The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-03
PERISH BY FLAME AND FLOOD
FrightfuI Loss of Life at a Great Fire IN
Hoboken.
4 STEAMSHIPS BURNED TO WATERS EDGE

IAt soiS =
steamship of 1865 gross tons; the Bremen
a twin screw passenger and freight
steamer of 1926 tons and the Main, a
twin screw freight and passenger steam
err of II, 200 gross tons. They all caught
fire and were burned to the waters edge.
The Kaiser Wilhelmer der Crosse, which
had Just come in, was the only one of the
four big vessels at the dock that eS-
capped.
The fire was first discovered by a
Waterman on the pier at four O'Clock. He
saw a small streak of flame shoot from a
bale of cotton on Pier No. 2, at which
was locked the steamer Saale. He I'M
mediately sent in an alarm.
In a few minute the flames had eX-
tended to the steamship and were com
municated to the adjoining pier on the
north. Here were docke1 the Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse and the Main. Tugs
were Immediately made fast to the big
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse and she was
gotten out into mid-stream with safety,
although badly scorched at the bow
The steamship Main, however, was doom
ed, as the flames had already leone
so fierce on the north side of the pier that
no tug could approach the vessel. Then,
by a Shift in the wind, the flames We're
sent in the direction of Pier No. 1, which
was to the south end of Pier No. Z. To
the north of Pier No. 1 was the docN of
the neutrality-suspicious. Line, at which
the steamship Phoenicia, a twin screw
passenger steamer of ,761 gross tons was
locked. The flames got a good hold on
the Phoenicia, and she was towed out
into midstrcam ablaze.
BLEW UP THE DOCK.
N ff;o;o IT,. ,f Tho 1,r W n r;n T,
Line then decided that the only way to
prevent a total destruction of their great
pier was to blow up the side of Che dock
at which the Phoenicia lay, and this was
done. A number of barges Cooked at
the pier also took fire, but in the effort
to save the other property, no attention
was paid to them and they Were allowed
to burn. 1t is feared that the loss Of life
in the holds of the vessels was friGhlful,
and it is said that many Of the crews
who were asleep at the time were i'm
rrisoned there. The worst tale will come
from the steamship Main. which was un-
able to be towed from the pier.
The vessel had only arrived this rnor.I-
ing and some passengers were still on
board, and when the cry Of fire was raised
a number of them were seen to run to
the burning decks. Most of them jumped
overheard, and. save for the few who
were picked up by the tugs not one has
been heard from. although every hotel
and hospital in the city Of Hoboken is
crowded with injured.
Some OF the passengers of the Main
tried to escape to the pier. and it was
almost certain that they persisted in the
flames. There was panic on each of the
shirs. Many persons jumped overheard
o,1 Tho ,.-otor for ~, dc n n olDr~ {bo
docks was lined with people. They were
clinging to the piers, and even to the
rudders of the burning vessels. Some
were picked up; many were drowned
Peter Quinn, a justice Of the peace in
Hoboken, tells "a story of having seen
at least so people perish. He said:
4 was standing on the end of one of
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Line piers and
saw about thirty people crowd under
Pier No. l of the North German Lloyd.
They were calling to some of the passing
tug-boats, but their appeals were in vain,
and when the flames got near to them
they dived into the water. There was nc
assistance near them at the time, and
believe everyone was either drowned OF
persisted in the flames"
About 200 people We're rescued at the
neutrality-suspicious. Line pier. They
were much overcome from exhaustion
but soon revived with stimulants.
FIRE COMPANIES HELPLESS.
When the fire broke out such head
way was gained by the time the Hoboker
fire department arrived that they were
utterly helpless to cope with the flames.
They were further handicapped by hav
ing several hundred feet of hose burned
Calls were made to the New York fir
department for assistance and fire tug;
v1>"e se@t over. T.ese. however, hat
but little effect on the great mountain o
flame and smoke.
By I O'Clock the three piers of tn,
North German Lloyd Steamship Compan,
had been burned to the ground. TIL,
Southern end of the campbell stOrag
company buildings, consisting of five stor,
structures caught fire and the flames sho
from every window from the two floor
in but a few minutes. The buildings, be
ing filed mainly with jute and whiskey
burned rapidly. The firemcn were unabl
to go within fighting distance and tn
fire had pretty much it's own way there.
In these buildings great loss will b
sustained.
after being pulled free from the docks
WV 'o"Su ob-"L uoWh lIC Ody OK
beached off Liberty Island.
On the Bremen as she blazcd OFT i
: mid-stream six men could be seen wit
their heads out of port holes wavin
| handherchiefs for assistance. Tug boat
| and small boats 1arted around the bi
! steamship making every effort to say
/ the men, but the terrible heat from tn
| flames kept them away. The saving {
| the great Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse We
| attended with exciting incidents.
II seemed as if it would never be pOssibl
to get her clear and the fire was spread
1 ing SO rapidly that it threatened at al
/ most any moment to break out on tn
big ships. The great hawSers in the cor
fusion could not be handled, and axe
were brought into use to chop them, re
leasing the vessel. She was tOwed OF
into mid-stream and thel far uD tn
II river. Her bows were slightly burned.
BOTH WENT DOWN TO DEATH.
Five minutes after the fire broke OF
a woman jumped from one of the shiI
] in a vain effort to reach the water. tt
flames drove her from the ship and 81
plunged heedlessly in the direction