New-York tribune., 1901-07-19
OIL SHIP IN FLAMES.
EIGHTY THOUSAND CASES OF OIL ON
BOARD BOUND FOR AsIATIC PORTS.
BLAZING ALL THE AFTERNOON BEFORE
HELP WAS SENT-CAPTAIN CREW
AND FRIENDS SAVED.

The full rugged ship Commodore T. H. Allen,
outward bound for Hong-K Kong. Shanghai and
other Asiatfc ports. with a carge of eighty
thousand of oil, the property of the Stand
ard OIL Company caught fire in the Lower Bay
yesterday afternoon She was being towed to
sea by the tug James A Lawrence. The fire
was discovered soon after 1 o'clock The Law
renee and the pilot boat New-York continued TO
tow the vessel to get her out of the way OF the
shipping in the harbor, and took her ten miles
outside of Sandy Hook. The tugs then towed
her back again and beached her, bow on, or
the government dock inside the Hook. The
captain and the crew, consisting of twenty three
men. got off safe
The Allen started from Long Island CITY,
where she loaded, in the morning. she
passed Quarantine at 11:35. When at the
junction of Gedney and South channels smoke
was discovered pouring from her after hatch
In the excitement that followed the boat was
allowed to drift ashore bar. The New
York and the Lawrence pulled her clear. ana
she proceeded down the bay. The two tugs
after the ship had been taken outside the HOOK,
turned streams of water on her. but with little
effect.
Word was taken to Elwe & Co, at NO. Il
State-st., her agents. that the vessel was on
fire. but for several hours they refused to be-
leve that il anything more than the smoke
from her donkey engine and did not send her
any help. All the time the vessel was hylne
her flag union down, unmistakable Sig
nal of distress Not until after O'Clock
did the agents believe that the ship was
in danger and 1t was 4:40 o'clock before they
informed the authorities and the f1reboat New
Yorker was started to help to extingush the
flames The New Yorker had twenty miles 10
steam before she could reach the Allen
The crew who had found refuge on the Law
renee were taken off by the steam fishing poat
Atlantic City. which was coming through the
Shrewsbury River from Keyport. n. j., bouno
for Fulton Market, this city The government
launch Sardinia sgnalled to the Atlantic CITY
and she drew near 10 the Lawrence Captain
Robert Merrman. commander of the Commodore
T H Allen offered him dollar head II ne
would take the crew back to New-York- lie
accepted the offer and landed them all safely
George SHEPPARD, the boatswain OF the Allen.
and some other members OF the crew were seen
on the pier at Fulton-st. when the fishing boat
arrived, at p. m.
THE CAPTAIN DISCOVERS THE FLAMES.
1--WE had just finished dinner" said Sheppard.
land the topmen were aloft setting the sails.
The donkey engine was not working. The first
that was known OF the fire when Captain
Merrfman called 70 the aloft not TO he
frightened. to keep cool: that the ship was ahre
He was not excited himself and this. suppose.
gave the men confidence. The topsails. the fore
staysails and the jbs had been set. and they
were stiil set when were taken off, at
o'clock.
1--WE could see some smoke coming from the
after hatch, but no flames. and felt no heat.
For fear of an explosion. the captain ordered
all on the Lawrence which stood off for while,
waiting When no explosion occurred we all
went back, and stripped the ship of her furni-
ture We saved all our belongings and all the
papers of the vessel When got outside the
Hook we stayed aboard for while. working the
hand pumps and pouring the water into the
hold. 1t did not to have any effect. Then
the New-York and the Lawrence got out their
hosepipes and poured streams into the hold
Several of the crew of the pilot boat went on
the ship after she had been towed inside again
and dropped the anchor, that she would not
be floated away when the tide rose. She lay
when we left her in about eighteen feet of water.
and 1t was about half tide
The captain both mates and two Japs stayed
on the Lawrence I think the Japs afraid
10 come to the city at night. There were sew
eraI women on the Lawrence. friends OF the
captain, who had come TO see him off. One OF
the mates had his wife on board, going 10 take
her the entire voyage. She got off, too with
out any trouble
LOOKING FOR HIS DOLLAR APIECE
Captain Frederick Post, OF the Atlantic Clty,
said that he had not noticed the smoke from the
turning vessel until after he had come out of
the Shrewsbury.
Then saw there something the matter
he said land turned quickly when the Sardinia
signaled me The ship lying with about
ten feet OF freeboard. listing to port took the
men from the Lawrence. and the captain prom
ised to give dollar apiece for bringing them
in. I wonder where 1 can go for my money?
He was told to Elwell e. Co
The sailors were much disgruntled Here we
are. ashore again. and without a ship" said w.
Jennie A. b. "and we had such fine voyage
before A whole year on one vessel. 1t was
too bad. Now must go to the lodging houses
again and wait for something else TO come
along"
Down the bay fleet of tugs surrounded the
vessel when the smoke began TO pour from her
forward hatch. as we'll as from the hatch art
When the tug captains saw there was no salvage
to be gained they pulled off; all except those
who were supplied with fire apparatus. These
remained TO assist. The fireboat New-Yorker
played a steady stream on the rigging. which
was being attacked by the flames. The other
tugs poured water into the hold, hoping 10
drown out the fire. Almost all of the cargo was
that the greater part of 1t would be saved
Several holes knocked in the sides OF the
ship and the water rushing through these helped
the boats. At late hour last night the tugs
still working, and II thought that the
vessel itself could be saved from complete loss
If the efforts of the tugs successful the ship
will be pumped out and taken TO a dock for re-
pairs.
The Commodore T. H. Allen was built at Rich
mond. Me-, In 1884. She is 2216 tons register.
245.3 feet long All feet BEAM and 2S3 feet
fully insured. The vessel is owned by T. H.
Southard & Son. Captain Merriman has an in
terest in her
GIFT IN UNIVERSITY OE VTPGINTA