davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

intending the work Of getting her into shape to
sail tomorrow.
In speaking Of the narrow squeeze his ship
had had Captain Ergelbart said
When the fire broke out was seated in my
cabin smoking cigar and reading a news
paper Word was brought me there that a fire
had broken out on Pier No /, and I at once
rushed upon deck We at that time we're lying
at Pier No 3, while at Pier No ., just across
the same slip. by our side. lay the doomed
Bremen. Looking across her decks and over
the roof Of Pier No. . I saw thick column OF
smoke arising, and, realizing the danger that
was descending my ship az once gave the
order to cast of from the pier The order was
hardly given when the flames made their ap-
pearanc1 on Pier No . and licked toward the
Bremen. Seeing that it was only a question OF
seconds before the fire would reach US as well,
I ran forward and aided in the work Of casting
of. which was also going on at the same time
1t the stern
were also thrown down The ship lay with
Pier No. her port side the Bremen had
Pier No. on her starbOard side and the fire.
circling round the end OF the ship, attacked
pier No 2 where We were casting of the steel
ca bles that attached her bow 70 the wharf.
We had Just thrown the last one down when
Pier No. burst into a blaze, which instantly
communicated itself TO our forward hfebOats
on the port side Their canvas coverings. can
vas inclosing cork guards and boat furniture
went up like tinder. and The intense heat drove
US from the bow back toward the stern. but
we were free, and il only remained 70 get motive
power 10 assure our escape BY good luck We
had thrown a great cable Of manila rope from
the stern 70 the wharf, and this was hanging
over the stern. after being detached from the
wharf We managed 70 get II on board OF a
tug. where II was made fast. and then black
pail OF smoke settled down on Us and We could
see nothing II left the issue IN doubt. For the
ship TO remain where she was for the shortest
space OF time was 10 make certain her destruc-
tion by fire and We were not assured that the
tug would be able TO move her in time 70 pre-
vent the fire from gaining a headway surnctent
10 make the ruin Of my ship Inevitable. Sud
denly there came gust OF wind. and the en-
veloping blanket OF smoke was for a moment
lifted. Then could see the sides Of the pier
We were moving past them slowly. il is true
but nevertheless moving and knew then that
we were saved. In another moment We were
in the stream and I ordered the ship brought
70 anchor where you saw US The fire on the
lifeboats quickly eXtlnguished with the
ships hose without serious damage
We lay where some time, but know
ing that the Main must sooner or later be
brought out OF the dock in which she lay burn
ing. and with the Bremen also afiame in the
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
CROWDS STAYED ALL NIGHT.
PEOPLE HOvERED ABOUT THE SCENE UN.
TIL PAST DAYPRrAb

PEOPLE HOVERED ABOUT THE SCENE Uss-
TIL PAST DAYBREAK
The masses OF people that pushed and 5ostled
their way through the streets near the scene q
the fire remained until long after daybreak YES
terday. and as quickly as they went away their
places were filed by newcomers There was
then nothing but the ruins of the piers and
warehouses left. but they were stiu burning
brightly and the fire engines were pouring
streams OF water upon them. IL had been a
busy night for The fremen and they were nearly
exhausted from the effects OF many hours. hard
work The piers and ships % the Hamburg
american Line and other property near the
scene OF the fire were no longer in danger. and
as many Of the hremsn as could be spared were
sent home
The crowds that surged back and forth
through the streets all night long gazed on the
hre with awe stricken faces. They could not IN
derstand that disaster OF such appalling mag
nitude had taken place IN such a short time
The police stretched ropes across the streets ap-
preaching the fire. and only favored ones were
permitted 70 pass inside the fire lines. well
known Hoboken man might manage 70 Eet
through. but In many cases newspaper reporters
were pushed back with the rest OF the crowd
The New-Y0rk reporters had fire badges but IN
the language OF one OF the police sergaanrs:
Badges don't 90 here We have looked az
badges tonight until We are tired OF them"
At midnight the fire was under control be-
cause there was nothing more FOR IL 70 feed
on Only the north and west walls OF tas
Campbell warehouses. at River and Fourth sts
were standing and two water towers and
numerous engines were throwing volumes os
water upon them. About an hour later ths
great north wall began 10 crack, and a unomsnt
afterward it came down with crash. sending
| the bricks and burning Limbers IN all directions
| The noise made by the falling OF the wall
sounded like a series OF explosions and was
heard for miles
/ Immediately there were Wild rumors that thu
piers Of the Neutrality-suspicious. Line. Many
on the streets gain. Fortunately he rurnors
/ proved to have no foundation
/ Throughout the night the hotels we're th-onEsd
with people intent upon hearing the latest news
Many OF them had relatives or friends on TIA
+ and anxiety was depicted upon their faces They
had visited the hospitals and police stations
2 without result. and naturally turned 10 tha
hotels, where some OF the officers OF the lost
I sells had engaged rooms for The night The lat
/ ter when they finally reached the hotels at 4
late hour were still 4 excited state OF mind
/ and disinClined 10 talk much Now and then oua
. of them would say few words in German % a.
I and declined TO grant any interviews They
! could form estimate Of the loss OF life o.
/ property. They could only recall in a daZad way
the part each Of them had played in the terrible
/ happenings OF the even-ful day.
I The hotels and restaurants and drug and cigar
/ stores, contrary TO their usual custom, remained
/ open all night and did a rushing business. 4
/ peculiar feature Of the night was that while the
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

