The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-20
Rumor That the S. s. British
Queen Was Burned Pur-
posely by Her Grew
Unfounded.
ORIGIN or FIRE A MYSTERY
Thrilling Stories Of Escape
Told by Seamen- Only
Two Lives Said to
Be Lost.

The Hoboken Police and Fire Departs
ments tried hard yesterday and today to
find out the cause of the pier fire which
broke out in that city Tuesday night
The rumor that the fire was started pur-
posely by members Of the crew Of the
steamship British Queen was found to be
without foundation. The Investigators
were Of the opinion this morning that the
fire was caused either by electric light
wires or by spontaneous combustion-
There was large quantity of infamna-
bic material on the pier.
Up to noon today only two deaths had
been reported as resulting from the fire.
The victims were Patrick Hussey. a long
shoreman who died in St. Mary's Hospi-
tai yesterday morning. and Thomas J.
Cooney, a fireman on the New York fire-
boat Seth Low. who was drowned while
helping to put out a blazing lighter on
Governors Island.
Chief Engineer Robert Scott. OF the
British Queen. who was believed to have
been lost and who turned up yesterday
tells a startling story OF his escape from
the burning ship. He was confined to his
state room suffering from rheumatism
when he was aroused by smoke and noise
Srspecting that the ship was ahre ne
rushed towards rhe upper deck He was
driven back by the flames when he
reached the companionway. but after sew
eral attempts he succeeded in forcing his
way to the deck. Scott Immediately rush
ed to the side of the ship and dropped
overheard, holding on to a rope. He says
he saw only one man on the ship when
he left. This man was a Belgium, a men-
Der of the crew. Scott says ne shouted
to the Belgium to follow him. but the
latter paid no attention to him 1t IS be-
lieved that the Belgium was lost. Scott
SWAN to a lighter and climbed abroad.
He says he fell unconscious on the deck
of the lighter When he came to his
senses the flames were again around him.
the lighter having caught fire Scott
jumped overheard again and made his
way to the steamer Heathburn. He says
he caught hold of the Heathburn's tud-
der and held on until he attracted the at
tention Of a sailor who hauled him aboard
the steamer, where he remained until
yesterday. Scott is badly burned on the
face and arms.
Another thrilling escape was related BY
Captain Anderson, of the barge Tonawarl-
da Mrs. Anderson threw her child from
the boat to a bale of hay that was hoak-
ing in the water She then jumped over
board herself and was followed by heI
husband Captain Anderson had a diffi.
cult time of it saving his wife and child
bat he managed to keep both from sink
ing until all hands were rescued by sew
eraI members of the New Jersey Nava
Reserve, who were in a row boat
II was stated this morning that a roll
call had been taken of the longshorenen
employed on the Phoenix line pier and
that all had been accounted for with the
exception of Hussey who died of burns
in ST. Mary's Hospital. 1t was also stated
that the members of the crew Of thef Brit
ish Queen had all been accounted for.
None of the ships officers in HoSoken,
however are certain that all have es-
capped.
Secretary William A. Macy. Of the Ho-
boken Land and Improvement Company,
said this morning that the destroyed
Phoenix lire pier would be rebuilt at ths
earliest opportunity. and that every rea-
sonable indueement would be made to re-
tain the steamship line in Hoboken.
Meanwhile the steamers Of the line Will
be docked at the Erie Railroad piers in
this city The British Prince, due to ar
rive today viii be berthed at the Long
Dock.
The smouldering ruins OF the steamer
British Queen blazed up again yesterday
afternoon while the wreck was being tow<
ed to the Morse Iron Works in South
Brooklyn 1t was feared that the sparks
would be carried by the swift wind to the
Brooklyn piers, but the blaze was sub
dued before another confiagration had
started.
Richard J. FosteY as owner and Daniel
Lynch and Alexander J. Forsyth as cap
tains of the tugs P. c. Roman and John I.
Weieh. fled a libel in the United States
District Court yesterday against the BritS
ish Queen and her engines, boilers and
cargo for salvage, alleging that they help
ed tow her cut when she was aire ana
pumped water into her
L.ibels for salvage money were also fled
against five barges and one lighter. Ths
libellants are Myers Henderer and Rich<
ard J. Foster as owners and Harry Rex
and Daniel Lynch as captains Of the tugs
NJ. Henderer and p. c. Roman. who claim
salvage for towing to safety the bargss
Manchester Andy. Oscawanna, Wood
mont and Stamford with their carEoes-
The Cornell Steamboat Company as own
er and George E Palrateer as master Of
the tug c. r.. Rose also fled libel aims
the lighter Athens.