Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-02
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ger steamship Of 10000 grose tons. They
waters edge. The Kaiser Wilhelm Der
only one Of the four big vessels at the
dock that escaped.
The loss of the crews of these vessels
is said to reach 100. The fire was first
dicovered by Waterman on pier at
4 o'clock. He saw a small streak Of
flame shoot from bale OF cotton on
Pier No. 2, at which was locked the
steamer saale.
tended to the steamship and were COM
municated to the adjoining pier on the
north. Here were locked the Kaiser
Wilhelm Der Crosse and the Main.
Tugs We're Immediately made fast to
the Kaiser Wilhelm Der Crosse and she
Was gotten out into mid-stream with
safety. altho badly scorched at the
bows. The steamship Main, however,
was doomed, as the flames had already
become 50 fierce on the north side OF
the pier that no tug could approach the
vessel.
Then, by a shift in the wind. the
flames We're sent in the direction of
Pier No. l. to the south end of Pier No.
2. To the north of Pier No. / was the
dock of the Hamburg American line. at
which the steamship Phoenicia, twin
screw steamer of 6.761 gross tons, was
locked. The. flames got a good hold On
the Phoeniica. and che was towed oltt
into mid-stream ablaze.
The fire had by this time become SO
fierce that the officials of the Hamburg
American line decided the only way tip
prevent the total destruction of theiE
great pier was to blow up the side OF
the dock a which the Phoenicia lay.
and this was done. A number of barges
locked at the pier also took fire, but in
| the effort to save other property, no at
tention was, paid to them and they We're
allowed to burn.
| Its feared the loss of life in the holds
of the vessels was efrightful. az it is said
THAT many of the crews Who were asleep
at the time were imprisoned there. The
worst tale Will come from the steamship
| Main, Which was unable to be towed
| sf;om the pier.
| The Vessel had only arrived Saturday
lSmorning and some passengers We're still
1 on board and when the cry of fire was
I raised number of them We're seen to
run To the burning decks. Most of them
| jumped overheard. and, save for "a few
who We're picked up by tugs, no one has
been heard from, altho every hotel and
| hospital in the city of Hoboken is
\ crowded with injured. Some passengers
Of the Main tried to escape to the pier
! and 1t s almost certain that they per,
I5ished in the flames.
I There Mas a panic on each of the
i ships. Many persons jumped overheard
/ and the water for some distance along
1.-The docks VAS lined With people. They
! We're clinsing TO the piers and even to
! the rudders' of the burning vessels.
t Some We're picked up; many We're burn
4 ed. Peter Quinn. justice of the peace in
4 Hoboken, tells the story of having seer,
1 at least thirty people perish. He said:
vas standing on one end of the
i Hamburg American line piers, and saw
about thirty people crowded under Pier
!, No. / of the North German Lloyd. They
4 We're calling To the passing tug boats
| but their appeals Mere in vain. and
when the flames got near them they
| Owed intosthe water. There was no as
sistance near at the time.I believe that
4 every one Was either drowned OF per-
ished in the names
i About 200 jeople We're rescued attthe
4 Hamburg American line pier. They
i We're much overcome from exhaustion.
hut soon revived with the aid of stimu-
8Elants.