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SCHLEY COUNTY NEWS.
BEYOTED TO GITING THE NEWS, ENCOURAGING THE PROGRESS AND AIDING THE PBOSFERITT OP SCHLEY COUNTY.
0. E. EtLtfTT. Miter and Business Manager.
OVER TWO HUNDRED DEAD
Steamships and Piers at Hoboken
Wiped Out by Great Fire.
A LOSS OF TEN MILLIONS
Flames Originated Among Cotton
Bales and Were Soon Beyond
Control—Ffteen Thousand
Lives Were Imperiled.
A New York special says: Almost
$ 10 , 000,000 worth of property was de
stroyed, many lives were lost, many
persons were injured and at least 1,500
lives were imperiled by a fire that
started among cotton bales under pier
3 of the North German Lloyd Steam
ship Company in Hoboken, N. J., at
4 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
In less than fifteen minutes the
flames covered an area a quarter of a
mile long, extending outward from the
actual shore line to the bulkheads,
from 600 to 1,000 feet away, and had
ignited four great ocean liners and a
dozen or more smaller harbor craft in
its grasp.
Stories in regard to the loss of life
immediately after the fire were, con
fleting, the number being variously
estimated from fifty to two hundred.
Up to midnight Saturday night ten
bodies bad been recovered, but they
were so badly burned that identification
was impossible.
The hospitals in New York, Hobo
ken and Jersey City are crowded with
the injured.
From what can be learned the flames
started among a large pile of cotton
bales on pier 2 of tho North German
Lloyd Steamship company and spread
with such rapidity that iu fifteen min
utes the entire property of th 6 com
pany, covering over a mile of water
front and consisting of three great
piers, was completely enveloped in
flames.
The people on the piers and on the
numerous vessels docked were unable
to reach the street. There were great
gangs of workmen on the piers and
these, together w r ith a number of peo
ple w’bo were at the docks on business
and visiting the ships, scattered in all
directions. As all means of exit were
cut off by the flames, they were forced
to jump overboard, and it is believed
a great number were drow r ned.
At the docks of the North German
Lloyd were the Saale, a single screw
passenger the Bremen, ship of 4,965 gross tons;
a twin screw freight and
passenger ship of 10,526 tons, and the
Main, a twin screw freight and passen
ger ship of 10,200 gross tons. They
all caught fire and were burned to the
water’s edge. The Kaiser Wilhelm
der Grosse, which had just come in,
was the only one of the four big ves
sels at the docks that escaped.
The loss of the crews of these ves
sels is said to reach one hundred.
Tne steamship Saale had been towed
down the river until it was just off
Fort Liberty, where she had gathered
about her a ring of fireboats and tugs,
all fighting to save at least her hull.
At varying distances about the burn
ing ship lay coal and cotton barges, all
ablaze, each with one or more tugs
playing barges water upon it. Some of these
and lighters were loaded with
very inflammable stuff, and the flames
leaped high in the air, whil4 the heat
to was so terriflo that it was not possible
use the small hose of the tugs.
Along the Jersey shore small fires
from were blazing, started by the wreckage
the great ships.
On the New York side of the river
the fire caused the greatest excitement
the drifting steamships floated,
all aflame, to the shore and brushed
against the piers from Canal to Mur
ray streets. The fire department was
called out at various points, and the
spectacle was presented of the fire
men on shore trying to fight fires
at every minute changing their situa
tion.
There were hundreds of men on each
of the destroyed steamships and a few
women. Crowds of dock laborers and
also employees of the companies were
0Q all the piers. Men, womeu and
children were on the canal boats, and
ELLAVILEE, GA.. THURSDAY. JULY 5 . 1000.
men on the barges and lighters, and
when the fire made its quick descent
upon them escape was cut off before
they realized their awful position.
The people on the piers jumped in
the water to save themselves, and
scores of men huddled under the
piers, clinging to the supports, only
to be suffocated by the flames or to
drop back in the water from exhaus
tion. The greatest loss of life ap
pears to have been on the Saale.
Up to II o’clock Sunday night only
eighteen bodies had been recovered.
Eleven of these were placed in a row
at the morgue in New York city and
numbered, this being the only means
of obtaining any sort of identity over
the corpses.
