A Steamer Burnt.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3615, 28 July 1880, Page 2

A Steamer Burnt.

FOBT3T PEBSONS DBOWNEQ. OB BOASTED ALIVE. *

The steamer Sawanaka was burnt off RaudaU'a Island; New Fork, on June 28. A dispatch from that city gires the following particulars: The, fire was isaiased by an explosion in the en^ne.room,. and the middle of the steamboat was soon in flames. The Captain, Charles. Smith, ' remained at his post until nearly, burned to death, and succeeded in breaching the vessel on a sunken meadow adjoining the island. Many sprang overboard i and were drowned. Many others fob the? stern of the vessel would not get off and were burned to deaths Of five hundred believed to have perished.'' ' -''",- 1., BTOBY QF ,AS BYK-WITKBSS.

Charles Abel, one of the firemen «f;}ths boat, was found on the pier at the foot of Peck Slip, from *whioh the Sewanaka went this afternoon, fie said:' We made a landing at the foot of Thirty-third street at half-past 4 o'clock. It was abbot ten minutes later when we reached Little Hell Gate. I was sitting on the wing or port gangway after having, started ;the; bilge* pump, when I heard a noise, and on looking around saw the fire pouring out of the fire room. I got up and. tried to make my way into the fire room, but the flames were too much for mfc We were jast off Randall's Island, and running for* ward. I yelled to the Captain, who was at the wheel; to he^d for shore, but he shouted back th*t be could not. I then ran into the cabins forward, and urged the steward nnd passengers to save themselves. They did not suspect that the vessel was on fire thep, as no smoke orfiame was blowing in their direction. At that time the word-work of the vessel about her centre, was burning.like tinder, and the flames were making, there way toward both ends \o( the boat, there probably about three hundred persons on board. The men were jumping, from the hurricane deck into the water, and a large number of terrified• women ' and children were huddled near the stern of the boat. I climbed over the rail near the bow, and several men almost jumped upon me before I took to the water to sav)^ myself. I found a life-preserver floaC^ near me, and was going to put it on, when, a man; elutohed it, and I knowing I could swim,; and thinking he rouid not, let him hajre.it, and swam for Ward's Island, which I re?ene<J, and then helped to man a boat and assisted in picking up .he passengers in the water. The Sawanaka was finally beached oa Randall's Island, but soon burnt to the water's edge. Captain Charles P. Smith was at the wheel, and, stuck to his post to the last. His face and body were badly burned. Small •boats came to the rescue from every direction. 1 Another passenger Bays :— THI VESSEL BtTBNED lIKB POWDKB. After once the flames were'started, it was a terrible scene. Shrieking women and children huddled aft until their clothes caught fire, and those on the for* ward part of the ;foat were men who were cnt off from communication with or going to. the rescue of their families, relatives, . and friends by the flames, which burned fiercest about the centre of the boat. Mr Moires, our porter, saw a child floating on its back, and was going to jump overboard to save it, when a frantio woma.n clutched his arm, saying, "Tom are a strong man, and I am a wonUn without any friends on board; for 'God'i tiki help me." The porter left the phild to

itself, and I believe saved the *woman. After I pbt on Randall's Island I was almost exhausted, but the doctors, who were hurrying about, retired me by pouring some liquor down my throat. A lady was climbing down the ladder leading from the promenade deck to the main deck, but as the ladder is a pretty hard thing for a man to get down on at any time, she fell into the gangway, •mid the flames. Myself and about a dozen others rescued her from her perilous position. I saw a butcher, who belongs either to Great JN Teck or Sands Point, seize an asparagus box, and before i I could stop him he jumped overboard with it. I yelled at him not to jump or he would be struck by tbe wheel. He did not heed me, and went over forward. The last I saw of him he was going under the wheel. Several others who went over forward also went under the paddlewheels. THB CAPTAIN S BTOBT. . Charles Smith, Captain of the Seawanaka, said: About 4.30 I heard a dull report or explosion. Quick as thought I turned to see what was the matter, when I saw the vessel in flames about amidship. I saw the steamer Granite State on my starboard side. Finding that my steamer was on fire, I immediately beaded her for the sunken meadow, and with • full head of steam, although the engineer had been driven from his post, I landed about forty feet on the meadow. Most of the passengers were on the bow' of the vessel, and those on the item were at tile iriercy of the flame 3, as all the passages to the bow were out off. Many jumped on the land,' while others jumped into the water. I stood at th 9 wheel until the3a-st minute, and then jumped overboard and was then picked up by a small boat. We had no freight on board, and I do not know what caused the explosion. The Seawhanaka can carry 1,300 persons, but Monday is generally a dull day, and we had Only about 350 or 3CX^»n board this afternoon.