Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-06-15
ITEXANDRTA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Fire on a Steamship

| Fire on steamship
The Cunard steamship Servis. Captain
Dutton, which left Nev York June 6, ar
rived at Queenstown yesterday. The cap
tain reported that at midnight, Thursday
last, he sighted the Iaman Line steamship
City of Richmond, Captain BEDFORD. from
New York, bound for Queenstown and
Liverpool. The latter vessel was flying
signals of distress, end the Servia bore down
to her to offer assistance. The captain OF
the City OF Richmond reported that bis cargo
was on fire, and the Servis stood by and
steamed slowly by the eide OF the City OF
Richmond until Brow Head was sighted.
Captain BEDFORD stated that on Tuesday,
at midnight, q lady cabin passenger upon
awakening found her ststeroom filed wi b
smoke. She at once aroused the occupants
of adjoining staterooms. In less than three
minutes all the passenger, including those
the steerage, were on deck. Most of them
hurriedly left the berths and rushed on
deck attired in little but their sleeping gar.
ments. The scene on deck was remarkable,
many groups of women praying ferVently
and crying, but no unusual excitement pre-
vailed. An examination quickly made By
the captain and the engineers resulted In
the discovery that the smoke was Issuing
from the forehold, and the smell indicated
that the cotton In the hold was on fire.
There were 900 bales In the cargo. Siren
uous efforts we're instantly made by the
crew to reach the fire. Large volumes OF
water were poured down upon the burning
mess, but With small effect Uoti the steam
fire annihilators were used no diminution Of
the fire was visible.
While the captain and engineers we're try
| ing to get the fire under control another
I scene presented itself on deck under the eyea
| of tbs anxious but well-behaved crowd OF
passengers. Here provisions Of all sorts were
being carried by the stewards to the ships
boat, ia view of the possible necessity o.
abandoning the vessel. Ia this work many
OF the male passengers assisted. Through
the period of alarm gale was blowing and
the ship rolled heavily. During the dark
hours of suspense the mass Of the passengers
were perfectly calm, most of them making
preparations to leave the ship. Until dag
] light on Wednesday the extent of the fire
| was not known, 40 dense was the smoke en-
veloping the decks. The sea, too, became
30 heavy that it would have been almost i'm
possible for the passengers aud cle Y to put
off in the boats if such course had been
dee med necessary. Soon after daylight, how
ever. the captain was able to assure the peo-
pie that there was no Immediate danger.
But although the fire had been checked, it
remained emoulderlng 10 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 thet every aperture
In the vicinity OF the hold had to be closed In
order TO prevent the flames being famed BY
the gale. The stewards continued theil
| no ahi
| Hopes of relief came at o'clock In tho morn
ing. when sail wsG sighted ahead. Signals Of
distress wero quickly hoisted ana rockets fired,
but for two hours 10 response WAS elected. Then
the steamer ahead was seen to slow up and go at
half speed evidently with the intention Of wait.
ing for the City of Richmond. This steamer WAS
| the British steamer Counselor, OF tho Hanson
Line, bound from New Orleans for Liverpool,
and after an interchange OF signals, she sgreed to
/ remain alongside the distressed steamer. The
| extreme danger of the situsto on was thus avorted
and visible relief was written on the faces Of all
| on board.
A sad incident occurred at the moment the
Counselor came alongside the City of Richmond,
| the captain of the former steamer suddenly fall
| ing dead on the deck of his vessel. The chief
off or of the Cou nselOr upon the death of his su-
perior officer took command Of The ship and con-
| tinued to communicate with the City OF Rich-
| mCnd.
Throughout Wednesday the Of the latter
vessel continued to pour wator and steam upon
! the burning cotton. In tho evening an attempt
was mado to reach the hold for tho purpose of dis
covering IL possible the extent Of the fire. Four
| smoudering bales were taken out OF the hold,
| when it was found imperative to shut up every
\ thing in order to exclude the air. All OF Thurs
| day the situation continued much the same There
| were occasional outbursts of dense smoke from
| the hold, but no fl amos were visible. There was
| heavy sea running all day. During the day the
North -German Lloyd steamer Aler passed and
| exchanged signals Her captain apparently felt
| the position of tho City OF Richmond WAS secure
with tho Counselor as convoy, and that it was un.
ecesssry for him to stop and offer further assist
! ancc. Toward midnight the Servis bore down to-
| ward the two vessels and agreed to stay by tho
CITY of Richmond Tho latter and the Serva
| then went ahead at full speed. leaving tho Coun
| selor astern.
On Friday the fire in tho hold appeared to shift
from timo to time to different parts OF the hold.
| but seemed to DO lessening in intt nsity In the
afternoon of that day the 1nmsn Line steamer
| City Of Paris WAS sighted, and shortly sfterwa'd
| she bore down toward tho Richmond and Servs.
When near the latter vessel the captain OF the
City of Paris put eff in boat and boarded tho
servia, where he was joined by the captain of the
| City OF Richmond Tho throe captains then hold
| q conference, aud il was agreed that the City OF
Paris shou proceed on the way to New York and
that the Servis should remain in company with
the City OF Richmond. On Saturday no smoke
was visible and the fire was out The origin Of
the FIRE is supposed to. have beon spontaneous
combustion.
The Killing Of Young flanagan
The coroner held en- Inquest In tne Hains-