The only way the steamship officials
have of approximating the loss of life
is by comparing the list of those re
ported safe with the list of the em
ployes of the steamships. Late Sun
day night Gustav Schwab, general
agent of the North German Lloyd line,
gave out a list showing what men on
each vessel had been missing up to
that hour. On the Saale. 255 men
were employed and 127 of these had
only been accounted for up to 11
o’clock, leaving 128 men actually em
ployed as officers, sailors, engineers,
coal passers, oilers and trimmers to be
accounted for.
The Bremen had 204 men on board,
but only 127 of these have been found.
The Mam had only 137 on her at the
time and of these 76 have been re
ported safe. Lloyd officials
The North German
deny that any passenger was lost, and
declare that few’, if any, visitors per
ished, and that the loss of life was al
most entirely among the employes of
the company.
The loss on the steamship proper
ties and to other compies is estimated,
approximately, as follows:
The steamship Main, of the North
German Lloyd line, cost $1,500,000
outside of the cargo, fitting and stores.
The loss is placed at SI,200,000 for
the vessel and about $400,000 for the
cargo fittings and stores that were
aboard of her.
The steamship Bremen, of the North
German Lloyd line, cost $1,200,000
and her fittings and cargo were valued
at $300,000. The cargo and stores
were entirely consumed and the loss
to the vessel proper will amount to at
least $700,000. She is beached off
Weehawken, entirely destroyed, save
her machinery. which will
The Saale, the steamship
have the most horrible story of death
to unfold when the divers go down in
her, cost the North German Lloyd
company $1,250,000, and the fittings
and the cargo were valued at $300,000.
The Saale is beached at Ellis island.
The damage to the vessel proper is
placed at about $600,000.
The damage done to the Kaiser Wil
helm der Grosse io estimated at $25,
000 .
The three docks of the North Ger
man Loyd line which burned to the
wmter’s edge are estimated to have cost
$300,000. well filled with
The docks were
merchandise just received from abroad
and valued at $350,000.
The Thingvalla pier, which was en
tirely consumed, was valued at $50,
000 counting the stores which were
,
on it.
The Hamburg-American line dock,
which had just been completed as an
extension to their great pier, and
which was destroyed in order to pre
vent the spread of the flames, was
damaged to tbe extent of $5,000.
This was the only loss they sustained
as the steamer Phonenicia, contrary
to reports, was not even scorched.
Of the warehouses of Palmer Camp
bell, houses E, F, G and H were
burned. Mr. Campbell said that he
could not give a definite estimate of
his losses just now, but the damage to
buildings alone would amount to at
least $50,000, andthe contents $1,250,
000. Had the fire occurred at any
other time of the year, he said, the
loss would have been much greater, as
just at the present time the imports
are very light and the houses not well
filled.
OREGON ON A ROCK
Our Big Battleship Meets With
«
Aooident On Chinese Coast,
THE RAW DEPARTMENT IS ADVISED
V'essel Was Hurrying To Cliee Foo and
Struck Pinnacle Iiock During a Dense
Fog—May Yet Be Saved.
The following dispatches were re
ceived at the navy department Satur
day morning relative to the grounding
of the battleship Oregon:
“Che Foo, June 29. —Secretary of
the Navy: Anchored yesterday, dense
fog in seventeen fathoms, three miles
south of How Ke Light, gulf of Pe
Chile. Sent out two boats and sound
ed—least water five and half fathoms.
Weather clear. Got under way and
struck Pinnacle rock. Much water in
the forward compartment. Perfectly
smooth. Shall charter a steamer if
possible at Chee Foo and lighten ship.
Rock through side of ship above
double bottom about frame 19. Small
holes also through bottom of ship.
“Wilde.”
“Che Foo, June 29 .— Secretary
Navy: Iris gone to assistance of the
Oregon. Raymond Rogers,
“Commanding Nashville.”
“Hong Kong, June 29.—Secretary
of the Navy, Washington: Princeton
arrived. Brooklyn leaves for Nagasaki.
The Zafiro, at Che Foo, has been sent
to assist Oregon, reported by Rogers
on a rock south of How Ke light. Iris
going to her assistance. Remey.”
Captain Wilde’s statement of the
injury sustained by the Oregon is not
sufficient for the department to form a
definite opinion as to the prospects of
saving the famous ship. They say,
however, that the ship probably can
be saved, if the weather does not be
oome rough, but unfortunately this is
the season of storms in Chinese wa
ters. The point where the Oregon
grounded is fifty miles west northwest
of Che Foo. Taku is 150 miles west
of Pinnacle rock, where she struck.
