Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-15
DOWN TODEATH.
A Frightful Railway Wreck.
Sixty People Killed.
FATE OF AN EXCURSION PARTY.
Disastrous Fire on the Steamer City of Rich
mond. from New York to Liverpool.
The Prince of Wales and His Sporting
Propensities Handled From the
Pulpit Bismarck
Has Lumbago.
FATE OF AN EXCURSION PARTY
A Steamer on Fire.

QUEENSTOWN, June 1.-THE Cunard line
steamer SerVia. Capt. Button, which left
New DIRK recently. arrived here to-day.
The captain reports that at midnight of
Thursday last he sighted the lnman line
steamer City of Richmond, Capt. ReGforL,
from New York June 3, bound for this port
and Liverpool. Later the vessel was flying
signals of distress, and the Servia bore
down to her to offer assistance. The cap
tain 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 the PROV
head was sighted Capt BEDFORD reported
that on Tuesday at midnight a lady cabin
passenger, upon getting up out of her berth,
found her state room filed with smoke,
and at once aroused the occupants of the
adjoining state rooms. In less than three
minutes all the passengers, including those
in the steerage, were on deck in their
sleeping garments. Strenuous efforts were
instantly made by the crew to reach
the fire. Upon opening the hatchway
adjoining the spot from which the smoke was
issuing, 1t was ascertained that portion OF
the cotton of which there was 1000 bales
was on fire. Large volumes of water were
poured upon the burning mass, but with
small effect. Until the steam fire annihilators
were used no diminution of the fire was
visible. While the captain and engineers
were trying 10 get the fire under con
troll another scene presented itself
on deck under the eyes of the anxious but
well behaved crowd of passengers. Her
provisions of all sorts were being carried
by stewards to the ships boats, in view of
the possible necessity of abandoning tue
vessel. In this many of the passengers
assisted. Throughout the period of the
alarm a gale was blowing and the ship
rolled heavily. During the dark hours
of suspense the mass of passengers
We're perfectly calm, most of them making
preparations to leave the ship. Until day
light on Wednesday the extent of the fire
was not known. so dense was the smoke
enveloping the decks. The sea, too. became
so heavy that it would have been almost
impossible for the passengers and crew to
put off in boats, if such course had been
deemed necessary. Soon after day
light, however, the captain was able
TO assure the people that there was no I'M
mediate danger. but although the fire had
been checked, it had remained smolder-
ing in the mass of cotton, and might break
into flames at any moment. 1t was impos-
sibe to discover the extent of the fire,
owing TO the fact that 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 stew
ards continued the preparation to abandon
the ship. Two thousand pounds or beef
was cooked for the boats, and other stores
were also made ready and moved away from
the vicinity of the flames. Hopes of relief
came at S O'Clock in the morning when q
sail was sighted ahead.