New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-07
NO TOLL IN LIVES FOR
FIRE ON GRAND REPUBLIC
Big Sister Ship of III Fated Gen.
eraI SIocum Puts in at Bay
Ridge AfIame.
CHIEF ENGINEER A HERO
Bay Quickly Alive with Vessels
Racing to Help at Sight Of
Smoke from Burn
ing Boat.

>
sister ship of the General sIocuul. on
which 1851 persons lost their lives on
June 10. 1904. caught fire yesterday in
the Narrows. but was locked promptly
at the pier Of the Crescent Athletic
Club. at South Brooklyn
No lives were lost and not one person
was injured The Grand Republic ner-
self was not put out OF commission. and
steamed up 10 Pier A. arriving there az
$50 D. n She was thoroughly chopped
in the area Of the fire by the fremen.
and the damage. which will amount 70
about $3.50, is fully covered by IN
surance-
The officers and crew OF the Grand
Republic and the owners were unable to
agree yesterday how many passengers
she had on board at the time The cap
tain believed the number was not more
than twenty-four, the purser about six
teen. and other members OF the crew
said It was fifteen. At the Office OF Tn.
company it was said that she carried
between fifty and a hundred passengers.
and the United States steamboat inspect
ors said she had forty-fve.
Captain Edward Carman. a veteran
pilot. who was in command OF the burn
ing vessel, was no further away from
shore than was Captain Van Schaick. OF
the General Slocum. at the time OF thar
disaster. but his GOODNESS and presencs
Of mind saved the situation He ran for
the pier of the athletic club. landed his
passengers and gave the fremen from
shore an opportunity TO get at the
flames, which were in the galley. on the
starboard side, just aft OF the paddle
box.
Captain Carman did we'll but his work
was nothing compared with the heroisn
of Sam Howard. the chief engineer.
husky six-footer, who stayed by his en-
gines in veritabIe hades until he got
the signal 20 stop.
No Possibility of Disaster.
II rs generally conceded that II the
Grand Republic had had her average
passenger complement all could have
been landed under the conditions exist
ing yesterday The big excursion boat.
which by law is permitted To carry 3.70o
1884 o'clock She came along ar her
usual speed. and when abeam Fort La
fayettte. on the Brooklyn side. Billy
McVey. a waiter rushed forward 10 the
pilot house and informed Captain Car
man that the vessel was on fire
Where is it" asked Captain Carman.
In the galley. on the starboard side
said Mcvey We are getting the hose
into IL but it is smoking pretty thick
Go aft and sound the fire call" shout
ed Captain Carman. and as he gave the
order he signalled the engine room for
full speed ahead.
The wind blowing from the south at
about eight miles an hour. vas with the
vessel and did not greatly fan the
flames Before McVey got back 10 his
post the men were putting into actual
practice the weekly fire drill, and within
three minutes they had two streams Of
water playing into the galley
They had 10 chop holes in the deck IN
some places to get the hose through. bur
they fought il from the sun deck and
below the main deck. The fire gained
Roadway notwithstanding the efforts Of
the crew. and Captain Carman thought
TO run in on the beach a few hundred
yards north of Fort Lafayette.
Skipper Changes His Mind
The shoal did not look inviting how
ever. as he approached il. and the vet
eran skipper decided instead TO run hts
boat further up the shore TO the pier "
-,
assistance from land and have a better
place TO send his passengers ashore
The smoke from the Grand Republic
was seen from all parts Of the harbOr
and word vas sent out broadcast over
the land that the vessel was burning and
probably had many passengers on board
The name Grand Republic is almost
synonymous with big crowd" and there
was unusual alarm all over the city. and
especially in Brooklyn
captain Carrnan footed his signals OF
distress continually, and by the time he
came alongside the pier OF the club the
fire engines and hose wagons from Com
panies III and 142 We're tearing along
the Shore Road. BY the time the gang
plank was hauled out the hreme1 had
two lines Of hose stretched down the
long pier. and within FIVE minutes the
water from the land was pouring into
the burning section Of the boat
As the ffrenen rushed toward the gal
lev. which is just aft Of the starboard
paddle box. they saw a big figure n
black. drenched to the skin. stasger OUT
into a clearing for a breath OF air. II
was big Sam Howard. the chief engI-
neer. who had stuck fast To his post
with smoke and flames all around him
Returns to His Post.
He could not talk when he came OUT
of the engine room. The gas that had
passed into his lungs had exhausted him.
and his throat was raw. When he got
a few breaths OF fresh air he went back
a gain into the engine room TO look after
the pumps which were throwing water
into the sInouIdering galley
The. flames shot upward and burned
the entire section inside the starboard
paddle wheel. Then they cut across the
main deck and burned UP section on
the port side. Just forward OF the paddle
box The firemen saw this and made
short work OF the superstrucrure. chop
ping IL To bits and throwing charred
pieces overheard. After the fire IN the
galley was practically under control the
1rernen divided forces and ripped I'D all