Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

Maritime Newspaper Articles - 1890

Old Newspaper

NEW YORK TIMES TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1897
page 1

FIRE ON ELLIS ISLAND

It broke out shortly after midnight in the furnace of the Main Building

The Fireboat New Yorker and Police Patrol Boat have gone to scene

Communication with Island was cut off- it was reported that all persons escaped with their lives

Fire broke out in the main building of the United States Immigration Station, on Ellis Island, shortly after midnight. It was first discovered from this city, when the flames began to shoot out from the northwest tower. This was at 12:30.

From the first all communication was cut off from the island. The telephone there is located in the main building and just behind and inside of that portion where the fire originated.

The building itself is one that seemed to invite an internal fire. It was constructed entirely of Genetia pine and spruce, but on the outside had a thin covering of galvanized iron.

This was almost at once warped and twisted out of shape by the intense heat, and the docks, cook-house, official residences, and other buildings, with one exception were soon wrapped in flames.

In fact, it looked as though the entire island, with the single exception of the male dormitory, which was the old United States Government powder magazine, seemed one big blaze.

There were many immigrants on the island, and several ships landed large numbers there yesterday. It is believed that over 600 immigrants were there.

The Police boat, Patrol, the fireboat New Yorker, and several tugs have gone out to the island, and are doing everything possible to overcome the fire.

Research note: No mention is made of the loss of the immigration records from Castle Garden, but other sources state that the immigration records going back to 1840 were destroyed in this fire. [some state records back to 1855]. Nor were any follow-up reports published in the Times on this fire during the four days after June 15.
Contributed by Bill Kerchoff
From The Cape Ann Advertiser [Gloucester, MA] 9 November 1894 -

Sch. Flash 69.70 tons, built at Essex in 1875, owned by James G. Tarr & Bro., and insured by the Gloucester Mutual Fishing Insurance Co., for $2700, with $800 additional on outfits, sailed for Newfoundland on the morning of Jan. 12, 1894 on a herring trip and has not since been heard from, having undoubtedly gone down with all her crew in the heavy gale commencing that day. Her crew list was as follows:

Matthew Parks, master, 41 years old, a native of Nova Scotia, left a widow and three children in this city
James A'Hern, mate, 43, unmarried, resided in Boston
James Donovan, aged 31, native of Prince Edward Island
Simeon Gillis, aged 52, native of Prince Edward Island
Jordan Harris, 25, a native of Newfoundland
Richard Laha, cook, a native of Wellfleet, left a widow in this city
Contributed by Dennis Ahern

From The Concord Enterprise, 15 June 1899 -

STEAMSHIP SUNK.

New York, June 14.--The old Dominion steamship Hamilton, which sailed from New York yesterday bound to Norfolk and Newport News, ran into the German steamship Macedonia off Long Branch, and the Macedonia subsequently sunk. The Hamilton was proceeding south with a large number of passengers. While proceeding at reduced speed and sounding her whistle, the Hamilton suddenly ran into a steamer, which proved to be the German steamer Macedonia, striking her on the starboard side abaft the engine and cutting into her hull about 12 feet. There was no loss of life.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dennis Ahern | Middlesex County Massachusetts Newspaper Abstracts
Acton, Massachusetts | http://www.rootsweb.com/~mamidnws/index.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Return to News Articles Index
Return to Main ISTG Page

ISTG™ These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in whole or part in any format for presentation, distribution or profit by anyone without the express written consent of the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild. Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild is independently owned.
Copyright 1998 - 2005