The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-11-21
SOUND BOAT BURNED
Steamer Mohawk Stranded
Near Horizons Point.
TWENTY-ONE RESCUED BY BOSTON
Central Vermont Liner Was on Her
Regular Trip From New York to
New LondOn-BOat and Cargo
Total Loss.


"A Total Loss.
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.-Twenty- one
persons. were rescued from the big
| freight steamer Mohawk of the Cen
trail Vermont railroads fleet, which
was burned to the waters edge off
Horizons point, in Long Island sound.
The Waterman, Swede named Lar
sen, Is believed to have been burned to
| death. All the others on board, among
whom were two women, were taken
off the burning vessel by the freight
boat Boston of the Fall River line
shortly after ! o'clock in the morning,
and almost Immediately there was a
heavy explosion OH the abandoned
freighter, which apparently completed
the destruction made by the flames.
The charred hull of the Mohawk now
lies stranded on the inlet bar west of
Peconic, and the vessel and cargo are
total loss.
The Mohawk carried full cargo OF
general merchandise, including nearly
q thousand barrels of sugar and con-
siderable oil
The fire was discovered as the vessel
was passing Horizons point on one of
her regular trips from this city to New
London, Conn, and a few minutes
later her entire framework was atame
The Boston came up in a short time
and went at once to her assistance The
rescues were made with much diff
Guilty owing to the intense heat,
The Mehawks men say that the fire
was discovered by those in the pilot
house soon after midnight. but its
cause is not known.
Mrs. Charles II. Wilbur and Mrs. Jul
liza Coils. of this city, who We're OH the
burned steamer, reached here much
unnerved by their experience.
Mrs. Wilbur, who Is the wife of the
electrician of the Mohawk, said:
Though we heard a gong, which
know now was the fire alarm, we did
not understand that there was any
trouble, and no one came to our state
room, which was on the upper deck
back Of the pilot house, until we had
detected the smoke and began to dress
Then Mr.. Wilbur came and warned us
to come out at once. With little cloth
ing we ventured out of the room and
were almost stifled by the smoke. Life
preservers were thrown around us, and
we were soon lowered over the side to
the lifeboat and started on the rough
trip to the steamer City of Boston.
When we reached the Boston a ladder
was swung over her side, but 1t was
too snort for us to reach it. Life lines
were placed around us and as our
boat rose on the crest of wave we
We're literally thrown toward the lad
der by our men. l caught rung Of
the ladder and. stesdted by the life
line reached the deck of the steamer.
/ was so excited that | did not know
what was going on around me-"
Mrs. Colby said:
Il never expected to escape alive,
for the flames were sweeping down
upon us and only the heroic work of
Captain Barker and his men. who
played a stream of wSter near us, kept
us from being surrounded by the fire.
ITO Engineer Benjamin d. Gresham
we all owe great deal. Knowing
that an explosion was imminent with
the small quantity of water in the
boilers, he went down into the boiler
room and filled the boilers. He reach
ed the deck none too soon. for he was
almost overcome by smoke as he
emerged through the hatchway. Ev
cry man aboard the Mohawk acted
the part of hero
The steamer Nashua, with Captain
Baker and the crew of the burned
steamer Mohawk in charge, have sailed
from Providence for New London TO
replace the Mohawk.