New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-19
STEAMER BURNS. ONE DEAD
CREW RESCUED IN SOUND.
Central Vermont Freighter MohasOk
Total Loss.

Fail River. Mass. Nov. 1s.-The Fall River
Tane freight steamer Boston arrived at heF pie'
q, this city about a IN. to-day, three hours
late having stopped to rescue the crew OF lne
Central Vermont Railroad freighter Moha"h'
which the Boston overlook, on hIe' III AoHs
Island Sound III The night The Boston brought
twsnty-seven persons from the Mohawk lnciuo-
irg twenty-five OF the crew and two women
wives OF officers of the Mohawk Andrew Lar
sen the night watchman Of the steamer.
Swede was lost. AS he the person VINO
should have discovered the fire. and as no re-
mort from him received By the officers OF
The ship il is supposed that he was overcome
by the flames and burned to death. The mem
hers of the crew remained in Fall River only a
short time taking = train for Providence, where
they will remain until vessel is secured TO take
the mace Of the burned Mohawk. The captain
Of the Boston gives the following account of the
disaster:
The Boston came UP with the Mohawk at
12:35 o'clock this morning, about nlle east
OF Cornneld. The Mohawk was theh ABOUT an
hours run from New-London, her usual Ter
minus on the eastward trip. The MOHAWK was
stopped and burning furiouSIy forward oIle
signalIed the Boston. which ran up as close aa
rossible and stood by to give assistance. a Doat
containing two women and some members VI
the crew put out from the Mohawk Almost IN IN
rnediately after the Bostons arrival, ana the
Two women were placed safe on board the Fan
River Line boat. The boat crew which had come
10 the Boston put BACK al ONCE All Iio"t iotSA'
criven 10y the spreading OF the names ule Mo,
hawks crew abandoned the burning vessel and
reached the Boston in two boats. AS they Grew
away it seen that the Mohawk was aolaze
from end end. and shortly after they had
reached the Boston a heavy explosion occurred
Oh the Mohawk. which lifted the deck The
suokestacks flew upward followed by a burst of
flame and dense columns Of black smoke. Then
The flames leaped up TO a great heghc ana con-
1nued burning fiercey. 1t apparen: that
10 further purpose would be served if the Bos-
ION remained by. and she resumed her course
Fall River.
The Mohawk's men said that the fire
discovered by those in the pilot house shortly
AFTER midnight It was pretty well forward. and
the crew we're at once sent TO their stations 10
fight the flames. The great heat. however pre-
rented Them from getting close TO the blaze,
which spread and steadily drove hack those who
opposed it until the entire vessel doomed.
As the night Waterman was the person who
should nave discovered the fire. and as no report
from him was received by the officers of the
ship. il is believed that he attempted to quench
the flames and was overcome and burned TO
death.
The Mohawk's cargo yesterday. it was said
here. one of the heaviest IN months. 1t
included nearly one thousand barrels of sugar.
a large quantity of baled rags. besides oil and
gasoiene- Those who We're on board of her were
unable TO estimate her value approximate
the value Of her cargo.
New-London. Conn. Nov. 1S-Mrs. Charles
II Wilbur and Mrs Julia Colby, of this city.
who were the burned steamer Mohawk,
reached here tonight. and were unnerved by
their experience. Mrs. Wilbur, who is the wife
OF the electrician Of the Mohawk, said
Though we heard a gong, which I know
was the fire alarm we did not understand that
HERE was any trouble, and no one came to
stateroon which was on the upper deck back of
the pilot house. until We had detected the smoke
and begun dress Then Mr.. Wilbur anne and
warned US TO come out at once. With little
clothing veutured out Of the room and were
almost stifed by the smoke Life preservers
era aud
lowered over the side of the lifeboat and started
on the rough trip TO the steamer City of Boston.
swung over her side. but II short for us
IL reach it. Life lines placed around US
and as our boat rose on the crest of a wave
were literally thrown toward the ladder by
men caught rung Of the ladder, and.
fteaded by the life line, reached the deck Of the
steamer ] was excited that l did not know
what was going on around me.
Mrs. Colby said:
never expected to escape alive. for the flames
were sweeping down upon Us. and only the he
roic work Of Captain Barker and his men, who
played d stream OF water near US, kept US frenl
being surrounded by fire. At no time was there
2 sign o. panic among the officers and crew, and
al the men were anxious TO that we women
We're safely disposed or and they paid all at
iention 10 US so long as there was anything that
might be done. To Engineer Benjamin D.
Gresham we al owe great deal Knowing
that an explosion was imminent with the small
quantity of wafer ia the boilers, he went down
into the boIlerroom and filed the boilers. He
reached the deck none too soor, for he was al
most overcome by smoke as he emerged through
the hatchway. Every man aboard the Mohawk
acted the part Of hero.
Captain Barker and all the officers saved only
the clothing they wore Some lost the saw
ings Of months, which in their hunks
r. / Burnap. agent OF the Central Vermont Rail
way. said yesterday that the cargo Of the Mohawk
was made UP Of merchandise. and that there were
no .nfammable articles in It. 1t was impossible
yesterday TO estimate the value Of the cargo.
The Mohawk was valued about $4,000 She
built in 1856 at Chester Penn. ana was owned
by the NeH-London Steamship COMPANY from
which she was chartered ~ the Central Vermont
lAne. She was Of the screw type OF boat. and had
q oSs tonnage Of Isl She was 90 feet long q
feet wide and 10 feet deep.
ELENA COULDN'T FIND HER MONEY.