The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-01

/ from a bale Of cotton on Ple= No. 2. at
which was docked the steamer saale.
He Immediately sent In the alarm. In
few minutes the flames had extended
TO the ship and were communicated 10
the adjoining pier on the north. Here
were docked the Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse and the Maine Tugs were i'm
medlately made fast TO the big KaL er
Wilhelm der Crosse and she was got
ten out into midstream with safety,
though badly scorched at the BOWS.
The ship Maine. however. was doomed.
as the flames had already become 30
fierce on he north side OF the pier
that no tug could approach the res
sci. Then. by shift in the wind, the
flames were sent In the direction Of
Pier No. l.
To the north Of Pier No was the
dock OF the Hamburg American line
at which the steamship Phoenicia, a
twin-screw passenger steamer Of 6.671
gross tons was doeked. The flames
got good hold on the Phoenicia and
she was towed out into midstream
ablaze. The fire had by this time be-
come so fierce that the officials OF the
Hamburg-American line decided that
the only way 20 prevent TIE total de-
struction Of their great pier was to
blow up the side Of she dock at which
the Phoenicia lay. and this was done.
A number OF barges docked at the pier
also took FIRE. but In the effort to save
other property. no attention vas paid
TO them. and they were allowed to
burn.
II Is feared that the loss of life in
the holds OF the vessels was frightful,
as II is said that many OF the crews,
who were asleep at the time, were i'm
prisoned there. The worst tale win
come from the Maine. which was un-
able To be towsd from the pier. The
vessel had only arrived this morning
and some Of the passengers We're still
or board When the cry OF lire was
raised most of them jumped overheard,
end, save for a few who were picked
up by the tugs, not one has Dean heard
from. although every hospital and ho-
tel in the city Of Hoboken is crowned
with the injured Some OF the pas
sengers Of the Maine tried to escape to
the pier and L was almost certain that
they would perish in the danes.
There was an panic on each of the
ships. Many persons jumped overheard
and the water for some distance along
the docks was lined with people, They
were clinging to piers and even to the
rudders of the burning vessels. Some
were picked up, some were drowned,
Peter Quinn, justice of the peace in
Hoboken, tells the story of having seen
at least thirty people perish
When the fire broke out such headway
was gained that by the time the Ho-
boken fire department arrived they
We're helpless To cope with the flames.
Calls were made to the New York fire
department for assistance and the fire
tugs We're sent over. They, however,
had little effect on the great mountain
Of flames and smoke. BY o'clock three
piers Of the German Lloyd Steamship
Company had been burned to the
ground. The south end of the Campbell
Storage Company's property, consisting
Of five five-story structures, caught on
fire ana the buildings, being filled
mainly with jute and whisky, burned
rapidly. In the buildings a large loss
will be sustained.
The Saale and Bremen, after being |
pulled from the docks, were ,owed |
ablaze down the bay and teached off |
Liberty Island, On the Bremen, as she
blazed out in mid stream, six men
could be. seen with their heads out of