Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-28
And One Life Lost N
Newport Steamer Fire.
The Plymouth Burned to Waters
Edge.- .--Others Damaged.
Lucienna La Maihe, Portuguese Fireman.
Found Dead on Plymouth.

Ney,port, March 27.-Onc life was lost
and the big side wheel steamer Ply
month of the Fall River Line was
burned to the waters edge in Hre
here carly today which at one time
threatened to wipe out the extensive
repairing plant of the New York, Ne"
Haven d Hartford Railroad, the own
ers of the line. Long pier shed, hoist
ing shears, paint shop and the old rail-
road station were destroyed, the steam
e, City of Lowell was badly damaged
and the paint was scorched off the
steamers Puritan Priscilla and Nau-
gatuck.
The loss is estimated at more than
81 600 900. The victim of the flames was
Lucienna La Mathe, a Portuguese fire.
man.
Flames burst forth afresh from the hull
of the Plymouth late this afternoon and
the boat was towed to "A point between
two piers from which the employees of
the line directed two streams of water.
The ruins were smouldering tonight, but
there was no danger of further damage.
1t was reported tonight that the fire
was due to a short circuit among the
electric light wires on the Plymouth. Su-
pervisor Gardner however says the COM
pany has reached no decision as to the
origin of the fire.
1t was learned today that Stephen Sui
lvan, driver of a hose wagon. sustained
a fractured leg when the big shears
crashed into the Plvmouth's hull. The
cloud Of sparks, smoke and steam which
followed frightened Sullvan's horses,
"A,
from his seat.
The Fall River Lines big sidewheel
steamer Plymouth was burned to the
waters cGgc. the freight steamer City
of Lowell was damaged, and d long
freight shed. hoistinS shears, paint
shop and old railroad station were de-
stloyed and tho paint scorched off
three other steamers, by fire which
burned for nearly three hours early
Tuesday ard which ut one time threat
encd to wipe ont the entire repairing
plant of the owners of the line, the
New York. Now haven & Hartford
Railroad Co.
One life was lost and 13 caretakerS,
watchmen and firemen on board the
Plymouth We're nearly hcmmcd in. so
rapid was the spread of the flames
through the vessel.
The steamers were ali undergoing
regular spring overhauling prepara-
tory to the summer season and the
bI rned pier shed contained d consid-
erablc quantity of material for the
work The company's plant here is
quite extensive, covering several acres
and including Long wharf. which is
used DIS Il landing place for boats to
and from NcW York, two large docks
with piers at each side. nearly score
of machine Shops and smaller build
iEgs.
The repairs on the Plymouth had
just commenced, while those on the
Puritan and Priscilla We're practically
completed. The worknen were also
eI.Sagcd in overhauinG the City of
Lowell and the little steamer Nauga-
tuck.
Steam is kept upon all the steamers
hut there is usually no fires in the
Kitchens and the watchman on board
the Plymouth was startled when at
% minutes of o'clock Tuesday morn
ing he discovered flames bursting from
the saloon in The after part of the boat
sleeping in their hunks in the lower
hold and rushing forward he plunged
down the steep companionway to the
lower deck shouting fire" at every
step.
He was Eone too soon for as soon as
the men tumpcd out of their hunks
ard sought the stairs the flames We're
aIieady sweeping toward them and
scarcely orc had time to grab his
clothes in the wild rush for the upper
deck.
few minutes were spent by the
men after they had gained place of
safety in trying 10 subdue the flames
but the fire was raging too tiercely to
be stayed by 4 few buckets of water
BY the time the first piece of fire ap-
nalatus from the local department