New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

three poor fellows. o1e aftor another. became
unconscious and dropped out of sight. In these
lifeboats were numerous injured men, many OF
them badly burned and with broken limbs,
BY this time the lighters had been towed out,
and with their burning contents of cotton and
coal 1oated down the river giving the surface
of the stream somewhat the appearance Of
magnificent Venetian carnival. There were more
than dozen IF these lighters surrounded by
tugs which were working to keep them from
drifting near the piers of either shore.
1850 MEN ON THE VESSELS
So far as could he ascertained. there were be-
tween five hundred and six hundred longshore-
men at work On the piers when the fire started
on the Kaiser Wilhelm II said. there were
four hundred men. on the Bremen two hundred
and fifty. and the Main and Saale three hun
dred each. Exactly how many of these lost their
lives viii probably never be known. Opinions
given last night put the loss of life at not less
than hundred. Men were seen 10 drown by
the score and il is known that a large number
OF workers perished in the burning piers.
Incidents Of horror were so numerous as 10
make il almost impossible adequately TO describe
them. AS the Saale towed out at least forty
men seen clinging to her rudder. Before
help could reach them all had sunk. with the
oepton OF about 4 dozen. Before steward had
time TO run down the gangplank that at
tached TO the moving ssale. the plank fell into
the river. carrying the steward with it, A raft
with fully a hundred men on it hoated slowly
toward the Hamburg American Line pier
hut before it touched the pier it cap
sized. While most Of the men were rescued
by small boats. many Of them were drowned.
Before dark bodies were picked up
near the spot where the raft went over.
DEATH OF A FIREMAN.
After the Bremen had cleared her pier fire
man was seen running along the main deck, and
reaching the stern he leaped overheard.
Under the stern of the Bremen was a lighter of
burning coal. Into This mass the fell and
WAS consumed. From the decks Of the tugs
which were pulling the steamers out into the
river scores Of panic stricken men were OBJ
served 10 be holding on TO the pier supports
with burning timber falling about them. AS
there was chance of small boats tugs ap-
preaching the piers. very few Of these men
could have been saved Nearly hundred men
suffering from burns or injuries were treated by
DR.. c. A. Peterson, the resident physician Of the
North German Lloyd company, and his asss-
tant DR.. Samuel Stanton. Fifty more sufferers
were taken TO the Police Headquarters, where
they were looked after by the police surgeons
subsequently those whose injuries were severe
were removed 10 st. Mary's Hospital, Hoboken
and Christ Hospital. Jersey City while others
were conveyed in ambulances cabs and other
vehicles to hospitals in this city
Captain Zimmerman OF Engine Company No
drove hose wagon on to Pier No. 3. but he
had no sooner passed through the entrance than
MS retreat was cut Off The Captain ordered
his men 10 rush to the end of the pier and find
safety that way Captain Zimmerman himself
sought to cut his horses loose from the wagon.
The effort nearly cost him his life. He was
forced to leave the horses. and as it was was
so badly burned as to necessitate his removal to
St Mary's Hospital Captain Zimmerman said
the flames spread with such lightning like ra pid-
fly that he was unable TO say whether or not all
his men had escaped.
Stories Of heroic endeavors to rescue could be
told by the dozen. To the promptitude of the
crews Of tugs and Of watermen in small boats
was due the saving of Large number of lives.
TERRIBLE CHARGE MADE.
one instance, however. of inconceivable bru-
tality WIS reported. Five stewards--C. Kriecks
A, Tiedjens, G, Die erman. Ferdinand Permer
and wilhelm Dekzer-signed A statement
wherein they asserted that when they swan to
tre side OF a tugboat the captain brandishing
oluo. asked them if they had any money When
they replied that they had no money the stew
ards say, the captain threatened them. told
them that they could come aboard. and he
steamed away.
had it not been for the course Of the wind
which carried the flames toward the river the
denseiy populated tenement houses along River
ST, Hoboken, and the adjoining piers would
have undoubtedly been destroyed. AS it was
the employees of the Hamburg American Line
blew up with dynamite their pier. which ad-
Joined the North German Lloyd companys prop
erty, and which lay between the fire and the
pier TO which were moored the Kaiser Friedrich
and the Ph9nicia. Upon both these ships the
crews were kept at fire quarters with hose ready
for use. but the fire did not extend to either of
the steamers.
By the subordinate officials of the North Ger
man Lloyd company it was stated last night that
the loss Of life could not be less than two hun
dred and fifty or three hundred, and that at
least SlO,000.000 worth Of property had been de-
stroyed Chief Applegate Of the Hoboken Fire
Department placed the loss at S16000000
The North German Lloyd company does not
Insure its vessels. AS do some other large
steamship companies. il provides for losses out
OF sinking fund of It's own.