Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-19

FIRE At HOBOkEN
Continued from page -

are docks and basins of the Phoenix
Line, the Holland American Line any
Barber Line. The Phoenix Line piei
was a wooden structure 3O0 Ieet ions'
covered with a frame sned. vi III"
pier were many bales of hay anu COZ
ton, which were burned with inc u
most rapidity.
How the fire started is not hHo"h.
Some narratives are that 1t started III
the British Queen, which lay in the
basin between the Phoenix Line dock
and the Holland American dock. Oth-
ers that it had it's origin at the emu "
the pier. At all events, Win pu' ny
barest warning the flames burst out
quickly licking up the pier ana the COT
ton upon it.
The stevedores and sailors were
driven to the street, for the Vessei was
being unloaded, having arrived mere
Friday, from Antwerp, cotton iaueh'
Flames Jared up from the steamer
with as great suddenness as they had
upon the pier, and since she was MADE
fast to the pier and could not be backed
out. lighters and other water crafts
which lay alongside of her. some OF
them holding such inflammable stun as
oil cakes, quickly caught fire.
The captain of the lighter Tonowanda
saved himself, his wife and his child
by pushing a cotton bale into the wa
ter, placing his family and himself upon
it and padding his strange life raft
into the river. The stiff wind which
had blown all day gave impetus to the
fire. whose glare redeemed the North
river for q long distance. Cattle pens
upon the upper deck of the British
Queen were the first part of her con-
sumed, but in a short time her hull was
afiame.
| From the Phoenix Line pier the
| flames spread to the pier of the Barber
Line, and then to the steamer Heath
| burn, newly arrived from Hong Kong
with a cargo of tea.
| Among the crew of the steamer
Heathburn were 80 Cinnamon. When
! the flames began to run over the YES
| sci they all scampered to the pier for
safety and began to make their way to
/ the streets of Hoboken. AS soon as the
custom officials saw the frightened
| Cinnamon they became alarmed that
the aliens would make an illegal entry
| into the country, so with drawn pis-
tolls they ordered the Chinese to halt.
The command, enforced by the show of
revolvers, was needed and then, sur
rounded by guards, the Celestials were
marched to pier some distance away
and there will be kept under surveil-
| lance for the night.
| The captain of the Heathburn was
not aboard. His wife and children were
but were rescued by the mate.
The Holland American Line docks
are below those of the Barber Line.
| They caught fire but were only slight
ly damaged. The company's big steam
er, the Maasdam, was towed out into
the river as soon as the danger became
apparent.
The fire was fought by Hoboken and
| Jersey City fire engines and from the wa
| ter side by tugs and New York fire de-
partment boats. Employees of the Hol-
| land-American and Bremen Steamship
| lines assisted the forces, as did the crew
| of the U. S. S. Portsmouth lying at the
| pier next above the Phoenix Line. This
vessel is in use by the New Jersey Nava
Reserve as a training ship and is com
| manded by Lieut.. Davenport. 1t was
| through their efforts that the Tonawan
da's captain and his family were saved.
The fire started about S35 o'clock and by
| 11.30 it was well under control.
The British Queen still ablaze was tow
ed out into the river. Three lighters all
| afire were directed down the river by
tugs, but owing to the wind and current
they once or twice came near setting fire
| to property on the New York side. Two
of them finally locked to the east shore
| of Governors island, setting fire to the
new landing pier there.
| The army officers quarters were greatly
| endangered. The soldiers stationed on
| the island were employed in fighting the
flames and in few hours the danger
was passed.
| After the excitement attending the fire
| had subsidized the Hoboken police report
! ed that five longshOremen were in the
| hospital there suffering from burns. One
| of these, Patrick Hussey, was almost
| sure to die and the child of the captain
| of the Tonawanda is in a dangerous con-
| dition The captain and his wife are also
at the hospital.