The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-22
SOUND STEAMER BURNS
Central Vermont Line Freight Boat
Destroyed by Fra
The Mohawk Caught Fire at Night wheB
on Corn6s1d-Onc OF Her Grew Lost
Remainder Rescued BY the Boston.

Fall River, Mass. The Fall River
Line freight steamer Boston arrived at
her pier in this city about a M.
three hours late, having stopped to res
cue the crew Of the Central Vermont
Railroad freighter Mohawk, which the
Boston overlook, on fire, in Long Island
Sound in the night. The Boston
brought twenty seven persons from the
Mohawk. including twenty-five of the
crew and two women wives Of officers
Of the Mohawk. Andrew Larsen, the
night Waterman Of the steamer, a
Swede. was lost As he was the per-
son who should have discovered the
fire, and as no report from him was
received by the officers Of the ship, it
is supposed that he was overcome by
the flames and burned to death. The
members Of the crew remained in Fall
River only short time, taking train
for Providence. The captain of the
Boston gives the following account Of
the disaster:
The Boston came up with the Mo-
hawk at 1916 o'clock in the morning,
about a mile east of Cornfield. The
Mohawk was then about an hours run
from New London, her usual terminus
on the eastward trip. The Mohawk
was stopped and was burning furious
~ forward. She signalled the Boston.
which ran up as close as possible and
stood by to give assistance. A boat
containing two women and some mein-
bers Of the crew put out from the Mo-
hawk almost Immediately after the
Boston's arrival, and the two women
were placed safe on board the Fall Riy-
er line boat. The boat crew which had
come TO the Boston put back at once.
An hour later. driven by the spreading
of the flames, the Mohawk's crew
abandoned the burning vessel and
reached the Boston In two boats. As
they drew away it was seen that the
Mohawk was ablaze from end to end.
and shortly after they had reached the
Boston heavy explosion occurred on
the Mohawk, which lifted the deck.
The smokestacks few upward, fol-
lowed by burst of flame and dense
columns Of black smoke. Then the
flames leaped up to great height and
continued burning fiercely. 1t was APP
parent that no further purpose would
be served If the Boston remained by.
and she resumed her course for Fall
River.
The Mohawk's men said that the fire
was discovered by those in the pilot
house shortly after midnight 1t was
pretty we'll forward, and the crew were
at once sent to their stations to fight
the flames. The great heat, however,
prevented them from getting close to
the blaze, which spread and steadily
drove back those who opposed it until
the entire vessel was doomed. As the
night Waterman was the person who
should have discovered the fire, and as
no report from him was received by
the officers OF the ship, it is believed
that he attempted to quench the flames
and was overcome and burned to death.
The MohaWk's cargo. it was said
here. was one of the heaviest in
months. 1t included nearly 1000 bar.
rels of sugar, large quantity of baled
rags, besides oil and gasolene. Those
who were on board of her were unable
to estimate her value or to approxi-
mate the value of her cargo.