The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-07-27
BURNED IN MID-0CEAN.
Destruction of the Steamer Baker
Out on the Atlantic.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE AT SEA.
With Small Boats Disabled and the ,yird
Blowing Gale, Passengers ami
Crew Wait for Dealh-Gaiiant
Rescue by Whaling
ShipI

New BEDFORD, Mass, July 22.-The
whaling schooner Franklin arrived here
this morning with the crew of the
steamer Lorenzo d. Baker, from Point
Antonio. for Boston, with fruit. The
steamer was burn d at sea. Capt. Wiley
reportsi ave left Antonio on the
10th of July with car
go of bananas for Boston and had
six cabin passengers, and nineteen Off
GERS and crew. AT midnight of Juy Is,
there was an alarm of fire, the engine
room beng in flames. | alarmed the
'assengers and ordered the boats
be swtng out. BY this time
ne flames had burst through the top
OF the engine room and the starboard
boat was ol fire. Two or three pas
sengers and several of the crew got into
port the boat. In lowering
the boat, as it struck the water,
1t Immediately capsized. On coming to
the surface, | found the man holding
the painter had let go of 1t when he saw
the disaster so that the boat was near
US. Helping the passengers to safe
hold on the keel, in a few minutes the
mate and | righted the boat. We put
away Tor the steamer and when about
! half way to il we fell III with the raft
which had eight persons on it. We
took all from the raft into the boat.
The wind had now increased and the
sea was high. Some time was consumed
with the raft and we were a mile from
the wreck when we again started for
her. After rowing some time, we
picked up sailor floating on the gangway
steps. From him We learned that we
had gone in the small boat and that
/ four sailors and two firemen were lie t
on board the steamer, they having been
cut off from the boats by the fire. One
fireman had been drowned in trying to
reach the small boat. We saw
schooner bearing down to the ship. We
saw her lay by and take off some men
and then come to us. We were soon
safely on board the vessel which proved
/ to be the Franklin. Another fireman
| had been drowned in swimming from
the steamers bowsprit TO the spar. We
soon found the small boat and twenty
five out of twentyseven souls who had
/ been on the steamer were saved and
safe on bosrd the Franklin"
This, the Captain says, is the bare
statement of one of the most thrilling
situations ii is possible for men TO find
themselves in; TO be awakened in the
middle of the night in g high wind and
angry sea to find their ship on fire, and
| one boat gone and poor pros
pect of safety. Added to this, to
| have the other boat, on which
their safety depended, capsize rs soon
| as launched, was enough to appall the
stoutest heart. That they should es-
| cape with only the loss Of two lives is
| truly providential. Too much praise
can hardly be awarded to Capt. Rose
and the officers and crew of the Frank
| In for their gallant rescue.
The firemen who lost their lives were
| Hugh Wylie, of Liverpool, Eng, and
Ralph Robinson, of Boston, Mass.
| Mrs. Elizabeth Shines, lady passenger
| was on her way home from Jamaica
| where her husband recently died, to
| reside with friends in Scotland. She was
asleep when she was aroused by
he voice of Capt. Wylie telling
ner to get up and dress and pre-
pare to leave the ship as it was on
! ire. She hurried into some clothing,
secured her money and went on deck
when she was placed In the lifeboat.
| As the craft was lowered into the water
| it capsiZed and she was drawn under
| meath 1t. She could not SWIM but had
on life preserver and mechanically
| struck out and came to the surface. She
! saw the mate on the keel of the over
| turned boat and he at the same moment
| saw Mrs. Sine. He called out: For
| Gods sake, save the woman and
| caught her by the arm. When the boat
| was righted she was assisted III and
| soon alter the boat was picked up by
| the Fran Kiln