The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-12
FIREMEN GET A RIVER BATH.
FALL IN WHILE FIGHTING A
MUNICIPAL FERRY FIRE.

Small Boat In which We're Three Men rips
Over Two OF the Revcnue Cutter
HudsOn's Crew Go Under Also -Mixup
W FIremen and Cutters crew.
A fire which started in the engine house
on the west side OF the new Staten Island
ferry terminal at the foot Of whitehall
street early yesterday morning threatened
for a time to damage the terminal ana
rave the land and water firemen a sharp
tussle. Three OF the firemen went over
board while fighting the fire from a small
boat They were rescued by the crew OF q
revenue cutter.
Seaman John Edwardson. the deck watch
Of the revenue cutter Hudson, which was
of duty and tied up in the slip next to the
United States reservation pier, saw the
flames spout out of the engine house roof a
few minutes after 4 o'clock. Calling Fire.
man Joseph Platt and Seaman Joseph
Featon, Edwards stretched the upper and
main deck hose. In about ten minutes the
hreboat New Yorker came hustling around
the Battery sea wall and joined in the
fight. Seeing that h New Yorker ana
her consort, the William l.. Strong, which
Joined her a few minute later, could handle
the flames in the upper structure, EDWARDS
and the rest of the Hudson's crew turned
their attention to the under side OF the pier,
where the fire was making rapid Roadway.
They climbed on a float and fought back
the flames on the western side OF the pier.
IL didn't take long for the ireboats and
several engine companies that had come up
on the land side to drown the blaze in the
superst ructure, but the fire in the heavy
timbers supporting the pier was stubborn.
The crew Of the Hudson were joined by
W. j. Moos Of the New Yorker, who was low
cred with a line of hose to the float. When
Moos called for water the hose kicked back
and knocked Moos and Featon overheard.
They scrambled back again and getting
control of the hose went pack into the fight.
Almost at the same time Firemen McCor-
mick, Reilly and O'Sullivan OF Truck 10,
who had Joined the attack In a rowooat,
! capsized their craft and the crew OF the
Hudson had TO drop their hose and turn
life savers. The iremen were fished out OF
the water and got back robustness with a
jump, showing a disposition to get as near
the blaze as possible.
The fire burned off the insulation OF the
electric wires on the burning pier and dark
ness early added TO the general confusion.
The hreboat Is trained their searchlights
on the pier and the land firemen with this
aid chopped holes in the pier plan KING ana
began to pour in a flood OF water whlcn
nlnCkIV NIONIltl u AANN huAhNe ANN'y -
the piles are so badly charred that they Will
nave to be replaced. The paint shop and
engine house on the pier we're practlcaily
destroyed. No damage was done TO the
Governors Island ferry pier, which touches
the municipal ferry on the west. deputy
Chief BinnS thought tha the damage might
be as high as $40 900.
Before the fire was out there was a mixup
between the officers of the New Yorker
and the men from the cutter Hudson. AS
nearly az could be learned the New Y orker'
then occupying the slip used by the Govern,
ment ferryboat General Hancock, wanted
TO take the slip occupied by the HUDSON
SO as to let the Hancock come in. IL Is SAID
that the New Workers. officers ordered the
Hudson to back out and that her crew re-
fused. Chief Binns said last evening that
he was waiting for a report on the matter
and had no comment to make until he got 1t
The chief engineer OF the revenue service,
who was making a report on the matter,
Yesterday declared that IL the people on
the New Yorker wanted the Hudson out OF
her sin h had a perfect right to tow her
out and that as she was laid up with nc
officers on board the crew were only respon-
sible for her safety and had no night to
take command themselves and run her out
unless she was in actual danger.
The Manhattan OF the municipal ferry
was coming into her slip just as the fire
started. The sparks were flying like snow
flakes and the Manhattan had a hard time
landing her few passengers. She backed
out without waiting TO land the teams and
swinging into position got her deck hose
into action. The other boats which came
M during the fire had to lay to outside tbs
slips and the ferry service was delayed
forty-siX minutes.