THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 178, 4 July 1900, Page 3

THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

HOW IT ORIGINATED. TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. HUNDREDS JUMP INTO THE HUDSON. MANY BODIES UNRECOGNISABLE. INDESCRIBABLE HORRORS. (PER PRBBS ASSOCIATION.) Received 4,1.30 a.m. New Yokk, July 3. Details of the fire at the Hoboken Dock show that it was caused by the explosion of a carboy of acid, which ignited a quantity of cotton bales. There were 1500 visitors and workmen about the docks at the time of the outbreak, The fhmes spread with incredible rapidity, burning three piers belonging to theNord-Deutcher L'oyds, and destroying their hteameis, the Sao!e, Maine, Bremen, and Tbingualh. It is estimated that between 200 acd 400 persons peiishcd. The same line of steamer, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, was just saved through the splendid exertions of the captain and crew. The Hamburg-American Company dynamited one of their piers, then by saving their vessels. People on the piers jumped into the Hudson River by hundreds. Similarly all who could do so jumped from the vessels. Boats and barges rescued numbers of them, oue lighter haviDg 100 on board. Scores, however, %ere drowned. While the Saola and Bremen wtre hauling into the stream men, women, and children below were seen through the port-holes thrieking for assistance, but the flames rendered help impossible. Seventeen men were imprisoned in the Maine's coil-bunkers for hour*, and had a marvellous esctpe. They were rescued after the vessel was beached by cutting through the steel bulkhead, Fifty unrecognisable bodies have been recovered from the Saole, while a number of stokers perished in the hold after inde*orib»ble horrors. Twentynine escaped by climbing on each other's shoulders.

Aboard the Maine a terrible straggle was witnessed amongst tbe unfortunate people as they made effoits to reach tbe port holes. The damage is at least ten million dollars.