The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-29
RESCUED AT SEA.
Story Of the Burning of the
Steamer Santiago.
Crew and Passengers Picked Up by the A. ]
Fuller-Captain Colcord Rewarded for
His Timely Assistance.

The neatest ship that has entered San
Francisco harbor for a long time is now
lying at FremOnt-street Wharf. She is the
American ship A. j. Fuller, and is COM
manded by Captain Colcord. No yacht
could be neater or cleaner than this fine
vessel, which is credit TO her officers and
to the flag she flies. The captain is as proud
of her as of the fine gold watch and chain
he wears, which were presented to him by
the owners of the famous Wilson line of
steamers running out of Hull, as a slight
recOmpense for the service he rendered in
rescuing the crew and passengers of the
steamer Santiago, which was burned at sea
last November.
The story of the burning and rescue is as
follows: The steamer left New York No
vember 8, 1890, bound to Hull, with a full
cargo of cotton, corn. tallow, bacon and
lard. Soon after leaving port the cotton,
which vas slowed aft, was discovered to be
on fire. and. in spite of all that could be
done. soon communicated to the rest of the
cargo anu in few hours the ship was a
floating furnace.
A DREADFUL POSITION.
Owing to the hard work done by the Off
GERS and men the fire was kept in check Tor
several hours. By that time the heat was
so great from the inflammable nature of the
cargo that the strong steel beams and tn
ships sides were warped out OF all shape,
and the heat on deck was so great that
every one on board had to retreat to the for
ward part Of the steamer
AS the day wore on anxious eyes scanned
the horizon in hopes of seeing a friendly
sail or the smoke of sOmr passing steamer
In the tween decks over $50 head of cattle
were penned up, and as the fire increased
the efforts OF the maddened brutes to break
out were fearful. Many of the animals
were trOdden to death in the wild rush that
followed the appearance of devOuring
flames and the next moment they broke
through the heavy pens as though they were
paper.
The crew at once lowered the boats, and
In spite of the fact that a heavy sea was
running got off every one in safety. All
night Icing the unfortunate people remained
close to the burning steamer while the flames
lit up the ocean for miles around. By mid
night the sides of the vessels were red hot,
and the steel masts were warped and twisted
like cOTKScrews. The condition of the poor
people was not an enViable one, and to make
matters still worse one of their number was
sick lady with child only year old.
They bad 10 food nor water in the boats,
and their only salvation lay in being picked
up by some passing vessel.
THE FULLER TO THE RESCUE.
Nor were they disappointed, for when day.
light broke they saw a large ship bearing
down toward them under all sail. She
proved to be the American ship A. J. Fuller.
bound from Liverpool to New York. Her
crew had seen the fire during the night when
fully thlrtY-fve miles away and Captain
COlcord at once bore down to see what the
matter was.
1t took but short time to transfer the
people from the boats to the deck of the ship,
where they were given dry clothes and
made as comfortable as possible Captain
COlcord gave up his room to the sick
woman and did everything in his power
for the poor creatures cast upon his bounty.
The Fuller remained by the burnin &
steamer until she sank, and then continued
her voyage to New York, where she arrived
seven days later and landed her passengers
in safety