River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-07-05

Cut off from shore by walls OF
fire, driven off the piers into the water
cooped up in cabins from which the
sky could be seen through narrow port
holes but no rescne could be had, hun
dreds of persons met fearful deaths.
Nobody Will ever know how great the
number is. Many bodies have been re-
covered, unrecognizable.
Ships, piers and warehouses were all
burning within nine minutes from the
start of the fire. Then when the en-
gines and fire tugs came they were
powerless to put a limit to the flames.
Not till pier of the Hamburg Ameri-
can line was blown up by dynamite was
the fire under control.
whisky Feeds the Flames.
In the middle of pier 3 was a large
quantity of cotton bales, and alongside
this infiammable substance were 100
barrels of whisky. The fire had its
origin in the cotton and was fed by
whisky. The casks which contained
the spirits exploded and their contents
were scattered over the infiammabie
merchandise upon the pier. The fire
swept over the pier with greater ra-
pidity than the devouring elements
travel over the dry grass OF the prai-
ries. 1t caught the awnings and rig
ging of steamers and spread with in
conceivable rapidity to the highly pol
ished woodwork of the cabins and the
infiammable cargoes which were being
stored in the holds.
Firemen Helpless.
Such Roadway was gained by the fire
that when the Hoboken fire depart
ment arrived the fremen were utterly
helpless to cope with the flames. They
were further handicapped by having
several hundred feet of hose burned.
Calls were made to the New York fire
department for assistance, and fire tugs
were sent over. These. however. had
little effect on the great mountain of
flame and smoke.
The steamships Saale and Bremen,
after being pulled free from the docks,
were towed ablaze down the bay and
beached off Liberty island.
Vain Appeal for Help.
On the Bremen as it blazed out in
midstream six men could be seen with
their heads out of the portfolios, way
ing handkerchiefs for assistance. Tug
boats and small boats darted around
the big steamships. making every effort
to save the men, but the heat kept them
away.
MlTacuIously Saved.
Superintendent Miller. of the Bremen
piers, starting out late Saturday night
in quest of the dead, most unexpected
ly rescued % men. On the tug l.. A.
Stevens he approached the Bremen and
found. to his amazement, that there
were still men living aboard her. He
took from one of the coal ports the
fourth engineer and six of the crew
who had managed to survive the fierce
ness of the fire in the lower part of the
vessel. Then he visited the Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse, and, seeing the Main
drifting with the tide. he followed in
the Stevens to where the still burning
liner was beached on Weehawken flats.
Profiting by his experience on the Bre-
men, he scanned the sides of the vessel
closely and deserted at one of the coal
ports a man who was calling for help.
Going TO the side of the vessel he res
cued this man and II others. all of
whom had been in the bottom of the
ship for nearly eight hours, with the
flames roaring above them and work
ing their way even nearer. The men
were at their last stand and would soon
hayp Naris he'd