The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-03-22
H0BoKEN DOCKS BURNED.
Fears That the Lives OF Nu''
Lonsshoremen and others
Have Been Lost

1
Now York March 1S.-The pier OF
tha Phoenix line in Hoboken was ue'
stroyed by fire tonight. The steam
shin British Queen was destroyed anu
several lighters were burned J Ut
fire threatened the Campbelrs Stores
and for a time it looked as IL 'he
flames would reach the Holland-Ahler'
loan line docks. The Maasdam, OF the
Holland line. was towed out INTO 'he
stream. Men who were on the uochS
and on the British Queen when 'he
fire started, assert that there were
many lives lost. They said that long
sboremen were imprisoned about inc
ship. and that some sailors III IN,
forecastIe of the British Queen olu
not get out.
The fire started at 1874 o'clock neal
tbe end of the Phoenix pier neareS'
the North river. among cotton paleS
with which the entire pier was crown
ed The flames ran in all directions
until the whole structure, which was
a wooden one, surmounted by frame
shed. was enveloped.
The steamer British Queen, owned
by the Phoenix people, was tied &c
the south side of the pier and the
flames quickly leaped to her upper
decks, These decks were covered
with cattle pens, which, being built
Of light timber, were the means OF
at once spreading the fire over the
steamer. There was no chance tt
emf her loose from her berth unit
about eleven o'clock, when tugs laiC
hold of her and got her into mid
stream.
Her crew had a narrow escape
Capt. Pattison was not aboard, he
having become i'll yesterday and gone
to a hospital.
In the same slip as the British
Queen were dozen or more light
ers, cotton laden. These caught fire
and only one or two were saved, par
tally burned. The captain of TIT
lighter Tonawanda saved himself
wife and child, by pushing a cotto'
bale into the water, placing his fami
" and himself on L and padding int
the river. The crew II the unitct
States training ship Portsmouth go
them ashore safely.
From the lighters the fire got int,
the Barber line pier. The steamc
lIeathburn, Of this line, just in from
Hong Kong, with tea, was hauled GU
into the stream with fire spreading
over her. At II o'clock half dotel
tugs were pouring water into her j
an effort to put out the blaze. IA
captain, his family and the crew 81
capped.
South Of the Barber line pier /
that Of the Rotterdam line. 1t be
gan to blaze about 1890 o'clock, \
it was the big freighter Maasdam
The captain had steam up, and 500
had his vessel safely in midstream.
At 1880 o'clock the fire on th
piers and on the lighters left in tn
slips was under control. The Heath
burn and several lighters were float
ing down stream, all abla2c,
The first estimates of the loss, nee
essarily hurredly made, follow
Il
Piers, 100000; British Queen, Si0g
coo Thought to be too high, and cot
ton and lighters, 100000
Seven lighters are more or les
damaged,
About midnight Chief Croker Of III
fire department of New York city be
came alarmed for the safety Of III
piers on this side of the river. Tn
burning barges from lIoboken wer
floating TO this side, and the chic
thought it best to get large fore
Of engines and other fire apparatu
lined up along the river front nco
the American line and other piers be
tween Cortlandt and Murray streets