The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-15
SHIPS Hold ON FIRE.
Cotton Blazes in the Steamship
City of Richmond.
BRAVE SHIPS TO THE RESCUE.
Fierce Gale Blowing Added to the
Deadly Danger.
Passengers Ready to Leave the vessel
A Whole Night of suspense--E Extent
OF the Fire Unknown--A Cool Cap
tain Saved . Panic.


QUEENSTOWN, June 1.-THE steamer
Servia, which left New York June s. ar
rived today. The captain reports that at
migdnight Thursday last, he cited the In
man line steamer City of Richmond, from
New York, June 3, bound for this port and
Liverpool. The latter vessel was flying
signals of distress. and the Servia bore
down to her to offer assistance
Captain Redford, of the City of Rich
mond, reported his cargo on fire, and the
Servia stood by and steamed slowly by the
City of Richmond until Crow Head was
sighted
Captain Crawford reported that on Tues
sday at midnight lady 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
examination was quickly made. This re-
suited in the discovery of smoke issuing
from the fore hold, and the smell indicated
cotton, which was in the hold. The ves-
sci carried 1000 bales, and was on fire.
In less than three minutes all the pas
sengers, including those in the steerage,
were on deck. Most of them hurriedly
left their berths and reached the deck but
scantily attired. Large volumes of water
were poured down upon the burning cot,
ton, but with small effect. and until the
steam fire annihilators were put in motion
the fire was visible.
While the captain and engineers were
trying to get the fire under control another
scare presented itself. Her provisions of
all sorts were being carried by stewards to
the ships boats in view of the possible
necessity of abandoning the vessel.
Throughout the period of alarm a gale was
blowing and the ship rolled heavily.
During the dark hours of suspense all the
passengers were perfectly calm, most of
them making preparations to leave the
ship by daylight. The extent of the
fire is not known, so dense was
the smoke which enveloped the
decks. The sea, too, became so
heavy that it would have been almost inn
possible for the passengers to have been
put off in boats, if such a course had been
deemed necessary. Soon after daylight,
however, the captain was able to assure
the people that there was no immediate
danger, but, although the fire had been
checked, it remained smouldering in the
cotton and might break into flames at any
moment. It was impossible to discover
the extent Of the FIRE owiag to the fact tina.
every aperture in the vicinity of the hold
had to be closed in order to prevent the
flames from being famed by the gale.
The stewards continued preparations to
abandon the ship and had 1900 pounds of
beef cooked for the boats. Hopes of relief
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 upon the burning cotton. In
the evening an attempt was made to reach
the hold for the purpose of discover
ing, if possible, the extent of the
fire. Four smouldering bales were taken
out of the hold when it was
found imperative to shut up everything in
order to exclude the fire. Ali of Thursday
the situation continued much the same.
There were occasional outbreaks of dense
smoke from the hold, but no flames were
visible. There was heavy sea running all
the day. Toward midnight the Seryia bore
down toward the two vessels and agreed
to stay by the City of Richmond. The
latter vessel and the Servian then went
ahead at full speed leaving the Counsellor
astern. Friday the fire appeared TO shift
form time to time to different parts of the
hold but it seemed lessening in intensity.
Saturday no smoke was visible and IL was
supposed that the fire was out. Anumber
of the cabin passengers were forced to
abandon their cabins in consequence of
the fire and had not changed their clothes
for four days.
The origin of the fire is supposed to have
been spontaneous combustion. The scene
on deck after the discovery of fire was re-
markable. Many groups of women were
praying fervently and crying. There were
140 barrels of oil slowed away close to the
burning cotton. Luckily the flames did
not communicate to the oil. 1t is believed
that the fire was completely subdued be-
fore the steamer reached Queenstown.
The vessel has proceeded to Liverpool and
has been declared to be all right.
passenger says it was fearful night.
The wind was screeching through the rig.
ging and the sea was washing over the
decks. There was little hope of safety in
case it should become necessary to take to
the boats. The suspense was terrible but
all bore up splendidly. The intermediate
and steerage passengers were comfortably
established in the saloon, away from the
smoke and the flames coming from the