The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-06
On Fire in Mid-Ocean.

The steamer Rhein, of the Netherland
American Company, arrived at New Y ork
quarantine on the 31st, having on board
the passengers and crew Of the Dutch
steamer Maasdam, which was burned at
sea on October Oath, in lat. 299, So, long.
27o. Al. The crew and the passengers
were all saved. The Maasdam sailed from
Rotterdam October 18th, and carried a
miscellaneous cargo, consigned to New
\ Ork. The vessel was valued at 5000. 900.
1t was about p. IN. when the eMaasdam
was first seen OH fire. The boats of the
steamship were picked up one by one as
the Rhein approached.
The Rhein arrived at Der dock soon after
three O'Clock with all the passengers and
crew OF the MaaSdam on board. Hundreds
OF the relatives and friends of the wrecked
awaited them. Captain III. &. Wander Zee.
of the Inflated vessel. said to reporter :
I'VE had cabin and 1873 steerage passen-
gers and a crew OF As men. For several
days prior to October oath complaints had
been made to me that the oil tank, stu
ated under the bridge ON the upper deck,
was leaking. On the morning of that day
one OF my seamen went with light into
the Oil room to make an examination.
A moment afterward we heard an.-ex-
plosion. and the sailor with burned face
and beard rushed back to the deck crying
FIRE We put into use all our appliances
for the extinction Of the flames, but they
gained Roadway. Then we took the boats.
We could save nothing of the cargo OF
private PROPERTY. Only the very clothes
we stood in could we take away with us.
There was heavy sea running at the time
The passengers created little or no confu-
sion. l think they were too much fright
ened to do anything hut obey orders. The
Rhein picked us up soon after 8 o'clock. =
DR.. L. Il. Smith, surgeon OF the Maasdam.
graduated from Ann Arbor Mich gan
University in 1882. His first voyage was
on the steamship Reliance, which was
wrecked a few months ago. He aid all
others on board agree with the eat,tain S
story. DR., Smith said that three of the
engines had been burned by the fire. but
would come around all right. ''1'here
were thirty-five persons in each boat. said
DIR. Smith. 1--WE remained near the burn
ing ship, hoping that some vessel would
see the light and come to ourrescue. The
flames appeared aft first. The masts fell
at 5 OF clock. r. r--s
The confiagration was grand sight, but
couldn't save, even my instruments.
/ hSAC Hto opIliCoAlluS iuulClOuo CNCu III
our dilemma. @ 80
I'VE had a pair of lovers in our boat, and
the man could not be induced to take his
sweetheart S waist to stand his turn at the
oar. The couple were so unconcerned
about everything except themselves that
their selfishness was really laughable. },
Heinrich Wolff, passenger, said THE
officers and crew did all they could to save
the vessel and us. The steam pumps could
not be gotten out on account of the heat.
When the Rhein picked us up our boats
were being tossed about at q lively rate,
and were half filled with WATER
Bruins Peterman. first officer of the
Rhein, was the man to spy the fire. He
told how he saw the light in the distance on
the evening of the 9th, and climbed to
the topmasthead to makeitout. 1t seemed
to be steamship on fire about twelve
miles to the southwest, 1t was headed
for. and the Rhein took ahont;an hour to
get to it. The flames lit UP the scene for
miles around The signal lights in the
boats were visible, and the occupants were
picked up. Ropes were let down, and the
survivors were hauled On board. The
women and children had to be pulled up in
baskets. 1.-The sea was very rough" said
Mr.. 9Peterman ''.lnd q severe storm
came up at midnight. Had we been two
hours later in getting to the wrecked ones
nota soul OF them would have been savtd7