The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-11-19


Lewes, DELI .)r-one life was lost
in race with death by the blazing
Clyde liner Lenape en- route from New
York to Jacksonville off the Delaware
capes early today. All the remainder
of her passengers and crew, number
ing 367 were safely accounted for. OF
these about nine passengers and crew
members suffered exposure and burns
and were taken to the Beebe hos
pital here.
The man who lost his life was yiden-
titled as Robert FLeverton, about so
years old, believed to be Of Will
liamassett, Mass. He became, panic
stricken as flames burst through a
deck while passengers were being
taken off the burning ship, and jumped
over board. he was not missed by
the ships officers but his body was
pisIGed up in Delaware Bay by fish
eFman hours after all hands had
been landed here.
The fire started about 10:45 last
night while the ship was off Atlantic
City The night was clear and cold,
the sea calm. Theablaze started in the
aft hold and was instantly fought by
4hembers Of the crew About 1900
p. M some cf the passengers noticed
smoke and their anxious inquiries
brought assursacc from Captain Dew
ereaux and his staff that there was
no danger.
However, the flames continued 10
spread and the smoke became more
noticeable. Many of the passengers
left their cabins.
At 11:45, according to some Of the
passengers the vessels whistle was
blown and all hands were advised to
come on deck. All were treasured
there was. TO serious danger Previ.
ously, at 11:1S p. m. Captain Dew
ereaux sent out an S. o. S. message.
There was immediate response and
he found that the nearest ship to
him was twenty miles and the next
forty miles.
By this time the Lenapo was abreast
Of Cape May and Captain Devereaux
decided he could make the Delaware
breakwater on the Delaware state side
of the mouth Of Delaware Bay.
Like Jim Bludso, who held cher
nozzel agin' the tank till the last ga
loot was ashore" the navigators and
engineers of the Lenape for some five 4
hours guided the flaming, smoking
craft from off the Jersey coast into
the Delaware breakwater where at
Lewes passengers took to the life
boats and were picked up.
Reduced to Hulk.
The 5,179 ton liner, blackened hulk,
had nearly burned itself out before
daylight, the steel hull remaining
afoat with the revenue cutter Kicka-
poo standing by. Rescued passengers
were transferred from the Lenape's
lifeboats and other rescue craft, re-
ported to number several alleged rum
runners to the pilot boat Philadelphia
which was forced to lay half mile
off shore waiting for light and favor
able tides to get to the Lewes dock.
The Lenape had steamed into the
breakwater with her fire, which at
midnight had been visible from the
boardwalk at Atlantic City, apparent
ly under control. She had picked up
a pilot from the Philadelphia and had
steamed to anchorage without aid.
Shortly after she hove to, the flames
burst out anew, sweeping the ship
from stern to stern.
The Kickapoo, which followed the
Lenape into the breakwater, coast
guard patrol boat from the Lewes
station, and several small craft which
had trailed the burning vessel for
several miles, Immediately dashed for
her sides. With strong wind whip
ping. the flames over the liners stern,
passengers could be discerned from
shore over the sides and sliding down
ropes into the water.
Heroic Battle Told.
The crew of pilot sailboat, the only
craft able to reach the dock before
daylight, told Of heroic battle amid
the flames on the Lenapes deck when
the rescue craft came alongside.
The crews swarmed over the Clyde
liners smoking rails, fought their way
TO passengers who had been cut off in
the interior of the ship and dragged
them to the sides. Lines were attached
to them and they were ordered TO
jump. From shore they could be dis
cerned dangling above the water 40
the lifeboats and other craft ran up
under the Lenape's blazing stern to
pick them up.
The Lenape's difficulty first was
sighted from Atlantic City eight miles
southeast Of Five Fathom light be-
fore ii p. m. The Hamilton Of the
Old Dominion lire and the coast guard
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