Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-27
TOday's Telegraphic News
Steamboats, Burned.

Newport, R. l., March 27.-The pa
lstial steamer Plymouth, of the Fall
River line, Twas burned to the waters
edge; the steamer Puritan. the Priscilla,
the Naugatuck, and the City of Lowell,
all of the same line, were scofched by
the intense heat and the Fall River pas
senger station and other buildings on the
wharf were badly damaged by a fire
here early today. The total loss is esti
mated at 81. 500, 900.
Reports of loss OF life we're positively
denied by officials of the police aud fire
departments and only one man was in
iured. This was Driver Sullivan of a
FIRE engine, who was run down by his
engine, suffering broken arm.
The fire started on the Plymouth
shortly before two O'Clock. 1t began in
the bow of the boat, deep in the hold,
and soon flames were shooting forth and
smoke was coming in sufiocating clouds.
The thirteen men on the steamer were
aroused and began to give battle to the
flames. The job was too much for them,
however and the fire alarm was sounded.
Suddenly the flames from the big Ply
mouth seemed to take possession OF every
part of her J hey tore from the hold to
the FIRST, then the second and third hur-
ricane deck, and shot towards the sky.
They wee caught by the wind and fan
ned in every direction, first TO one and
then the other, as If seeking 10 lick up
the other steamers mOored close by
Some one cut loose the Priscilla, but she
did not float out into the harbOr until
her white paint had been blistered and
her sides were scorched. Then the
Puritan, the Naugatuck, and the City of
Lowell were scorched. Then the Puri-
tan, the Naugatuck, and the City OF
Lowell were freed from the big hawsers
that bound them, and when they did rot
float free tugs came up quickly and tow
ed them to safe distance. All of them
had been damaged more or less.
By this time, the flames had jumped
to the piers which burned like paper.
The flames ran from one end to the
other, and in a lev minutes they were
burning mass.
A general alarm was sent in which
called every engine company in New
port 10 the scene, and messages were
sent TO Fall River and Providence FIRE
departments to hold a number of appa-
ratus ia readiness to be sent here should
assistance be required Before aid was
necessary, however, the local companies
had the flames under control.
How the fire started is not known at
the present time. Those who were Oh
boar stated that they had not the slight.
est idea what could have caused the fire
The burned steamer was owned by the
New England Transportation Company,
a subsidiary company of the New York,
New Haven 4 Hartford Railroad Com.
pany. She was a side.wheel vessel, and
was built at Cheater, Pa, in 1890. She
cost in the neighborhood of 81, 600, 600.
She was constructed of steel, with in-
terror fittings of wood. Her length was
367 feet, width, so feet and depth Of
hold, 81 feet She was always re-
markably easy boat in sea way and
had little vibrations while running at
full speed.
Fireman Lewis Lamont, of New York,
who slept aboard the Plymouth is miss
ing and is believed to have lost his life.
The firemen are searching for his re-
mains