New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
A SCENE OF AWFUL BEAUTY,

SCENE OF AWFUL BEAUTY.
The smoke cloud from the burning piers
changed it's color as the material that fed the
flames changed it's character, and formed at
times color scheme Of great beauty At It's
base the flames danced and roared, at times
showing only dimly, at others leaping up in
their full strength. AS the night fell the fire
seemed to burn more brightly, and then it was
seen that between the piers and the river a
Gordon of guarding tugs was drawn
TRAFFIC GOES ON AS USUAL
Through it and in spite of it all the remorse-
less traffic Of the river kept on. Crowded TO
their capacity, the ferrybOats crossed and re-
crossed Up and down. thither and yon. pas
senger steamers. lighters, barges and the thou
sand and one other boats that ply upon the
city's great waterway and care for its varied
business pursued their regular vocations.
When it first became apparent that shipping
on this side was threatened fire alarms were
sent in. which soon brought engines rattling
down to West-st. from all directions Details OF
police from the stations adjacent to the river
were also quickly on the ground The fire en-
gines patroned the river front from Twelfth-st
to the Battery while the efforts of the police
were confined to keeping the crowds from press
ing out upon the piers to view the picture or
destruction.
of the Fire and Police Departments was quick
" apparent to the shipping who had
viewed with alarm the approach Of the burning
vessels OF the multitude of tugs and fire
boats that had been called to the scene OF the
fire many had attached hawsers to the burn
ing craft. The object was to tow them into
midstream and If it then found Impossible
TO subdue the flames, TO run them aground on
the flats off the Battery. The utmost dithculty,
however, found in handling the burning
vessels The heat was so intense that no living
creature could remain aboard OF them. The
tugs clustered around them thick as flies.
putting and screeching at intervals and pour
ing streams of water on them from every avail
able point.
The Bremen, which had been apparently
pushed from her dock by big fotilla of tugs
that swarmed around her on every side. was
particularly hard to control She was loaded
down with a rich cargo of general freight ana
merchandise. on which the flames had got a nrm
hold. The smoke pouring out in clouds
from the portfolios of her lower decks. while a
mass of fame and smoke arose clear above her
masts.
The course of this burning vessel was most
irregular one and thousands of people watched
her as she neared the New-YOrk shore
Closer and closer she came under the influence
Of the strong ebb tide that was running. unth
finally with crash she brought up against the
pier Of the Peoples Albany Line. at Canal-st
Her big bow then swung off and smashed into
the new pier of the Reading Railroad. just
above it, staving its side in like breaking an
eggsheIl
The fire engines ratified quickly 10 the scene.
but the pier did not catch fire. fortunately. and
there was no need for their services. 1t was
narrow escape for the pier, and also for those in
close proximity. including the piers OF the New
York Central and Hudson River Railroad and
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
CHAUTAUQUA EXCURSION.