The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-07-06
PIERS AND STEAMSHIPS BURNED.
Forty Perished Together on the
Saale-The Property Loss
Will Reach Nearly
Ten Millions.

New YORK, June 30.-A flash of fire
in cotton bale on pier of the North
German Lloyd wharves in Hoboken pro
iected upon New York harbor to-day an
unparalleled catastrophe.
From this-an apparently insignificant
cause-followed a fire that in six min
tes had enveloped the company's entire
system; Main, Bremen and Saale-were
burned to the waters edge. Twenty
million dollars worth of property was
destroyed, and probably two hundred
persons lost their lives.
The cotton IN which the fire started
was piled up awaiting shipment. Ad-
joining it was a pyramid of whisky in
barrels. A pay clerk first saw the blaze
and screamed warning. Almost as if
an echo to his words, the whiskey ex-
ploded, casting jets of fire in all direc-
tions. With incredible rapidity the
blazing spirits flooded down the piers,
igniting all in its train. Horses and
trucks were abandoned in the mad haste
to escape.
In every direction screaming men and
women scampered for their lives.
On board the ships the uproar was
terrifying. Rushing up the sides of the
pier sheds the flames burst their way
outward.
The great steamer lay at the mercy of
the fire. Nearly every port in their
flanks was opened to the onslaught of
the flames. Their tarred rigging, their
canvas awnings, were tinder IN the path.
Their opened matches yawned for the
burning brands and following ex-
plosion blew these blazing fragments in
to the vessels very depths.
The pier where the fire started is join
ed to its neighbor on the north by a
covered driveway. 1t acted as funnel
for the fire, In fash the lire had ira
versed this outlet and was seizing upon
the cargoes piled high therein. In a
minute-not more than that-the second
pier was doomed.
"Saye the ships!' was the cry.
| On the north was the old Thingvalla
Line pier, just bought from that COM
pany. On its south side lay the Main,
a brandnew steamship, valued at 81, ,500,-
600, and with a cargo of half a million
in her hold. South of her and on the
north side of Pier was the Bremen.
On the south side of Pier | was the great
express steamship, Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse, the second largest liner in the
world. On the north side of Pier 2 was
Saale, and the other piers were vacant.
There are on an average six matches
in the decks of each of these ships In
each hatch were from twelve to fourteen
men at work. On the Kaiser Wilhelm
was her crew, force numbering at least
400 men. On the Bremen was a force
of 250 and on the Saale 300. On
the Main were 300 persons. In
addition, a great throng of visitors
was on every ship-the friends and
relatives of officers, sailors, steward and
the engineering force.
The cry of warning passed forward
but hardly before the flames.
Below, in the stoke hold and engine
room, hundreds of men worked, uncon-
scious of peril. Those on deck saw the
fire on the adjoining piers and they look
ed at it in mild curiosity. But hardly
had they taken one look when they found
the flames roaring across the stretch be
tween and sheeting them with fire.
Unexampled heroism marked the
crews. At the order to save the ships
those on deck rushed to 6heir quarters
at the lines. Already the river outsid,
was in commotion. A navy of tug:
was scurrying to the rescue, scenting /;
prospect of salvage. Lines were tossed
to them, seamen ran through the swir
J of smoke and flames and cast off thei
hawsers.
The spring lines dropped away anC
then the fire, roaring skyward, shut il
with its curtain the tragedy working
: within.
The Kaiser Wilhelm was the first Il
; escape. Every effort had been made t,
drag her to safety, for many millions o
dollars were invested in her giant hui
and sumptuous cabin fittings. Sh
drove slowly out into the stream, and a
she emerged at this snail-like pace, tn
fire leaped forward and she was ablaz
in the bow.
Beyond we're the Saale, the Main an
! the Bremen, ingulfed. Herded on he
decks, frantic creatures fought for life
, Their alternative lay before them. The
must Jump and tempt death by drown
ing, or remain and burn.
Scores leaped into the Hudson. Som
. were rescued by the passing tugs, bu
, many we're drowned. The sailors OF tn
Bremen attempted to launch a lifeboat
but the ropes we're burned before th
4 boat reached the surface of the watel
? and the occupants, numbering, perhap:
a score, were precipitated into the rivel
No help could reach them, owing to th
! intense heat, and those who could nc
{ swim away from the burning steamer
A were drowned.
As the Saale was hauled into th
y stream men we're seen at port ho
r waving hands and shrieking for assis
ance. There vas no escape for thes