s-tT -rat swept Us all on into the water was
picke- -p on z lighter and taken ashore
The Captain then explained that because Of
The solid construction Of the bunkers separating
ta7 engine and coal rooms from the rest Of the
s1-p, TIE machinery mad thus far escaped serious
damage Indeed the Main using her own
pumps during the early part Of yesterday. and
Rad only 70 nc abandoned because Of the sitting
hear from me adjacent compartments
THE SECOND OFFICERS STORY.
Second CHlcer J Helms. OF the Main, was also
seen On 5card by q Tribune reporter Re said;
TIE Captain. three other officers and myself al
1-1pe- time from me sl-p -l-LC ne
-iFer. Just z moment before We lefL ne Fr7stl !
1ea-- Tee crying o. child II the CABIN o. me snip
rs1 -1-o me room and found mother with chlId
II ae- arms ne-Dlessy gropi1g aooLI ID NJ ne &
H-=-a j. my husband sle saSpe4 "!tsI !
reached 1e-. Never mind him sad, ana lILlIlgs
er and her baby Up dashed up o. 9'5A ii - 80
5lEDEHE INTO the river The woman atlo Gnu W.
rescued 1g and ! by afDilei- 4 ~ -
k-C~ Le- name but believe that she "US' L@'s
ue-1 some visitor
Helms estimated that there were about "'OoO
bushels cf corn IN the fore and aft holds of the
ship lE ADDITION 70 a large cargo OF cotIoIl- ne
sad further that he was sure W Bus4au' I--7
Second steward was dead - O.
u saw him in the water, swimming to"AIl @& q .
barge" said the officer. de hao no HUI
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

thrust his head and arm through another Of
these air ports. The tug TO the left of US had
a stream already playing his head He be
gan 10 strip himself OF his clothing, and at
times the crew OF the tug put the nozzle Of the
hose through the air port and poured water
on his back 10 keep him cool. near were they
10 him. and yet unable to eXtricate him from
his horrible position. Every in a while
the and woman apparently fell back from
their positions Of momentary safety give
some one else q chance 10 get a share OF the
cooling effect OF the water
FRUITLESS WORK IN SHIPS SIDE.
Below US were two German officers, with
boats crew and hammers and cold chisels. cut
ting away one of the cargo ports on the port
side. After more than half an hours work they
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

he courteously allowed the Tribune reporter TO
make a thorough examination OF the snip
1t may be said that the ship itself Is abso-
lutely uuintured and viii beyond question sail
tomorrow. as announced. On her port side the
paint is fairly blstered of. and this is true in
large part of the paint on her port upper works
forward and the port side OF the two forward
tunnels. The paint is also stripped clean from
the bow. and the deck there is also slightly
damaged the port side. Here the anchor
chains capstau bars windlass winches. etc. all
show plainly the action or the great heat 10
which the vessel was subjected There Is no in
terror damage whatever from either hre or
water on the promenade deck four OF the win
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

