
great crimson sun. enlarged to thrice its
sixc by the haze. glared like an enormous
eye as It slowly sunk in the west. Such
was the tremendous spectacle presented
on the surface Of tho Hudson river. as II
Il had been some holiday pageant. 1t
was made tragic by the realization that
In that smoke and beneath the turbd
waters, scores OF lives had been lost or
were then In their last desperate struggle
against death.
Thouannds view the scene.
| The spectacle was witnessed by thou
sands and thousands from both shores.
and by other thousands who crowded
/ upon every ferryhoat. every excursion
/ boat. upon every river craft that could
/ be secured for the purpose The crowd
/ upon tho banks OF the river was almost
/ as great as that which formed TO Wit
/ ness the triumphant return Of Admiral
/ Dewey. Looking up the river towards
I the burning ships and piers. there WAS
/ n wonderful and tragic scene OF grandeur.
/ The ship Saale had been towed down
( the river until she was Just or Fort Lib
erty, where she had gathered about her
/ a rinS Of fire boats and tugs. all hghtinE
/ to save at least the hull OF the doomed
steamer.
Engage In work of Rescue.
For hours tho river was crowded with
/ small boats fastening to the scene OF
( tho disaster. or already taking part IN
! the rescue - the hundreds who had
( ieapad into tho river when seized bv the
I terror % the flames These boats were
raldled here and there. bat soon their
occupants hAd nothing 20 DO hut 10
watch tho mad sweep 90 Tho flames
/ Those who had plunged into the water
! had either been rescued 90 gone 20 the
I bottom.
There we're hundreds % mcn on each
of the destroyed steamships ard Few
women Crowds 81 dock lahorers and
/ also employees ~ the companies we're on
all the piers, Men. women and shIlron
wcrc cn the canal boats. and mea oa