The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-11
DIE IN STEAMBOAT FIRE
Passengers and Crew Perish in
Flames on Long Island Sound.
RER0ISM DISPLAYED BY ALL

Captain of the Glen Island, a. Si1ty-ei:ht
Years Of Age, Braves the C~onnagration
and Gains Those Beneath Hfln-Many
Rescued by Tug and Brought to
the City.
New York City.-On her way from
this city to New Haven. Conn. the
steamboat Glen Island. of the Starin
Line. caught fire but 4 short distance
past Execution Rock, in Long Island
Sound, early in the morning. and in tile
rapid spread of the flames two pas
sengers and seven men of the crew
We're cut Of from help or escape.
They undoubtedly persisted, and only
by the prompt and heroic action Of
Capt. Charles E. MacAllaster and the
remaining members Of the crew were
the sleeping passengers aroused and
saved. In their night clothes they
hastily boarded two lifeboats and for
an hour awaited the help of succoring
vessels, all the while suffering from
the intense cold. First picked up by
the tug Billy, they were transferred
to the Erastus Corning, 4 freight boat
of the Starin Line, and brought to this
city at daylight.
When the Glen Island left the Starin
pier, No. Is North River, the night be-
fore at nine O'Clock there were ten pas
sengers and a crew of twenty-one per-
sons, including Capt. David Marcus.
who was to take command of the boat.
on her next, trip. The main deck of the
steamboat was filled With merchandise
consigned to stores in the Connecticut
city. nearly all of an ~inhammable ma
ture. and roughly valued at $200,00s.
The boat. built tw~enty-four years ago.
Of the hlmsy construction peculiar to
excursion craft, represented a value of
$125,000. according to the Starins, and
all was covered with insurance to the
full amount of injury.
Frank 3. Street, q wholesale grocer
in New Haven, with his wife and two
daughters, Miss Emeline Street. a stu
dent in Vassar College, and Miss Grace
Street. together with Arthur Wallace.
son of r. Wallace, a silver manufac-
turer in W~allingford, Conn, were the
first cabin passengers. Travelling Sec
ond class were Mrs. Rosa Silkei. who
persisted: Nathan Dublin, a clothing
manufacturer, of No. 252 Cedar street,
New Haven; three Hebrew men. one
of whom was lost, and an Italian.
From Capt. MacAllaster down to the
humblest deckhand there was not one
who shirked duty or showed q sign Of
cowardice. and that the work Of rescue
was carried on only by the light of the
raging flames increased the praise.
HenGrickson, the assistant engineer.
was on duty. and would not leave his
post. Miller and Burke, fremen.
stayed by him until they were cut off
by the rapid spread of the fire and
there was no help. All the others lost.
1t is believed, were suffocated in their
berths, except the woman, who.
dragged from danger by Sarah Smoot.
a negro ste%WardeSs. returned to her
room in an endeavOr to save her jewels.
For himself Capt. MacAllaster told q
modest story Of the reScues from the
burning boat, and gave great credit to
the officers under him. They in turn
praise the venerable skipper, who.
nearly sixty-eight years old. has for
twenty-three years been 4 master
along the Atlantic coast.
Twenty-Five survivors of the disaster,
after passing through the horrors Of 4
fight for life on the blazing steamer
and a hardly less terrible experience
in the bitter cold Of the ice. were res
cued.
This second steamboat tragedy Of
the year is unexplained. The cause
will doubtless be brought TO light in
time. but no one at the time could
solve the puzzle OF the Glen Islands
fate. .
Captain and officers thought it was 4
defective electric wire. All agree. how
ever, that this is mere conjecture. and
think that the hull of the doomed
steamer was q raging furnace OF flames
before the spreading smoke gave the
alarm.