thought nothing Of it until reached the Battery
Then could see ship burning on the Jersey
moments more and We knew all.
Next TO my own personal loss by fire is that by
morning and opened my stateroom I found one
half Of il burned and the other half looted had
left all my clothes aboard. and in the pocket of
coat was watch, an heirloom Invaluable 70 me,
Meyer by the passengers OF the old Hsnsa for
was second oftceT 5 or ma ZIP aIIo %len t 9ur-
vessel IN rnidsea In the watch this inscription:
Herr Gustavus Meyer gewidmet den Pas
sengiren der ersJen csjqtte Ger Hansa zur erin
Upon Inspecting my room r found oTI9as other r. things
have been found in other rooms
vANDAI.s GET IN THEIR WORK
What might be taken as a confederation Of the
statement Of Meyer was seen on every side by
: Tribune reporter in the acts Of various van
dals who had come aboard during the after
noon. Because Of the slanting position OF the
deck 4 party Of these people could land on the
lower edge Of the deck and climb up into the
a,aIevs and stateroorns. Occasionally one would
reapDear with q handful Of twisted cutlery in
his hands.
.eyybar arc you going to do with them ," one
Of the strangers was asked
shine EN- up and pawn EN-" was the reply.
A. last recourse one Of the wrecking crew
turned the hose on the invaders, with the result
Of a lively stampede
Third Officer Albers said;
7 fear that our first officer Herr Ahlborn, is lost
heard that last seen on the Bremen
working on the forward ropes. Nothing mas since
Eeen seen Of him that know.
The wrecklng tugs that we're working on the
-,vo burning ships yesterday were the J.
Merritt the Matte, the Florence, the Charm
The Hustler the NJ Moran, the Peter Cab. the
r. NJ MiIlard the John D. Daley and the Die
tatOr. ,. -. -. -
-tk,1ee of the Main loomed up in the dark
~ -.f+b such vividness that they could be seen
Tfstincrly across the river
KATSER WILHELM OFFICER HURT
:, zIoff. purser on the Kaiser Wilhelm der
C.oese was the only person connected with that
sbtn 50 far as IS Vet known, who was injured
or In any danger Of being harmed by the Hf nFe IRE
- while they were both sitting In the
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

cabin smoking. some one rushed down the stair
way, yelling Fire." They hastened 10 the
deck After that Zloff said he could not
member anything. The flames were burning all
around him. shutting everything off He did
not know where he was. After a while he had
hold OF a rope which stretched from the ship
toward the pier 1t was probably the way that
prisoners the vessel had reached a place on
shore, free from the flames. Zloff found ii did
not quite reach the wharf, which mad burned
away at its edges
Swinging on the end Of the rope. he picked
himself over to the firm boards. and pulled
cut from the flames in time to escape all but
burns the hands
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
The Question of Hot Water.

An objection often urged TO the use Of gas
ranges is that they do not heat water as d
coal range does In AL the newer apartments
l-s objection does not hold, as hot water u
furnished from the basement But even "AeIe
t-ls ls not the case the difficulty Is easlly 81
mounted. Gas Warer-heaTers are MADE, capdDig
u being attached 10 the ordinary DolitI' an
"leh VIII heat 30 or 10 gallons Of water al q q
COST ~ = or cents ON. es. some one VIZ
eaE bun al know how servants VIII leb ~
gaS 60 on burning after the water Is hedlt1
EFen this objection is met, however by liit ~ ,,
.tItiol Cf the thermOstat which autoIfl4t a.
turns down rbe gss as soon az the water is hot
ehd turns ir on again when 10 or - gallons oL
water have been drawn on and more neatlhS y y
e9Ilred- This meets the case OF me caLe-s
servant exactly Ia fact gas appliances FOR
eolsehcl5 use are now so perfected, or 80 speeo,-
- vii oe perfected, that every objection wltCH
!, ie most caprious can bring forward lalIs 10
-S-rcuBa
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

flames were raging and scenes OF horror wera
being enacted in the burning Main out on ths
river dance IN progress in a hall right
next 10 the fire Tongues OF flame cast a htfuI
glare on the walls OF the hall. and at intervals
the joyous strains Of the dance music could be
heard above the putting and screechinE OF uha
fire engines and the deep murmurs OF the crowd.
The night scene from the river weird
one. and the crowds that crossed the ferry
boats had good view OF the extent OF the fra
and the destruction Of the Main, which
burning out in midstream- The piers had burned
down apparently 20 the waters edge. but the
embers were stiu blazing hercely and it looked
from a distance as II the river itself or fire.
Dense clouds OF smoke. OUT q which shot ura
tongues of flame. poured forth from the Main "a
she was slowly tOWed up the river until she
finally beached AT Shady Side Down the river
the Sasle could be seen burning up Oh the fats
on COmmunipaw.
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
THIEVES on BREMEN.
THEY LOOT STATEROONS on
BURNING SHIP.
VESSELS STILL ABLAZE-BODIES on
MAIN ESTIMATED AT FIFTY
TO ONE HUNDRED
TO ONE HUNDRED.

