Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-05-14
BURNING OF FERRY STEAMER.

The Steamer Columbia of the WASH
ington Ferry Line Burned TO the
Waters Edge.
About half-past nine O'Clock last
night the attention of a number Oh
people in this city was attracted 10
brilliant light on the Washington wafer
front. In few minutes time column
of blaze was soaring heavenward, and 1t
was seen that destructive cOnfagration
was raging. Curiosity led some to tele-
phone to Washington to ascertain what
was burning and they we're appalled,
when they told that the only boat on
the ferry line-the Columbia-was be-
ing rapidly destroyed by fire. The
news soon spread throughout the city
and in a short time most of those who
had made Use of the ferry boat to trans
port them to and from Washington
realized that they would be compelled
to use another mode of transportation
this morning. 1t was a contingency
which had been dreaded for several
months. or ever since it was apparent
that the present ferry company had no
intention OF placing another steamer on
the line.
1t was not until this morning, when
people connected with the company re-
turned to the city, that the full partlcu-
lars of the conhagration were obtained.
There was no one aboard the boat when
the fire started, and its origin is a mys-
terry. AT 9:25 o'clock flames were seen
BY persons in the neighborhood of the
slip issuing from around the smokestack
and an alarm of fire was turned in, but
in spite of the efforts of the fire depart
men, the boat burned to the waters
edge, and then sank. She reached
Washington from Alexandra at Z o clock,
and before making port her fires were
banked, in order to enable the crew to
90 ashore at the earliest possible mo-
ment. The boat was partially insured,
and was valued at $50, 900. The wharves
and sheds of the company also caught
fire, and were damaged TO the extent OF
80,
The Inflated steamer was built in 1891
and was owned by the Hart estate of
New York. The title to the boat rested
in the Washington Steamboat Company,
with headquarters at Alexandria, but
the Hart estate was practically the only
stakeholder in the company. The Hart
estate is a corporation, but the sole heir
to the Hart estate is Mrs. Elizabeth
Lyons, of 139 Madison avenue, New
York, and she is the real loser.
Mr.. John b. Padgett, superintendent
and manager of the ferry line, with head
quarters in this city, went to Washington
last night as soon as he learned of the
burning of the boat He said it was not the
custom of the company to keep any of the
crew abroad the boat, but to depend
upon the Waterman, Captain James Nc
Cracker, formerly of this city, to attend
to both boat and wharf Waterman
McCracken said last night that he had
been aboard the boat and all over her
from stem to stern not more than twenty
minutes before the flames were dlscoy-
cred and at that time there was not the
slightest indication of fire in the boat,
not even in the boiler-room. 1t is sup
posed, however, that a spark lodged
somewhere about the smokestack on the
up-trip yesterday and that this was the
origin of the fire.
While the fire was raging the Norfolk
and Washington steamer Newport News
was saved from ignition only by the
prompt action of Capt. John Taylor, OF
the tug James O.. Carter, who, as soon
as be saw the flames, made fast to the
big steamer and towed her into midstream,
only returning her to her wharf after all
danger was over.
This is the second ferry steamer which
has burned during the past nine years,
the City of Alexandria having been de-
stroyed in the fall of 1894.
The Randall Steamboat Company has
come to the rescue, and beginning this
afternoon the steamer Estelle Randall
will run on the following schedule: Leave
Washington at 6:l0 and $3.50 a. m, and
$50 p. m. Leave Alexandria at 1880
a. m. and 3:15 and $50 p. m. Moth
ing but perishable freight will be trans
ported on the $3.50 a IN. trip, and no
wagons can be carried between the two
cities. This arrangement will, in a
measure, relieve the situation, but it will
be seen that the first trip from this city
will be too late for the large number of
Alexandrians who are employed in the
navy yard and other places in southeast
Washington. An effort will be made to
induce the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company to sell tickets for
one way to such as desire to 60 to Wash
ington on their boats which arrive here
between and O'Clock every morning.
A meeting of the board of directors of
the company is to be held this evening,
at which certain matters in connection
with the new ferry line will be con-
sidered The above suggestion will be