The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-18
PASSENGER CHECK
SHOWS FEW INJURED
Coast Guard Craft and
Private Boats Assist Burn
ing Vessel Life Cargo
Consisted of 251 Pas
SengerS and Crew of 115.
Bp United Press

Bu United Press
LEWES, Del, Nov. 49,
Saved from the blazing Clyde
liner, Lenape, while flames
shooting from her hold hared
over the Delaware breakwater,
251 passengers and a crew Of
115 were brought here today
after a thirty-mile dash before
rescue ships reached the vessel.
One passenger, believed to be Rob-
ert Leverton, 20, Of Massachusetts,
was drowned when he leaped over
board. The rest of the travellers
were taken aboard the pilot boat
Philadelphia. the coast guard cut
ter Kickapoo and two small boats
which cruised about the bay.
Three in Hospital
A special train on the Pennsyl.
vania Railroad took the survivors
to Wilmington, whence they will be
taken by another train to jackson.
vile. Fla.
Three passengers and one OF the
crew stayed at the Bebee Hospital
here. Nine other persons were
treated at the hospital for slight in
juries and then left.
1t was 1880 last night when the
stricken liner, bound from New
York to Charleston. s. c., and Jack
sonville, Fla, first sent out an
S o S signal.
"Aflre! Smoking Badly"
Her position was given as eight
miles southeast of Five Fathoms
Lightship and even when she had
turned and headed for the break
water her crew stood at fire
quarters and the engine room force
tried to get an additional knots
speed out Of the vessel.
The distress signal was heard up
and down the coast from Florida to
New England.
"A fire; smoking badly" was the
Lenape's reply to the first inquiries
as to her condition.
The flames at this time were
visible from the board walk In At
lantic City, N. j., thirty miles away.
After midnight came a reassuring
message from the Lenape, making
fifteen knots" But next through
the air came fire is very bad; hold
ing our own but no gain"
pilot boat, the United States
cutter kickapoo, who had put out to
the vessels assistance at the first
call for help found the Lenape
ploughing toward the breakwater.
Second Fire Starts
The brealwater was lined with
spectators as the Lenape steamed in
and dropped anchor at 2:45 a. m.
Flames no longer shot from the hold
and there was not even smoke, 80
Far as could be seen from shore.
While the officers were debating
as to whether the passengers should
be taken to shore another spurt OF
flame was seen. Soon the fire was
burning furiously once more With
flames cracking, the passengers and
members Of the crew were put into
life boats for the mile and n half
journey across comparatively calm
seas. Then the ship was beached.
Few Injured
Reports were prevalent that some
of the passengers in panic had leaped
into the sea.
Captain Steele, the owner of a
private launch, is credited as one OF
the heroes of the rescue work. He
maneuvered his craft to the burning
ship and threw over a number OF
lines. taking off several passengers
before the Kickapoo and the pilot
boat Philadelphia began rescue.
Since entered the New YorlS.Jaclk-
sonville service In 1912. the Lenape
has had two mishaps On October
II, 1921, she sank at her pier in New
York and after reconditioning,
grounded near Jacksonville in Octo-
ber, 1922 to be refloated a few hours
later.