Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-07-05
Written for the Register. ]
New York's Great Fire.


ever recorded was that which occurred
in New York Harbor last Saturday,
when fire broke out on the piers of the
'rforth German Lloyd Steamship Com
pany and totally destroyed three mag
niflcent ocean liners, together with four
piers and a number of surrounding
warehouses. The fire started on the
company's Pier No. 3, and was caused
by a lighted match falling among cot
ton bales that were lying on the wharf
ready to be loaded. 1t spread with in
credible swiftness and soon reached the
adjacent piers, on which were hundreds
of barrels of OIL Explosion after eX
plosion followed. and in the space of
few moments the fire was far beyond
control of human beings. The ocean
liner "Saale" was the first in the track
of the ire, and soon the flames were
leaping over her decks. All efforts to
save the vessel were useless, and when
she was finally gotten out in mid-stream,
all that was left was roaring sea OF
flames
The fire swept on and next enveloped
the Bremen, " which, like the ''Saalc, -
was soon ablaZe from stem to stern.
Every attempt TO stay the progress OF
the flames proved fruitless. The fire
companies on shore were unable to cope
with the destroying element and were
greatly hampered in their work by the
thousands who had gathered to view
the scene while the heat was so great
that the powerful streams Of water
poured on the vessels by the fire-boats,
which had been summoned TO the res
cue, were converted into clouds Of steam
the moment they touched the burning
decks.
Yet greater catastrophe now threat
ened Right in the track Of the fire
ffcnd lay the pride of the North Ger
man Lloyd and the second largest liner
in the world, Kaiser Wilhelm Der
Crosse" For time it seemed that the
magnificent floating palace were
doomed. Flames were already leapng
over her bow and playing in her rig
ging. Her mooringS were quickly cut,
but the mighty engines were still and
she was powerless TO move. Fortunate
w two tugs were by her side and 9TH
ers were rapidly coming to the rescue.
While the other vessels were burning,
all attention was centered on the big
swung out into mid-stream. The fire
was now utterly beyond control and
the last victim fell an easy prey The
Main lay moOred against her pier,
unable to turn wheel While the
"Saale" was dragged down the river
and beached on the Jersey shore, and
the Bremen" was pulled up stream,
she lay in her dock, a solid mass Of lurid
flames.
Over dozen canal boats, lighters,
etc, together with the great Campbell
warehouses, were also destroyed. The
loss of property was fearful. ConServ-
alive estimate places it at S6,OOO,OOO,
while some place the figure as high as
s.. 900. 600. Awful as was the loss of
property, when we look at the loss of
life and the terrible death that befcll
many. the heart grows sisk and faint.
At least 800 persons were killed, injured
or missing.
Thousands cf men were working on
the piers and in the vessels. So quick
was the spread of the flames that many
were burned to death before safety could
be reached, while others plunged over
board and were drowned Still others,
who were working in the holds, were un-
able to get on the deck at all and these
were burned to death or drowned like
rats. Thrilling and heart-rending scenes
were numerous. While the decks of the
''Saale" were a caudron Of molten fire,
the victims below were suffering tor
turc, most awful Of all tortureS. the pros
pect of certain death. To reach the deck
was impossible; every ompaniOn-way
was a furnace door every pOrt-hoie con
tanned CHASTITY face. Many of the vic
Tins became raving maniaCs. As the
vessel slowly sank beneath the waves,
one by one the PORTFOLIOS went under
and one by one the victims persisted. At
last only one was left. II was the face
and arm Of man that struggled franti-
cally to get through the twelvc-lnch
port-hole The vessel had firmly settled
on the bottom, and the tide coming in,
rose higher and higher His mouth was
only an inch above the water and he
asked for a drink. 1t was passed down
to him. He drank it, and the tide ris-
ing, the last victim disappeared from
sight.
1t was the writer's opportunity TO get
good view Of the fire at about o'clock
in the evening. Standing on the upper
deck as our boat passed down the river.
the sight was most appalling. At first
ii appeared as if the entire water front
was sheet Of fame. The fire was now
partially under control and the worst OF
the horrors were over. Against the dark
background of night, the flames shot up
from the burning piers in pillows of fire.
To the extreme right, the immense
warehouses were crumbling and falling.
Burning logs and bargcs tloatcd about
on the river. Through the dense vol
ume of smoke that rose over the scene,
the new moon appeared as a dull red
crescent. Parted by the breeze, in the
riffs of smoke could be plainly seen the
burning hull of the Main She lay
on her side and from every port-hole and
crcvice the red tongues leaped and
danced
1t was well that there was but little
wind and that it was blowing toward
the river. Had high wind carried the
flames over Jersey City, we shudder at
what might have been the results.
There were many acts of heroiSm
throughout the cOnflagration. Firemen
fought bravely and officers and crews
stood at the post Of duty until the last.
As the bright July sun arose on Sun
day morning, it looked upon Il scene of
ruin and wreck. Piers and warehouses
were burnt to the waters edge. The
Bremen" lay on her side a shoulder
ing heap, the ''Saale" had sunk on the
Jersey flats and the ruined hull of the
Main" still lay in her dock.
1t was the greatest fire New York has
witnessed in years, and had the Condi-
tionS been otherwise, there might have
been a repetition of the awful disaster
which befell Chicago a few years ago.
H.