Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-19
SPECTACULAR FIRE
SWEEPS PIER WHILE
THOUSANDS LOOK ON
Loss Will Reach a Million
While Two Men Gave Up
Their Lives to the Great
ConfIagration

NEW YORK, July 16.-Four hundred
thousand spectators witnessed this after
noon the most spectacular pier fire since
the Hoboken disaster, ten years ago, In
which $50 lives were lost. AS far as can
be ascertained, two men persisted during
todays conf1agration. The monetary loss
will run between $4,000 ana $l,O00,0Oo
Pier IA of the Metropolitan steamship
line on the Hudson river at the foot OF
Fulton street, was practically destroyed
The structure cost 100000.
The freight steamer, H. It. Dimock, of
the same line, which was lying alongside
the pier, caught fire and drifted, blaz-
ing, out into the river where fire boats
and tugs extinguished the flames. Two
of her crew, all 2S OF whom jumped over
board, are missing. 1t is believed that
they were drowned. The vessels upper
works were destroyed, her cargo was
soaked and scorched and she was other
wise badly damaged.
SIX BARGES BURNED.
Six barges lying between piers IA and
Is were destroyed and the passenger
steamship Garvard of the Metropolitan
line, was badly scorched. She was towed
to a point of safety, however, and de-
parted for Boston on schedule time this
evening.
For time II was feared that the en-
tire water front north OF Fulton street,
was in danger. The braze was one of the
stubbornest that firemen had contend
ed with in years and % land engines, s
fire boats and l water tower were press
ed into service.
CREWS FORCED TO LEAP.
AS the flames swept through the pier
to the close-lying barges, the crews were
forced to leap into the water, from
where ropes and boat hooks pulled them
to safety. Two men remained aboard
barge too long and were badly burned, but
aside from the missing members of the
Dimocks crew, no fatalities have been
recorded tonight
Chief Croker said that the fire was one
of the hottest he had ever handled. For
q time he was doubtful If his men would
be able to face the heat, but the wind
shifted to the north. the firemen on land
got a chance to approach close and play
their streams effectively. The police ar
rangements were good and notwithstand-
ing the great crowd, there were no street
accidents of consequence.
OTHER PIERS THREATENED.
During the blaze the adjoining piers to
the north were several times threatened
and pier Is, occupied by the Brunswick
Steamship company, caught fire more
than once. Sparks flew to the Delaware
Lakawanna and Western, 40 yards be-
yond. igniting the cribs several times
and suspending ferry service. A host Of
fire craft on the river and the massed
land forces kept the blaze from sweep
ing these structures. At least one light
er between the two lower piers was purn~
ed and several others were damaged
Two men on one lighter were badly burn
ed before they jumped and were rescued
from the water by a FIRE boat.
ORIGIN OF BLAZE.
Accounts of how the fire caught vary.
A falling case of matches on the pier,
caused the blaze, was one rlport. 40
cording to another the fire STATED on the
steamer Dimock and communicated to
the pier. The Dinluck was hauled out In
TO the river by tugs, her upper works
blazing forward and amidships. A feat
of fire boats and other craft gathered
aronud her and deluged docks and fore
hold as the steamer gradually drifted
down the river.