The sun., 1889-11-28
SAVED IN THE NICK OF TIME.
THE SANTIAGOs BOATS COULD NOT
HAVE FbOATED MUCH LONGER

Capt. Potter's story or the FIGHT with Fire
| -Maddened Cattle In the Water Endnn-
eer the Boats-Cotton and Cattle Keep
Marine Underwriters Awake Nights.
Capt. Colcord of the American ship A. j Full
Ter. which rescued all hands-flfty nine souls
from tho burned steamship Santiago on
Wednesday last week in midocean, was cor
daily greeted yesterday when he came ashore
and reported to the owner OF the ship. Benja-
min r. Flint He thinks that had he been an
hour later the rising sea would have swamped
the Santiago's boats. Capt Colcord is OF good
down East stock. He was born In Maine 40
years ago. and has been going to sea for Mr.
Flint theso twenty-five years. The skill with
which he managed the rescue was the talk Of
shipping circles yesterday.
The rescued crew Of the Santiago we're taken
care OF at the Sailors Home. None OF them
is seriously hurt The passengers will be for
warded by any route they may select. They
are Charles JOY. an EnGlishman. returning to
his home in Hull; Mrs. Knight and her baby.
and W. Wadsworth. an invalid oflcer OF the
Wilson line. Mrs. Knight is praised by the
others for her coolness but she says she will
20 back to Boston where she has been visiting
and will not tempt the seas again at once.
Capt. Potter OF the Santiago described YES
terday the burning Of the steamship.
At noon on the 19tn," he said. I'VE were
little over 600 miles out from New York. and
somewhere to the southwest OF Sable Island.
1t was at 1880 P. M. that smoke was seen COM
ing from the seams Of the poop deck and be-
tween the joinings OF the butts. and then it be-
gan to pun up from under the tarpaullns on
hatches 7and 8. This was where the cotton
was stored. l saw that the men Kept cool, and
we went to work at once We got the after
matches on, and binding smoke shot out. In
Jiffy we had Ave streams playing from rs
many hose upon the burning cotton. The cot
ten S Tss on fire from side elear to the other
aterrible believing and snorting. had the
lessen the draught. But at 5I o'clock the ves-
gel was stopped OF necessity. the steering gear
room aft the ship was mass OF flames. The
MoTE AZ but Of ksR seT at d9eE
1t was evident that nothing further could
be done against the Are. and ordered the life
difficult task on account Of the darkness 1 and
the list oi tho ship caused by the water coming
but to lower the boats and man them. This
was done at Gnce. The wind had been rising
boats we're ali fioated safely: the four passeno on
gers went In my boat. As the flames would at
burning ship. Just before the last OF the crew
left the vessel the malnmast fell overheard.
Inc ship was abandoned ut T. NJ The
wind increased TO a gale. and the seas ran so
high that 1t seemed each moment as il the
boats were about to be swamped. The cattle
stalls, having partly burned away. the mad
dened, half roasted steers dived mady over
board. II they had struck any of our boats
they would haye swamped us. The rough seas
also compelled us to put away good distance
from the ship. and whom morning came no one
boat was in sight Of another. At daylight on
the 2Oth the A, J. Fuller bore down upon US
and saved ueall. Ishall always remem Der the
Kindness and bravery OF Capt. Colcord. his
wife. and OF the crew OF the Fuller"
Capt. Potter said that he hadn't the slightest
idea how the cotton had caught fire. II was
perfectly safe, in his opinion, to carry cotton
and cattle together II proper precautions were
taken. and proper precautions were taken on
the Santiago. But underwriters don't think 1t
is safe. and It is possible that In few days the
rates OF marine insurance for cotton and cat
tie ships will be advanced to prohibitve fig;
ure. The National Board OF Underwriters had
a meeting last Friday with the burning Of the
Queensmore fresh In their minds. and ap-
pointed a committee to report Tomorrow on
this very matter. The underwriters have no
power to turn back freight. but they can charge
such premiums as to induce shippers to see
LOT themselves how dangerous this cotton and
ships now loading cotton and cattle at Norfolk.