The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-15
Terrible Experience Of the Pas
sengers Of the Steamship
City Of Richmond.
Cotton in the Hold Takes Fire
While She rs Out
at Sea.
Preparations Made for Leaving the Shin
in tho Teeth of IL Fearful
Storm.

QuEENsrowN, June H. The steamer. servia,
which left New York June 6, arrived hero
today. The captain reports that Mt mid
night on Thursday last he sighted the In
man line steamer, City of Richmond, from
New York, June 5, bound for this port and
Liverpool. The City Of Richmond was fly
Ing signals of distress and the Servia bore
down on her to offer assistance. Captain
Kedford, of the City OF Richmond, reported
that his cargo was on fire and the servia
stood by and steamed slowly by the side of
the other steamer until Brow Head YVES
sighted. Captain Redford says that on Tues
day at midnight lady cabin passenger, upon
getting out of her berth, noticed the floor
OF the state room was very hot. She imme-
dlately gave the alarm, and an examination
was quickly made. This resulted in the
discovery of smoke issuing from the fore
hold. and the smell indicated that the cot
ton, of which the vessel carried 1900 bales,
was on fire. In less than three minutes all
the passengers, including those in the steer
age, were on deck. Most of them hurriedly
left their berths and rushed on deck scan
tily attired. Large volumes of water were
poured down upon the burning cotton, but
with small effect. and until the steam fire
annihilators were used no diminution of
the fire was visible.
While the captain and the engineers were
trying to get the fire under control another
scene presented itself on deck under the
eyes Of the anxious but we'll behaved crowd
of passengers. Her provisions of all kinds
were being carried by the stewards to the
ships boats in view of the possible neces-
sity of abandoning the vessel. Throughout
the period of alarm gale was blowing and
the ship rolled heavily. During the dark
hours Of suspense the mass of passengers
were perfectly calm, most of them making
preparations to leave the ship. Until
daylight Wednesday, the extent of the
fire was not known, SO dense was the smoke
enveloping the decks. The sea, too, be-
came so heavy it would have beer almost
impossible for the passengers t, haze put
of in boats, if such a course haa been
deemed necessary. Soon after daylight,
however, the captain was able to assure
the people that there was no Immediate
danger, but that. although the fire had been
checked, it remained snouldering in the
mass of cotton, and might break into
flames at any moment 1t was impossible
to discover the extent of the fire, owing to
the fact That every aperture in the vicinity
of the hold had to be closed in order to
prevent the flames fro m being famed by
the gale.
The stewards continued the preparations
to abandon the ship and had 1000 pounds
of beef cooked for the boats. Hopes of re-
lief came in the morning when the vessel
Counsellor was sighted After an inter-
change of signals she agreed to remain
alongside the distressed steamer. Through
out Wednesday the crew continued to pour
water and steam upon the burning cotton.
n ha n tor nNft u-aG do
to reach the hold for the purpose of
discovering if possible the extent of the
fire. Four smouldering bales were taken
out of the hold, when it was found impera-
tive to shut up everything in order to ex-
clude the air.
All of Thursday the situation continued
much the same. There were occasional
outbreaks of dense smoke from the hold,
but no flames were visible. There WINS a
heavy sea running all day. Toward mid
night the servia bore down toward the two
vessels and agreed to stay by the City of
sas1a rn@0n0' then me went eaa''' ahead na 'as as
full! speed leaving the Counsellor
astern. On Friday the fire
appeared to shift from time to time to DIFF
ferent parts of the hold. but it seemed less
ening in intensity. Saturday no smoke
was visible, and 1t was supposed the fire
was out.
The cabin passengers were forced to
abandon their cabins in consequence of the
heat, and had not changed their clothes for
four days. The passengers sny it was fear
full at night. The wind was screechins
through the rigging and the seas wash
ilg over tho decks. There was little
nope of safety in case it should
become necessary to take to the boats. The
suspense was terrible, but all bore up spIen-
didly. The intermediate and storage
passengers were comfortably established In
tho saloon. away from the smoke and fumes
from the burning cotton.
The origin OF the fire is supposed to have
been spontaneous combustion. The scene
on deck after the discovery of the
fire was remarkable. Many groups
of women were praying fervently
and crying. There were 1tO bar
rels of oil slowed close to the burning cot
ton. Luckily the flames did not commune
cate to the oil. 1t is believed the fire was
completely suhdued before tho steamer
reached Queenstown. The vessel has pro-
ceeded for Liverpool. and is declared to be
~IJ r,..l,t