New-York tribune., 1910-05-24
FIVE IN PERIL ON
BURNING STEAMBOAT
Leap Into Sound as Hundreds
Watch Blaze from Shores and
Many Boats Go to Rescue.
SKIPPERAND MATE STANDBY
Refuse to Quit Vessel Until She
Drifts to Shore, Endangering
Clason's Point and Other
Shipping at Dock.

Five men narrowly escaped death last
night when the steam lighter James A
Stranahan. owned by the Mcconnell
Towing Company. of Harlem River and
10th street, caught fire in Long Island
Sound off Clason's Point The fire
lroke out shortly after o'clock. at d
time when many Sound boats going east
pass the point, and rumors that a large
passenger steamer was on fire crowded
the shores with spectators. Hundreds
of small craft started out from College
Point. North Beach and other resorts to
render aid.
The Stranahan was returning from
Glen Island. after putting ashore forty
Indians who are to be employed at an
amusement resort there in the summer
season. With cargo of yellow pine
aboard the lighter was ploughing along
the channel when the first mate, Percy
Walsh discovered fire in the bow. He
reported it to the captain. William Gull
ley, who ordered all hands on deck. This
James Kane, his assistant, and Gus
Lebright, a deckhand-
Their efforts to extinguish the flames
proved .unavafling. and Captain Gulley
told all hands to save themselves. VIII
son, Kane and Lebright ran to the star
board side to lower lifeboat. AS they
did so flames burst through the forward
jumped into the Sound.
Explosion in Engine Room.
sion in the engine room, and flames
broke out from the entire hold Though
they knew they could do nothing, Gulley
and Walsh stayed by the lighter, at the
risk of their lives. Meanwhile the other
members of the crew had picked up the
lifeboat and were making for the shore
The lighter was also drifting in toward
Clason's Point with the tide.
Sparks We're flying all over the build
ings at that resort, and owners of prop
erty were exerting their utmost efforts
to prevent a confiagration. The Gas
on's Point Volunteer Fire Department
turned out and an alarm was sent in for
an engine from West Chester, four miles
away. This arrived two hours later, and
was followed by the f1reboat Mcclellan,
from 92d street and the East River
Meanwhile E J. Gillfgan, owner OF a
place at the point, Clinton Stevens, jr.,
and others had started out into the
Sound in small boats to render aid to the
men on the burning lighter The three
men who had left the craft were able to
get to shore without help, and Guliey
and Walsh persisted in staying by until
the lighter either grounded or burned 10
the waters edge under them.
Finally the lighter drifted in along
side Cowan's pier. where another lighter
was moored, also with a load of lumber.
Captain Gulley and his first mate then
left the Stranahan and helped several
persons on shore to fasten lines to the
burning vessel and tow her alongshore
to a point where she was less dangerous
to surrounding property. This was being
done when a fire engine and the McClel-
Ian finally appeared and put lines of hose
on the flames. The iremen found 1t i'm
possible to save the Stranahan, however,
and the fire did not die down until all
the cargo and vessel above the waters
edge had been consumed.
No One Badly Hurt.
An ambulance surgeon from Fordham
Hospital examined the C-cw of the
Stranahan. but could not find that the
men needed anything more than stimu
lants and dry clothing, in spite of their
experience. He was called upon, how
ever. to attend a volunteer fireman, who
had sprained his wrist
The James A. Stranahan was built in
Athens. n. Y. in 1883. She was of 12l
tons gross and So tons net. Her length
was go feet, and she hailed from New
York City
Residents of Clason's Point were in
censed last night at the failure of the
Fire Department TO give them the pro-
lection that they applied for some time
ago. They said that only by hard work
were they able to prevent the sparks
from the Stranahan from setting tre To
the buildings at the Point and causing
a loss of S5O0.o00. 1t was two hours be
fore any apparatus arrived. although
Chief Croker, 1t was said, told those
who called upon him to appeal for pro-
lection that Il fireboat could make the
tVt-ar n