Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-10

New York, Aug. 8. - Strenuous eff
forts were made by the management
of the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western railroad today to bring to
New York thousands of commuters
whose homes are along it's route and
to overcome the handicap impo5ed
by the destruction of the railroads
station and ferry slips and the partial
loss of two ferry boats last night. Elk
ira ferry boats were used and the
Lackawanna trains were diverted to
the stations of the Erie and Pennsyl-
vania roads.
Fire Destroys Docks.
Inside Of three quarters of an hour
last night fire swept away the Della
| ware, Lackawanna & Western rail
road company's terminal in Hoboken,
N. j.. seized two ferry boats and prac-
tically ruined them, and for half an
hour threatened the destruction of the
entire water front in the vicinity, in
Guiding the Hamburg American and
North German Lloyd steamship docks,
at which several big ships were lying,
AS far as known no lives were lost.
The loss will probably reach a half
million. The fire started on an old
wooden ferry boat and swept by a
northerly breeze communicated with
the Ferry house, spread to the main
building of the Lackawanna and then
to the Dukes house, famous Hobo
ken hosiery.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
BY this time the flames were spread.
ing in all directions utterly beyond
control of the firemen, who responded
to the first alarms. Help came and
by 1 o'clock this morning the fire was
under control.
Following the destruction Of the ho
tel the fire attacked the Hoboken
street car sheds, wiping them out
The ferry boat Binghamton caught fire
as did another ferry, the Hopatcong
Both were lowed out into the stream
!. by tugs. The Hopatcong sunk later
A long line Of freight sheds were mex
destroyed, and then the flremen got
control and stopped further destruc
ton.
Big Church Burned.
ST. Thomas Episcopal church, Fifth
avenue and Fifty-third street, one O
the most richly furnished religious ed
4 ifices in America, was wrecked by FIRE
today. Within a block of the ruined
church are the homes of half a. score
of the country's wealthiest men. The
fire was confined to the church.
i Loss Ia $25o,ooo.
Defective electric wiring is sup
posed to have started the fire. TIL,
loss is estimated at quarter of mil
lion. Only a mere shell Of stone wal
is left standing. Many valuable paint
ings, among them one valued at $50
900, and several bias reliefs wer,
ruined. The sumptuous altar an,
chancel furnishings, including a 500
900 organ, were destroyed.
Oil Kings Home Threatened.
For a time John D. Rockefeller
home was threatened. Streams O
water were thrown on the 2O6-foo
stone tower of the church, which 70
; time threatened to topple on tn
Rockefeller home, owing to the in
tense heat at the towers base.
Fire at Williamsburg.
Williamsburg, Aug S.-(Speciar. :
Last evening a large barn, a granary
!. corn cribs and other buildings, all ney
structures, together with a valuabl
horse, about one hundred tons of ha
, and one hundred bushels of corn o.
,, the farm of G. P. Gallagher, sevel
miles from Williamsburg, burned an
only the united efforts Of the neighbol
hood saved the house. Spontaneou
com bustion is given as the cause. TIL
loss Is estimated at between $500
and $4,000. There was only small ii
surance.