At the request of the secretary
the navy, the state department sent a
message to the Russian government at
St. Petersburg asking permission to
bring the Oregon to Port Arthur to be
docked there in the event the ship can
be floated. At that point is the nearest
dock of sufficient size to dock the
ship, and it is part of the navy yard
possessions of the Russian govern
ment.
Secretary Long will spare no reason
able expense in the effort to save the
Oregon. Her total cost was $5,575,
032. On this total the hull and ma
chinery represented $3,222,810.
The Oregan made herself the most
famous ship in the American navy,
and the best known ship in the navies
of the world by her remarkable race
from San Francisco around Cape Horn
to join the fleet at Key W T est just
fore the war with Spain was declared.
It was a feat unequaled in tho an
nals of naval history, and an
dented test of the capabilities and
power of a modern warship. The
Oregon, under command of Captain
Charles E. Clark, began her long race
of 14,000 miles against time from San
Francisco on March 19th, 1898.
arrived at Jupiter Inlet, Fla., on May
24th and communicated with the navy
officials at Washington.
Secretary Long ordered Q aptain
Clark to report to the Norfo 5V
yard if his ship needed overhauling; if
not, he was to go directly to Key West.
Two days later, or on May 26th, the
Oregon joined the fleet at Key West.
She bad steamed the 14,700 miles at
racing speed without the slightest im
pairment of her delicate machinery, or
a break of any kind. The civilized
world rang with praises of the magnif
icent performance of the ship and her
heroic crew. *
The Oregon participated in the at
tack on Santiago and with the Brook
lyn prevented the escape of the Colon '
in the memorable sea fight of July 4th. \
During the chase of the Colon the
Oregon developed a speed of eighteen
knots under forced draft.
When peace was declared with Spain
the Oregon was sent to Manila. Some j
days ago the vessel was ordered to
China, and had nearly reached her
destination when the accident oc
curred.
COL. TRAMMELL DEAD.
Chairman of the Georgia Railroad
Commission Passes Away
At flarietta.
After an illness of six weeks Colonel
Trammell, chairman of the railroad
commission of Georgia, died at his
home in Marietta early Friday morn
ing.
All members of bis family were at
his bedside at the time of his death.
They had been there all night, waiting
and hoping for some signs of return
ing strength. The beginning of the
end came at noon on Thursday. Pre
vious to that time he had rallied con
siderably and it was believed by his
family and friends that he would re
cover.
It was a complication of diseases
that caused the death of Colonel
Trammell. Chief among them was an
acute stomach trouble. This, com
bined with extreme nervousness and a
sluggish circulation, so enfeebled bis
constitution and sapped his strength
that the restoratives of the physicians
had but little effect.
Colonel Trammell has been a mem
her of the Georgia railroad commis
sion since 1881, aod during the term
of his service his headquarters have
been in the capitol building. He was
probably one of the best known men
in the state, and being at the head
quarters of the state government for so
many years, was in touch with prom
inent men from all sections in Georgia,
and being a member of the railroad
commission, he was known also
throughout the United States.
As soon as Governor Candler heard
the news of Colonel Trammell’s death
he ordered the flag to float at half
mast.
__________
lillFDJMI UUElWILLA 9 A W W A^tAKE A DC ADC
Is ^ e,ng # Ad ° pted By Boers to
the Discomfiture of Brit
ish Tooops. -
According According to to London London adviroq advices Bop- Roe.
guerilla operations are reported from
points on Orange river colony.
q'he war office has received the fol
lowing frQm Lord Koberts;
Peetor.a,^ Lindley he une was zy.—ragetreports engaged ^ on June
2Gtb with a body of the enemy strongly
re-enforced during the day. A con
v °y 8tor ® 8 f ° r the LuxHey garrison
wa8 als ° attacked on June 26th, but
a heavy rear guard action, the
convoy reached Lindley in safety,
“ 0ur casualties were ten killed and
{our officers and about fifty men
wounded.
“The fight reported yesterday was
under Lieutenant Colonel Grenfell,
not Dreiptr. Brabant came up daring
the engagement.
“Total casualties of the two columns,
tbre e killed, twenty-three wounded.
“On the previous day near Ficks
burg, Boyes’ brigade was in action
with a body of the enemy.
“Our casualties were two officers ^
killed, four men wounded and one
uian missing.
“Methuen found yesterday that the
Boer ^ laager near A achkop and Spitz
Hop had been hastily removed in the
direction of Lindley. He followed the
enemy twelve miles and captured 8,000
sheep and 500 head of cattle which the
enemy had seized in that neighbor
hood. Our casualties were four men
wounded.
