The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-15
ON FIRE In MID-OCEAN.
A SENSATION ON AN lNMAN LINE
STEAMER.

Gle MEUs
The Discovery Made by a Lady Pas
senger Whose State Room Floor
Became Uncomfortably Hot - The
Fire Among Cotton In the Forward
Hold-Supposed to Have Been Ex-
tInguished.
QUEENSTOWN, June Il. The Cunard line
steamer Servia, Capt. Dutton, which left
New York June 6. arrived here to-day.
The captain reports that at midnight on
Thursday last he sighted the Inman line
steamer City of Richmond, Capt.
Redford, from New York June 8,
bound for this port and Liverpool.
The latter vessel was showing signals
of distress and the Servia bore down to her
to offer assistance. The captain 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 City Of Richmond
until Brow Head was sighted. Capt. Red
ford reported that Tuesday at midnight a
lady cabin passenger upon getting out OF her
berth noticed that the floor of the state
room was very hot. She Immediately gave
the alarm TO the engineers, who oommuni-
Dated with the captain and an examination
was quickly made.
FIRE IN COTTON HOLD.
This resulted In the discovery that smoke
was issuing from the forehold and the smell
indicated that the cotton In the hold was on
fire. Steam and water were promptly in
jected into the hold and 1t was supposed tor
a time that the fire had been extinguished
At o'clock Wednesday morning, however,
three bales Of cotton were found on fire and
were taken from the hold and thrown over
board. Ia the meantime the
British steamer Counsellor. Capt. Jones, Of
the Harrison line, bound from New Orleans
for Liverpool, had appeared on the scene,
and on learning the condition Of affairs
stood by the City Of Richmond until the
Servta came up. 1t is believed that the fire
was completely subdued before the City of
Richmond reached Queenstown. The vessel
proceeded for Liverpool and appeared to be
all right.
RUSH FOR THE DECKS.
The vessel carried 1900 bales OF cotton.
The lady who gave the alarm, upon
awakening. found her state room filled with
smoke, and at once aroused the occupants
of the adjoining state rooms. In less than
three minutes all the passengers, including
thote in the steerage, were on deck. Most
OF them hurriedly left their berths
hou uuEEleu On uoOks hbblrou IN ntCl6
but their sleeping garments. Strenuous
efforts were instantly made by the crew to
reach the fire. Upon opening the hatohway
adjoining the spot from which the smoke
was issuing tt was ascertained that O por-
tion OF the cotton was on FIRE. Large vol
umes OF water were poured down upon the
burning mass, but with small effect, and
until the steam fire annihilators were used
no diminution Of the fire was visible.
PROVISIONING THE BOATS.
While the captain end engineers were
trying to get the fire under control another
scene presented itself on deck under the
eyes OF the anxious, but well-behaved crowd
Of passengers. Here provisions of all sorts
were being carried by the stewards to the
ships boat in view of tho possible necessity Of
abandoning the vessel. In this work many
Of the male passengers assisted. Through
out the period Of alarm gale
was blowing, and the ship rolled
heavily. During the dark hours of sus-
pense the mass Of the passengers were per-
feotly calm, and most of them were making
preparations to leave the ship. Up till day
light on Wednesday the extent Of the fire
was not known, SO dense was the smoke en-
veloping the decks. The sea, too, became
so heavy that IL would have been almost
impossible for the passengers and crew to
put off in the boats il such q course
had been deemed necessary. Soon after
daylight, however, the captain was able
TO assure the people that there was no inn
mediate danger, but, although the fire had
been checked, it remained smoldering 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 opening
in the vicinity Of the hold had to be closed
in order to prevent the flames being famed
by the gale. The stewards continued their
preparations about the ship and had 1000
pounds OF beef cooked for the boats. Other
stores were also made ready aud moved
away from the vicinity of the fire.
STEAMER sIGNALLED.
Hopes of relief came at o'clock In the
morning, when a.ssail was sighted ahead.
Signals of distress were quickly hoIsted
and rockets fired. but for two hours no
response was obtained. Then the steamer
ahead was seen to slow up and 20 at half
speed, evidently with the intention of wait
ing for the City of Richmond. The vessel
was the Counsellor andlafter an interchange
Of signals she agreed TO remain alongside
the distressed steamer. The extreme dan
ger of the situation was thus averted, and
visible relief was written on the faces OF all
on board. A sad incident occurred at the
moment the Counsellor came alongside of
the City of Richmond, the cap
tain of the former vessel 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 the crew Of the latter
vessel continued TO pour water and steam
upon the burning cotton. In the evening
an attempt made to reach the hold for
the purpose of discovering, II possible,
the extent of the fire. Four smoldering
bales were taken out of the hold, when IL
was found imperative TO shut up everything
in order to exclude the air. All Thursday
the situation continued much the same
There were occasional outbursts of dense
smoke from the bold, but no flames were
visible. There was q heavy sea running all
day.
ANOTHER STEAMER PASSES.
During the day the North German Lloyd's
steamer Allen passed and exchanged signals
Her captain apparently felt that the posi-
tion Of the City of Richmond was secure
with the Counsellor as a convoy, and that it
was unnecessary for him to stop and offer
further assistance. Toward midnight the
Servia bore down toward the two vessels,
and agreed to stay by the City OF Richmond.
The latter and the Servfa then went ahead
at full speed. leaving the Counsellor astern.
Friday the fire In the cotton appeared to
shift from time to time to different parts
OF the hold, but seemed TO be
lessening In intensity. Ia the afternoon
OF that day che Inman Line steamer City Of