Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-15
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
From ALI Quarters.
Her CARGO ALL ABLAZE
Fire on the Steamer Servia
While at Sea.
A FATAL tenement HOUSE FIRE.
Sixty Persons Killed in a
Railroad Accident.
LIGHT ON The LOOTED BANK. |
Two Thousand Carcasses
of Beef Burned.
LIGHT ON The LOOTED BANK.
FIRE ON THE SERVIA.

Two Hundred Bales Of Cotton
Ab1aze-A Gale Blowing at the Time
-Passengers Make Preparations to
Leave the Shtp-Some Exciting
Scenes and Incidents.
QUEENSTOWN, June 14.-The Cunard
line steamer Servia, Captain Dutton,
which left New York June 6, arrived here
to-day. The captain reports that at mid
night of Thursday last he sighted the In
man line steamer City of Richmond, Cap
tain Redfern, 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 offer assistance.
The captain of the City of Richmond re-
ported that his cargo was on fire, and the
Servia stood by until Brow Head was
sighted. Captain Redfern reported that
on Tuesday, at midnight, a lady cabin
passenger, upon getting out of her berth,
noticed that the floor of the stateroom was
very hot. She Immediately gave the
alarm to the engineers, who communicated
with the captain, and an examination was
quickly made. This resulted in the dis
forehold and the smell indicated that the
cotton in the hold was on fire. Steam and
water were promptly injected to the hold,
and it is believed the fire was completely
subdued before the City of Richmond
reached Queenstown. The vessel proceed
ed for Liverpool and appeared to DO all
right.
The following additional particulars of
the fire on board the City of Richmond
have been received: The vessel carried
1900 bales of cotton. The lady who gave
the alarm upon awakening found her state
room filed with smoke, and at once aroused
the occupants of the adjoining staterooms.
In less than three minutes all the passen-
gers, including those in the storage, were
on deck. Most of them huIriedly left
their berths and rushed on deck attired in
little but their sleeping garments.
Strenuous efforts were instantly made
by the crew to reach the FIRE. Upon open
ing the hatchway adjoining the spot from
which smoke was issuing it was ascer-
tanned that portion of the cotton was on
FIRE. Large volumes were poured down
upon the burning mass, but with small eff
feet. Until the steam FIRE annihilators
were used no diminution of the fire was
visible.
Throughout tho period of the alarm q
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 day
light on Wednesday the extent of the FIRE
WAS not known, 80 dense was the smoke
enveloping the decks.
At 8 o'clock in the morning the steamer
Counsellor was sighted and after e1-
change of signals she agreed to remain
III cod iroi1anf OF no
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 took command of the
ship and continued to communicate with
the City of Richmond.
Throughout Wednesday water and steam
were constantly poured upon the burning
cotton. In the evening an attempt was
made to reach the hold to discover if pos
sible the extent of the fire. Four smoul-
dering bales were taken out of the hold,
when it was found imperative to shut up
in order to exclude the air. ALI of Thurs
day the situation continued much the
same. There were outbursts of dense
smoke from the hola, but no flames were
visible. There was heavy sea running all
day. Toward midnight the Servia
bore down toward the two vessels
and agreed to stand by the City of
Richmond. The latter and the Servia
then went ahead at full speed, leav-
ing the Counsellor astern. On 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.
On Saturday no smoke was visible, and it
was supposed the fire was out. A number
of cabin passengers were forced to aban-
don their cabins in consequence of the fire
and had not changed their clothes for the
last four days. Many were compelled to
sleep in steamer chairs. The origin
of the fire is supposed to have been spon-
taneous combustion. The passengers were
unanimous in praising the conduct of the
officers and men of the City of Richmond.
AS mark of their appreciation memorial
was presented to the commander of the
vessel, while collection of e70 was taken
up for the benefit of the crew.
The scene on deck after the discovery of
the fire was remarkable, many groups of
women praying fervently and crying, but
no unusual excitement prevailed. A pas
senger says: ''It was fearful night, the
wind screeching through the rigging and
the seas washing over the decks. There was
little of safety in case it should become
necessary to take to the boats. The sus.
pense was terrible but all bore up remarka
BILE, owing to the encouraging words of the
captain and officers. The intermediate
and steerage passengers were comfortably
in staj1ed in the sa1Oons ~