Two oharred huIks lay stranded yesterday on
the shelving shore Of Weehawken enveIoped in
clouds OF smoke and steam They were the
Bremen and the Main. A few loyal members
OF their crews who had escaped the flames Of
Saturday we're 70 be seen wandering aimlesslv
about on those parts Of the vessels where the
FIRE had been extnguished, while crowds Of
siehtseers padded about the scene Of desolation
u shallow, wobbIng rowboats
Nearest TO land. with her port side listed baev-
rv 70 port and her deck at an angle Of 45 de-
grees 10 the surface OF the water. lay the
Bremen Alongside. only thirty feet away. lay
the Main The latter ship had settled in the
mud IN q more upright position. because Of her
farer bottom. When g Tribune reporter ap-
preached the Main yesterday at sundown the
waters around her Prov were bubbling and boil
inE. and each little wave that Tapped up against
The red iron sides Kissed and sizzled. Through
the portfolios could be seen the flames. slowly
rolling one around the other in the depths Of the
interior. Drops OF molten metal would occa-
slo1aIy spaurer into the river from apertures.
and the water would leap up with hiss The
heat coming from the Bremen was not so in
tense.
CAPTAIN PETERNIANNvs STATEMENT.
Captain Y Petermann OF the Main was found
ny Tribune reporter on the central part Of the
Mali upper NeSh 1he bones OF some un-
known man had just been taken out Of the for
ward hold and in speaking Of the discovery
the Captain said:
: have 10 doubt that there were fifty TO one hun
d-e- men ec-rappeG ny flames in the fore and aft
parts % The ship The charred bones which have
been -0-IG are s-l that remains Of only one Of
-he missing lOCgsh0-eueu.
These men were so -ar down that II thew were
10 burned they were drowned with bfige water
Increased ~ the streams from the fire tugs and
from ne leaking OF The vessel Il viii never be
known how many lives were lost on this ship.
TIE Captain then told OF his own experience
OF Saturday afternoon. saying:
was sitting in my cabin slipping coffee : noticed
the rea-. alt only took OF my har and remarked
% -e--oV officer that II was very hot day for
June
"BEt f. IS he last day % June. Captain he re-
marked. he had hardly spoken when one OF the
cabin r0Es rushed II with the alarm OF fire. As
s7C- as -ea he'd the deck found myself almost
=-T=-0-=- T--r flames gave orders 10 cut the
lines. Whether the order was obeyed or not 7 90
ro- know for wave OF FIRE poured down on the
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
WORK At THE NAVY YARD SLACK.

SECRETARY LONG May BE ASKED TO Grva
BROOKLYN MORE CONSIDERATION
Several hundred workrnen who for the last ~,
years have had fairly regular work n the BROOKLYN
Navy Yard are complaining now that there is Hrr,s
Work being done there by extra men and that ths
Brooklyn yard is NOT getting its share OF repair
work They assert that the Boston Navy Yard is
running double shifts OF men and that plenty OF
Work : also beng done the Portsmouth and
Philadelphia yards. thar only Cincinnati a
being overhauled al the Brooklyn Navy Yard A
movement was started last week 20 bring the mat
ter before the Republican leaders OF BROOKLYN in
order that Secretary Long may be asked 20 givs
the Brooklyn Yard grearer consideration
Senator Platt was asked yesterday u he had been
requested 70 lay the matter before Secretary IcnE
and he said that he had Last winter uetirfon
signed by sINty-eight thousand people vas Sent 10
the House Committee Naval Affairs asking thar
one OF the new hattleshps be built the BROOKLYN
Navy Yard NothInE resulted 1x=sa SEs ssLiIia=-
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
WHAT ADMIRAL MELVILLE SAW.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION Or FRUITLESS
EFFORT TO RESCUE THOSE
IN THE SAALE.

