The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-16
Three Large Ships, % Small
Craft, 900 Foot Pier.
Were Being Loaded With War
Supplies for Russia.
AMERICAN CLUB HOME BURNS
Toronto Structure Fired by For
eign Enemy.
Believe Act Revenge for Pro-
Ally Sympathy.

New York. Feb 16.-Thc steam
ships Bolton Castle and Pacific and
0OO-foot pier belonging to the New
York Dock company at the foot of
Pioneer street. Brooklyn. were de-
strOycd carly today by the most dis
astFOus fire on the Brooklyn water
front i'm years. Another steamer the
PalIaXia. was damaged, about 20
scOws and lighters were partly or
wholly burned, and upwards of forty
of the coolies from the Bolton Castle
and Pacific were missing after the
fire. The loss is estimated at con-
sidCrably more than S4.OOO,O0O.
The origin of the fire is unknown
but suspicious that it was incendiary
were aroused because of the fact that
some of the steamers were loading
with war munitions, some of which
was intended for shipment to the Rus
sian government A watchman aboard
the Bolton Castle discovered that the
buildings on the pier were on tlre
soon after O'clock this morning, the
blaze spread so rapidly that the off
GERS and crews of the steamers and
lighters lying at the pier after vain
effort to prevent the spread of the
flames to their vessels were compelled
either to leap overheard or to safety
aboard other lighters or tugs which
hastened to the rescue.
Many Forced to Leap.
The three steamers lying at the pier
were surrounded by a fleet of about
fifty lighters and bargeS on each OF
which was one man or more, On some
of the barges were the wives and
families of the captains Some of them
were compelled to jump overheard to
escape the swift on rush of the flames.
Firemen and policemen dragged many
of them out Of the water to adjoining
piers and others were rescued by tug
boats or fireboats-
The Bolton Castle was loading with
gasoline for Russia and this fed the
blaze The boilers of both the Bolton
Castle and the Pacific blew up When
the fire was at its height completing
the work of destruction. Several barges
loaded with gasoline lying near the
steamers We're destroyed. The Bolton
Castle, Il British vessel of 1859 tens
arrived here Feb. 6, from Singapore,
Port Natal and St. Lucia The Pa
cific of 2,612 tons arrived from Hull,
England. yesterday. Both belong TO
the Castle line The burned pier was
leased to Barber & Company, steam
ship agents, and is believed TO nave
been filled with merchandise lncludlhS
war muniuorS.
six hours after the fire started the
police said they had accounted for all
but two of the missing persons. 1t
was then believed that the loss of life
would not exceed that number.
One Dead in Club Fire.
Toronto, Feb. 16.-One man was
killed and two others were injured in
n fire which early today wrecked the
American club, a six-story structure
Several explosions were heard while
the fire was burning, but according to
the police there were no detonatons
before the flames were discovered. IN
confirmed reports were that the blaze
was the result of an alien military plot
the American club having recently
been the scene of demonstration ir
favor of the entente allies
2. I. Hairston, formerly of Dallas
Texas a mining broker with offices
here, was found suffocated just inside
a window on the third floor Edward
Johnston, a night watchman. of the
Mechanics bank next door to the
American club, was dangerously in
jured, and Capt. Asa Minard, of th'
Ninety-seventh battalion of the Ameri
can legion, was slightly burned while
making his escape.
The building. an imposing six story
structure. was valued at 100000 ant
with its contents is total loss. I'm
mcdiateIy after the explosions the
roof of the building fell in and flame
burst from the windows on all sil
floors.
May Be Dead in Ruins.
A man found in the debris with hi
skull fractured was identified as tn
club caretaker. 1t was reported tha
unable to escape from the building
At dawn the ruins were still burning
and the fircmen were unable 10 ascer
tain whether they contained an.
bodies.
Captain Asa Minard Of the Ameri
can legion was so badly injured tina
he may not recover. He was sleep
ing on the top floor when he wa
aroused by the first explosion. H
had slid half wa down a rope fast
ened to the window sill when a secon,
explosion forced him to let go hi
hold and drop to the sidewalk
Several other officers of the Ameri
can legion were sleeping in the build
ing when the fire broke out but it i
believed that all managed to escap
by the rear doors and windows. Tw
employees of the club were slightl
burned
The club building was formerly Oc
cupied by the Union bank. 1t stoo
at Nos. IT and 10 Wellington stree
West. The building was taken owe
and remodeled when the America
club was organized four years ago.
Big n. Y. Democrat Delegation.
st. Louis, Feb. 16.-Norman T
T0faf1