Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-01
THE MAASDAM.
Rescue of Passengers and Crew Of the
Burned Steamer-NArrow Escape
from Watery Graves.
The Graphic Tale as Told By Eye Wit
nesses An BxplOsion-A Pair Of
Lovers-A Rough Sea.

NEW York, Oct. si.--The German
steamer Rhein which arrived here to-
day from Bremen reports that October
"a, at o o'clock in the evening, in lati-
tude 40, IS, longitude ~. Al, she fell in
with the Dutch steamer Massdam
from Rotterdam for New York,
which was all ablage. TIE Rheln
took from her boats the passengers
aud crew, numbering 1856 In all, and
brought them TO this port.
The Maasdam carried mlacella-
neous cargo, coneigned to New York.
The vessel was valued ~ 800, 600 It
was y. m. when the fire on the Mass
dam was iiIst seen. The boats Of the
ship were picked up one by one as the
RheinlapproRched
Capt. VANDERBILT OF the steamship
haasdRm makes the following state
ment.
I'VE left Rotterdam October is, with
eight cabin and lSSsteerage passengers
and crew OF forty.flve men. All
was we'll until the sd,
when we encountered a violent
gale, during which the petroleum
tank commenced leaking. The next
day one of the crew placed lighted
lamp near the tank, which exploded,
the contents taking fire aud putting
the ship In a blaze. Every effort TO
control the fire was useless, 80 at 4 y.
m. / ordered all hands into tho boats.
AT p. In. we were picked up by the
steamer Rheln. None were lost or
injured In the slightost degree.n
INCIDENTS NARRATED ny RYE-wTr-
The steamship Rheln has arrived Rt
her deck with All the passengers and
crew OF the MRasdam Hundreds of
relatives aud friends OF the lost ship
waited for them. The captain of the
| MaRsdam eaid TO reporter:
1--WE had eight cabin and 1873
steerape passengers. For several
days prior to October "a, complaints
had been made to me that the oil tank,
situated on the bridge under the upper
deck was leaking That day one of
the seaman went with light Into the
oil room 10 make an examination, The
moment he entered an explosion was
heard and the sailor, with burnt face
and hands, rushed back crying fire.
The flames gained such beadway that
al efforts 10 control them were found
useless. Then we took to the boats.
|
OF private property. Only the
clothes that we stood In
could we take away. There was
heavy sea running. The passengers
created little or no confusion. think
they were too much frightened 10 do
anything but obey orders. We were
picked up soon atseT.n
DR. Smith, surgeon Of the steamer,
/ was graduated from Aun ArbOr, Mich,
In 1882 His first voyage was In the
steamer Retainer, which was wrecked
n few months ago He and all others
on board agree with the story of the
captain. He said that Bob, the en-
gineer, was severely burned, but would
come around all right.
"There were thirty.hve persons In
each boat, said Or. Smith, 1--WE re-
manned near the burning ship hoping
that some vessel would see the light
and come 10 the rescue. The flames
burst forth aft first. II was grand
sight not appreciated at the time.
couldn't save even my instruments.
There was something ludicrOuB even
In our dilemma. We had pair of
lovers in our boat and the man
couldn't be induced to take his arm
from her waist TO stand his turn at the
oar.n
Heinrich Wolf, passenger said
1.-THE officers and the crew did all
they could TO save the vessel. The
steam pumps could not be COTTON at
on account OF the heat. When the
Rheln picked us up our boats were
being tossed about at lively rate and
were half filed with wRter.n
Bruins Peterson, first officer Of the
Rhein, was the first TO spy the fire In
the distance, and he climed to the
top masthead. II seemed 10 be
ship on fire about twelve miles 10 the
southwest. The Rhein was promptly
headed for the light. II took about an
hour TO get to IT, The signal lights OF
the boats were soon seen, and us the
boats got alongside the Are lit up the
ocean for five miles around. Ropes
were thrown the boats from the ship
and the people were hauled on board.
The women and children had to be
taken up in baskets.
"The sea was very rouRh,p said Mr..
Peterson, land severe storm came
up at midnight. Had we been two
hours later In getting TO the burning
ship not a soul would have been
saved"