New Britain herald., 1927-12-30
Fire Starts on Fletcher Drydock and Spreads to Lackawanna Rail- road Where Seneca Was Moored'
Ill-Fated Ship Recondition- cd Six Years Ago at Cost of Million and Half Was First Electrically
 Driven Passenger Vessel.

lIobokcn, x. J., Dec. SO R'-A million dollar blaze which swept two waterfront blocks, destroying the Clyde liner Seneca. two piers and several barees, was brought under control today after all ioboken's fire equipment. aided by iireboats and volunteers had fought il for four hours.
 The fire started on q pier owned by he Fletcher Drydock Co.,, spread ing 10 an adjoining pier Of the Lack aWanna railroad, where the Seneca WJs moored. Her captain and fire mate were forced 10 slide down q rope 10 escape the flames. The Hnd- son river day line steamer Hendrix Hudson, tied up for the winter, was saved from destruction when tugs lowed her to midstrcam and cNtin- ~ujshcd blaze in her bow.
 Gas Explosion Blamed
 lt was believed the blaze started with an explosion Of gasoline on the Fletcher pier or in the plant of q paint company nearby It WIZ dis covered by worlmcn on an adjoining pier.
 The blaze was the worst along the cjty's waterfront since last March. when fire destroyed a pier, three fac tories. fifty freight ears and several bargcs, all valued at moro than s1,- uoo.ppo
 The Lackavanna pier hit by the flames was leased by the t,lasticap corporation. where there was anoth- rr big fire not long ago. and where $5n.noo worth of merchandise was stored. This company is managed bT Arthur Bruce, adviser 10 Clar- orrc A. Chamhcrlin. the transatlan- 't. aviator.
 Later q dctml I check of damage iu the pier fire showed a total loss "G $l,25S. COG. with S20o0 addi- fional loss in salvage claims.
 Tho fire took q deeper hold in the Seneca and the bulkheads of pier ] 2, LaCkaWanna railroad this afternoon and again sent flames roaring forth L'ucath dense smoke. Fire Chicf Gi!dea, with half his fierce remaining on duty, said it might be necessary To call back more apparatus, out ad- nof> there was no possibility of the ire getting out of control. An eX- plosion indicated 10 shipping men and firemen that an additional oil supply on the Seneca had blown up.
 Here is today's loss:
  first valued at S2,o00, ,000; re- conditioned six years ago at q cost Of s1.5o0,o0o. Built in 1894 as the Eawlns. the first electrically driven passenger vessel. SucccssiNely the i Powhatan, the Cuba and the Sen i eca. Used by United States navy as 1 troop transport during war, sunk by 1 submarine and raised again. Be i licved total loss, caught in mud. i slowly turning on side. resisting ef | forts of pufling tugs to tow her to i mdstream where she might be sur ! rounded with iircboat's spray.
 Bow of Hendrix Hudson. a Hud- son river day liner tied up for win i fer. damaged, but ship saved. :
 Bargcs E and 3. steam barge and derrick at Fletcher dock de- i stroyed.
 Four Bargcs Burned
 Four barges at wanna picY l2 partly burned.
 Pier of I'letcher'S. To5 feet long and Pier F of I.ackawanna, zoo | feet, both destroyed.
 The Seneca carried 2So passengers and freight. She was 300 feet long, had a 40 foot beam and weighed . .9GS tons gross.
 Several other vessels of varying sizes at the drydocks and other piers in the vicinity were lowed to safety in midstream. The congestion and turmoil caused some trouble to navi- of ferries and the mazes of hG rhor shipping.
 The scene of the fire Is directly across the Hudson river from Pier f1. Manhattan, and the foot of Twenty street