“Hunter continued his march yes
terday toward the 'V aal river unop
posed. A few farmers along the route
have surrendered. Springs, the term- 1
inus of the railway from Johannes
burg, was attacked early yesterday
morning. which garrisons The the Canadian place, beat regiment, ofl the j
enemy.”
Boer official reports from Machodo
dorp aver that a part of the British
convoy was captured on June 23d,
near Winburg.
The Lourenzo Marques correspon
dent of The Times says:
“Both the burghers and the foreign
ers who are arriving here profess a
strong belief that it will take from
three to six months to subdue the
Boers.”
Another dispatch from Lourenzo
Marques says:
“A consignment to a foreign firm
marked ‘Dutch cheese damaged’ prov
ed on landing to contain army boots
for the Boers; it passed the customs
nevertheless with unusual dispatch
and the British consul is making rep
resentatious to the Portuguese govera
ment. ,,
VOL. X. NO. 27.
CHAFFEE IS ASSIGNED
To Command Our Troops In the
Celestial Empire.
GOES WITH SIXTH CAVALRY
New* That Ninth Infantry Goes at Ones
to Taku Greatly Pleases the Offi
cials at WashlnjtoB,
President McKinley has assigned
General Adna R. Chaffee to the com
mand of the American military forces
operating in China. The plans of the
war department were somewhat clear
ed up by the announcement.
General Chaffee was at the war de
partment Tuesday receiving instruc
tions and will leave for San Francisco
in time to sail with the sixth cavalry.
This detachment sails on the Grant,
which has been ordered to touch at
Nagasaki for further orders. It is
probable that the ship will then sail
direct for Che Foo, with General Chaf
fee and the 6 ixth cavalry,
General MacArther, at Manila, was
cabled an order directing the com*
manding officer of the Ninth infantry
and such other forces as may be oper
ating in China by the time of
the Grant’s to report to General Chaf
fee on bis arrival. Unless present
plans change headquarters will be es
tabllsed at Che Foo.
The news that the NiaU. infantry
sails at onee from Manila for Taka
was received with pleasure at the war
department. Gen. Corbin said he reg
iment will compare favorably with any
similar organization sent by any of
governments in
The Ninth haB been rccrui t e d to its
fullest possible limit of 1,170 and is
provided with an ample supply of
* g nns , tents and complete [ field
j ment> It goe9 to Chin prepare d
{or active Berv j ce an( j j s thoroughly
equipped in tho matter of transporta
tion and subsistance supplies for a
long campaign. The regiment is com
manded by Colonel Liscum, one or tne
bravost and most discreet officers ia
tne army< The trip fiom Manila to
Taka will be made on the transports
Logau ftnd Port Albert> the latter car
rying ^ ® transportation r outfit and ma
c iQ
--—
MOBILE FLOODED.
Over a Foot of Water Fell In the
Space of Nine Hours In
Alabama City.
The heaviest rainfall in the history
of tho weather bureau of this country
was experienced at Mobile, Ala., Tues
day, when 12.57 inches of rain wa®
precipitated in the immediate section,
It was merely a local rain extending
only a few miles in almost every direc
tion, although the Mobile and Ohio
railroad announced that they had rain
in great volume all along their line to
g t> Louis,
q'he ra j n began about 4 o’clock, and
heaviest fall was between the
bourB 0 f 5 and 7 , the record for the
two hours being five iuches. The
rest G f the fall was recorded between
7 and 2 o’clock, the entire fall of 12.57
inches being withiD nme hours. Only
once before in this country has this
record been nearly equalled, when 02
September 3, 1893, in Donaldsonviile,
La., there was recorded a. fall of 21.70
inches in thirty hours,
The damage done by the fall cannot
be estimated. The crops are ruined
entirely, and bridges in all sections of
the country are either washed away or
severely damaged. All of the country
roads are impassable. All of the rail
roads experienoed washouts and there
i 8 heavy damage, as the road beds are
weakened to a great extent.
The section has never before er
perienced such a protracted period of
heavy rainfalls, and there is no way
G f estimating the total amount of
damage done.
The farmers, according to well in
formed cotton factors and commiasiou
men, are well nigh ruined, and there
is no hope for them to recover their
losses. The cotton ia gone to grass to
a great extent, while the other farm
products are receiving no attention
whatever owing to the impossibility of
working the field® in the rain.