The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-18
(By the Associated Press }

New York, Dec. 17.-By the burn
ing of the Starin Line steamer Glen
Island in Long Island Sound today
nine lives were lost and property
roughly estimated at a quarter of a
million dollars was destroyed. That
more lives were not sacrificed UNI
doubtedly was due to the personal
courage OF the officers and crew and
the excellent discipline maintained
when horrible death for all seemed
almost a certainty. When the steamer
was abandoned she was 1ame-swept
from stem to stern and yet the only
persons who lost their lives were those
whose escape had been entirely cut
off by the fire before the alarm
reached them.
OF the thirty-one persons, including
the Glen Island last night twentytwo
including eight passengers, were
brought back today.
The dead are:
Passengers Unknown Hebrew No-
man, believed to be Rosa SiIlzen, who
lived at zoe Hamilton street, New
Haven.
Unknown man, supposed to be a
New Yorker.
Crew-W. E. Hendricl1son, assistant
engineer.
LIEman Miller, fireman.
Frank Bush. fireman.
John Burke, fireman.
Otto l.. AlOlfran. fireman.
.. Berger, 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 a crew of twenty-one
N n in oVip
McAllaster, first mate Ira Larsen, Pilot
Thomas McMullen and Quartermaster
John O'Brien. The trip down through
the sound was without incident and
just before midnight when about three
miles west of Greenwich, Conn.,, Cap
tain McAllaster left the pilot house and
went below for his midnight lunch.
\ Rush OF Smoke.
At that time there was no indication
of trouble of any kind. but hardly had
the captain reached the galley when
there came rush of sitting smoke
from the hold of the steamer and every
electric light on board the craft was
tStinguished. When the captain
rushed on deck smoke was pouring
from every passage-way and flames
We're sweeping up through the aper-
ture around the walking beam.
Captain McAilaster sent in the
tumbling out OF their bunks. In the
meantime the sterring gear had been
blocked and the pilots, finding them
selves unable 60 direct the course of
the steamer hurried to the assistance
of the other members of the crew in
saving lives.
Captain McAllaster ordered McMul-
lin 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
McAllaster managed to loosen the port
life boat The other life boat was
frozen to the davits. but smaller one
was soon ready to be lowered away.
Scene Of Wild Confusion.
While the officers and crew were
working there was q fearful scene OF
confusion among the ten passengers.
They ran about the saloons in disar-
ray. The woman who lost her life
had been aroused by the stewardess
and was on her way to one of the
boats when she suddenly turned and
dashed back into the flaming cabin.
II 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 appear
at once. In the large boat fifteen
people We're afioat
Ihey Included the eight rescued
passengers and seven of the crew. in
ciuulng the captain. The large boat
was Just about to be lowered when the
latter ran uD and Jumped in just in
the nick of time. or he too. would
nave perished. The smaller boat,
which Pilot McMullin had managed 20
lree' carried seven passengers. The
two boats We're rowed as far awav
from the burning steamer as was
necessary To escape destruction and
watched the boat burn. They made
every posslole enort to find any pos
sible survivors. but there was none 70
be found. The burning steamer drift-
ed aeway toward the Long Island
shore. In the meantime the tug
Bully, which was passing with a string
of barges in tow. sighted the burning
steamer cast her tow adrift and came
to the rescue of persons in the boats
They were taken from the small craft.
placed in the furnace room of the tug,