Philadelphia July 1 (SpeciaD -Rear-Ad admiral
George W. Melville, L s. N who is now in this
city, was one of the brave men who. regardless
of the scorching heat of the flames that poured
from the blazing ships. steamed alongside the
Saale and worked like demons 10 save those
within the vessel. The Admiral had been over
TO Brooklyn looking after the engine buildings
and repairs being made the various ships in
the Navy Yard. In the afternoon he visited the
works of the Gas Engine and Power Company,
at Morris Heights, on Spuyten DuyvH Creek.
where some torpedo boats are il course Of con-
struction. After being conducted through the
works by Captain Seabury, president Of the
company. the Admiral and the Captain went on
board the tugboat Van Colt, which had carried
the party from the Navy Yard. and the tugboat
pushed into the river on the way to the
ferry Admiral Melville said tonight:
We had not gone far before we observed an
immense fire. OF course. the speculation was
that in all probability it the petroleum
tanks at Bayonne. on the Jersey shore.
AS we approached the wharves Of the North
German Lloyd and Hamburg-American steam
ship companies Captain Seabury instructed the
captain OF the tug to proceed TO the largest yes
sci fire We rounded the stern Of the Saale
bringing up on the weather side TO avoid the tre
as much va could although 3reat masses or
fame were bursting from her side
The tugs were pouring water into her as rap
idly as the steam fire apparatus could fierce it.
The skeletons of the metallic Iifeboats on either
been entirely burned out and only the iron
shells remaining These Of course. were on the
skids above the spar deck Beuw cen the upper
deck and the next lower deck was seething
mass Of flames, while below this the berth deck
fiery furnace.
A WOMAN AT THE HEADLIGHT.
we saw many persons between the buIkheads
Of the lower decks trying TO get through the
miserable little air ports, or headlights not more
than eight nine inches in diameter. Pretty
well aft there was a woman with her bare arm
thrust through the headlight, her face pressed
tightly against her arm. She was an elderly
woman, her gray hair parted in the middle and
combed down tightly over her head. This to-
gether with the hOrrorstruck expression on her
face, gave her most pitiable appearance. She
cried continually 10 Us: Come here" in Ger
man. We pushed the rug directly alongside Of
the ship, holding the bows close TO the side Of
the liner and turning the propeller slowly TO
keep her in place.
Immediately cried 10 the captain. Turn the
hose that wOman's head and keep her COOL
in hopes that there might be found some means
Of rescuing her. The hose turned on her.
and in the mean time. just forward Of where
this woman was. the fire was raging. appar-
emily between two athwartship buIkheads. Just
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
KAISER WILHELM LITTLE HURT
DAMAGE ENTIRELY SUPERFICIAL. AND SHE
Will SAIL TOMORROW

The Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse. now lying az
the pier Of the Cunard Line in this city. is prac-
tically undamaged- Captain H EngeIbart, when
seen on board his boat. would place no estimate
on the amount Of damage that had been done TO
his vessel saving it a matter for
commissioner 10 decide. and he could therefore
give no opinion as 10 what it amounted to- but
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
TWENTY FIREMEN HANGING on PILES

Justice Of the Peace Peter Quinn. OF Hoboken.
said that ne on a Hamburg steamship pier
and saw twenty or twenty-five men hanging on
the piles Of Pier No. OF the Bremen line.
Continuing. ne said
The crowd on the pier yelled TO several pass
Ing tugs 20 rescue them The captains eiCher
did not hear or We're TOO anxious 10 reach th.
ships. as they paid no attention 20 the calls 4
cloud or smoke rolled down upon the men. ard
when IL cleared away We saw nothing more OF
them. Nearly all OF them must have been
1r~v
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

stream I decided 70 take ny ship 70 a berth
t ~HeLe mere could be no possibility Of further
harm befalling her So f1lz- abo71- --irf-saTI T
moved her upstream until 7 felt We were SAFE
rom further danger and there came 10 anchor
for the night
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
ROBBERY OF sTATERooMs-


On board the Bremen a Tribune reporter
found Second Officer F. Meyer and Third officer
H AIbers busy carrying out mattresses and
bedclothing from one Of the staterooms.
Not everything on board was burned Meyer
said, holding up a pillow slip which appeared
TO have just come from a laundry. He then
said that the fire had been practically extin-
guished in the aft parts OF the vessel. and was
now limited to the fore and lower holds and to
the provision room. No bodies had been found
during the day, although the officer expressed
the fear that twenty TO thirty men might have
been entombed in the burning compartments
Continuing he said:
Coroner Hoffman. Of Hoboken, visited the ship
to-day. and asked me how many Of the crew of the
Bremen burned death. I told him that /
did not know and could know until the fire
had been put out. Even then doubt that will
ever know the exact number OF victims The
men who were taken out last night We're from the
engine room compartments. which well pro-
teCted against fire from the other parts. The
Bremen did not have much OF a cargo aboard so
that We hope 10 make search Of the parts now
burning within the next twenty-four thirty
hours
Herr AIbers and myself were at Glen Island on
Saturday afternoon enjoying the cool shades of
Little Germany We started from Glen Island
at o'clock. and soon some cried Fire. and
pointed in the direction Of the Harlem shore.
New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

= it, and I saw him sink into the water
again"