The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-20

new YORK, December 1I-By the
burning of the Starin Line steamer
Glen Island in Long Island Sound to-
day. nine lives were lost and property
roughly estimated at a quarter OF a
million dollars was destroyed. That
more lives were not sacrificed undoubt-
edly was due to the personal courage
of the officers and crew, and the excel
lent discipline maintained when a har-
rible death for all seemed almost a
certainty. When the steamer was
abandoned she was fiameswept from
stem to stern, and yet the only persons
escape had been entirely cut off by the
fire before the alarm reached them.
OF the thirty-one persons. including
ten passengers who sailed away on the
Glen Island last night. twenty-five. in
Guiding eight passengers were brought
back today.
The dead are: Passengers:
UNKNOWN HEBREW WOMAN, be-
lieved to be Rosa Silken, who lived at
206 Hamilton street, New Haven.
UNKNOWN MAN, supposed to be Q
New Yorker.
CREW: w. E. HENDRICKSON, as
sistant engineer.
HUMAN MILLER, fireman.
FRANK BUSH, fireman.
JOHN BURKE, fireman.
OTTO LALOLERAN, fireman.
o. BERG, deck hand.
PETER BENSEN, deck hand.
The Glen Island left her dock here
at $50 last night on her regular trip
for New Haven. There were ten pas
sengers and crew of 81 men, including
Captain Charles E. McAllaster, First
Mate Ira Larsen, Pilot Thomas McMul-
len and Quartermaster John O'Brien.
The trip down through the sound was
without incident and just before mid
day, when about three miles west Of
Greenwich, Conn, Captain McAllaster
left the pilot house and went below
for his mid-lunch. At that time there
was no indication of trouble of any
kind, but hardly had the captain reach
ed the galley when there came a rush
of sitting smoke from the hold Of the
steamer and every electric light on
board the craft was extinguished.
When the captain rushed on deck smoke
was pouring from every passageway
and flames were sweeping up through
the aperture around the walking beam.
Captain McAllaster sent in the alarm
for fire drill and the men came tumb-
ling out of their hunks. in the mean
time the steering gear had been block
ed and the pilots, finding themselves
unable to direct the course Of the steam
er hurried to the assistance Of the 9TH
er members Of the crew in saving lives.
Captain McAllaster ordered McMullin
to go to the hurricane deck and loosen
one of the boats while he went to the
main deck and tried to loosen the two
large life boats. Captain McAlIaster
to loosen the port life boat.
The other life boat was frozen TO the
davits, but a smaller one was sooD
ready to be lowered away
While the officers and crew were
there was a fearful scene OF
confusion among the ten passengers.
They ran about the saloons in disarray
The woman who lost her life had been |
aroused by stewardess and was on her |
denly turned and dashed back into the |
flaming cabin. It is supposed that she |
went back for her valuables. She was |
not seen again and must have perished. !
There was no possibility of waiting for |
the rescue OF those who failed to ap-
pear at once In the large boat fifteen |
people were afoat.
They included theeight rescued pas
sengers and seven of the crew including |
The captain. The large boat was just /
about to be lowered when the latter /
an mp and jumped IN. just in the nick |.
IF time or he too would have perished- |
The smaller boat, which Pilot McMullen |
had managed TO free, carried seven /
passengers. The two boats were rowed /
IS far away from the burning steamer
As was necessary to escape destruction,