Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-19
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.

FIRE in Great Ocean steamship.
The Cunard steamer Servia. which ar
rived at Queenstown from New York last
SIM Law, was signaled to on the previous
Thursday by the Inman steamer. CITY of
Richmond also bound for Queenstown.
that the latter vessel was in distress On
hearing down to her assistance the captain
of the Sprvia found that the cargo of the
Richmond was on fire. Captain Redford
of the Richmond reported that on Tuesday
midnight a woman cabin passenger upon
Getting out of her berth noticed that the
floor of the staterOOm was very hot She
Immediately gave the alarm, and an eX-
animation resulted in the discovery that
smoke was issuing from the fore hold and
the smell indicated that the cotton in the
hold was on fire. The vessel carried 2OOO
bales of cotton. In less than three min
utes after the alarm was given all the pas
sengers, including those in the steerage.
were on deck. Strenuous efforts were in
stantly made by the crew to reach the fire.
Upon opening the hatchway adjoining the
spot from which smoke was issuing it was
ascertained that portion of the cotton
was on fire. Large volumes of water were
poured down upon the burning mass, but
with small effect. Until the steam fire
annihiators were used no lessening of the
fire was visible Throughout the period
Of alarm gale was blowing and the ship
rolled heavily. Until daylight Wednesday
the extent of the fire was not known so
dense was the smoke enveloping the decks.
At s o'clock in the morning the steamer
Counsellor was sighted, and after an eX-
change of signals she agreed to remain
alongside a sad incident occurred at the
moment the Counsellor came alongside,
the captain of the former steamer suddenly
falling dead on the deck of his vessel. The
chief officer of the Counsellor upon the
death of his superior officer took command
of the ship and continued to communicate
with the City of Richmond. Throughout
Wednesday water and steam were CON
stantly poured upon the burning bottom.
All of Thursday the situation continued
much the same. There were occasional
outbursts of dense smoke from the hold.
but no flames were visible. There was
heavy sea running all day. Toward mid
night the Servia bore down toward the two
vessels and agreed to stay by the City of
Richmond. The latter and the Servia
then went ahead at full speed, leaving the
Counsellor astern. On Friday the fire i'm
the cotton appeared to shift from time to
time to different parts of the hold but
seemed to be lessening in intensity. on
Saturday no smoke was visible, and it was
supposed the fire was out.
PASSENGERS STORY.
\ passenger on the Richmond, who is
now in London says: On the morning of
the 10th | saw smoke coming out of the
forehold. | was nearly asphyXated in my
cabin. | heard an officer shout: 'For
Gods sake, bring the hose, quick When
the forehold was opened | saw the blaze
plainly. The passengers were thrown into
a panic Orders were given to provision
the boats. There was a terrible sea, and
Capt. Redford aftcrward said not one of the
boats could have lived to get l3 yards from
the ship. The women stood it well. The
captain, officers and crew worked like Tro-
jams. Then the ship Counsellor hove in
sight and stayed with us a day and a half,
and then the Servia came to our assistance.
The decks were so hot the pitch melted,
and you could dry wet boots in few min
utes. The Servia's passengers said they
could see the steam rise when the sea wash
ed the plates above the water line. On the
18th the captain said it was an even thing
whether they could keep the fire under.
The same day we heard there was a lot of
petroleum on board The cotton in which
the fire broke out was not fresh, and was
therefore highly inflammable. Five days
of fire, with death staring us in the face,
added at least a year to my age.