The evening world., 1893-10-27
FIRE FIGHT
AT SEA.

CONTINUED from First Puoe.)
continued to rise from the hold. capt
Kaempff then ordered the deck to be
flooded. This was done, the passengers
climbing to the upper deck and to the
~forecastle. .
An effort was then mad to flood out
the fire by cutting holes through the
deck into the storage through which to
rass liner OF hose. Smoke came through
the holes SO thick and fast. however,
that the plan had to be abandoned as
A was apparent that the draugH Gre
ated by the openings was likely to de-
velop the fire into one of uncontrollable
proportions.
An ATTEMPT to descend from the over
deck to the fire by way Of the main
hatch was also given up on the same
account. Then ali openings were closed
10 await daylight. When daylight came
several other attempts to enter the
steerage were made. but without sue
cess.
1t was then discovered that the fire
was eating it's way forward. This was
demonstrated by the greatly increased
temperature of the saloon.
Carpets were hurriedly taken UP,
some of the passengers assisting the
crew in the work.
These carpets were soaked with sea
water and laid along the deck to help
smother the fire. The smoke in the
mean time began to find Its way up
through the deck seams.
No ship had yet been sighted anywhere
along the horizon, and so no signals Of
distress were set.
A pickup" meal had been prepared
by the steward, but the passengers were
30 much worried and wrought up that
only a few of them partook OF the meal.
Those who did ate s%paringly, without
appetite, and apparently only to fort!fy
themselves for still more startling ex-
periences, which they expected.
The search for the fire and for means
to reach 1t was kept up without inter-
= mission through the day, Oct. %. Capt.
Kaempff personally experimenting the
WORK.
During the afternoon one of the Of
xlcers discovered that the steel plates
along the starboard side of the ship
were becoming hot, and he so reported
10 Capt. Kaempff.
This news made the bearded old vet
.eran of the l~ine-whose reputation for
carefulness and good management. az
well as good fortune. Is International
look serious. What II the plates should
become sufficiently heated to expand.
In hat case the rivets would DO
drawn and seam opened in the side
hat might allow the sea to rush in n
sink the ship.
The fire brigade was Immediately d.
vided up into gangs. to one of which
was intrusted the duty of keeping these
steel plates cool at any hazard. This was
done by hoisting water from the sea to
the deck and then letting 1t flow down
che side over the plates.
In this way, the passengers, alternate
ly assisting the c"ev' and watching for
q sig,! Of a passing steamer, spent that
day INT night.
Tuesday morning early, Capt. kaempft
came to the conclusion that heroic
measures must be taken at once, the
fire having given no indication OF dying
out from lack OF draught.
He called the crew together. n I'M
der his instructions the main hatch was
torn of and streams OF water turned
into the hold.
At great risk OF suffocation, urged on
by their sturdy old commander. the sail.
ors. working in short shifts. dropped
into the hold and battled with the flames
with great energy.
Smoke-begrimed men crawled out o,
the hold from time to time during the
day. and as they did others took thell
places
By nightfall the flames were under
control. and feelings of relief succeeded
those OF grave apprehension.
. Worn out with anxiety and watching
cabin and Storage passengers disposed
themselves about the deck for sleep
Early next morning. Wednesday, Oct
Is, Capt. Kaempff set a gang of men a
work hoisting from the hold that par
OF the cargo that had been on fire
Bone of the goods were still burning.
All the burning and all the remnant
OF that part of the cargo which ha,
been on fire were cast into the sea.
The fire. 1t was then discovered, ha
broken out in the after hold. anon
some bales Of bed feathers on the star
board side. 1t had spread aft and de
stroyed a number of boxes OF starch
rubber. beer in barrels, millet in bales
boxes of music and a lot Of toys.
The fire had its origin, 1t is supposed
In spontaneous combustion.
The remainder OF the voyage wa
without adventure.
This is the list Of the Gellert's cabi
passengers:
Mr.. Ad Barkowski. Mrs. Ad Barlow.
XII and child. DR.. Franz Borsodi, MIR
DR.. Bertha Borsodi, Miss Etelka Borsod
Mr.. Walter Newman, Miss Gertrud OF
mann. Felicia Rusch, Mr.. Geo. Sande
Mr.. Rud. Conrad, Ernst Ehrlich, Osca
e Falk. Louis b. Friedman, Gustav Fe
wusch. Mrs. Caroline Goldstrom. NJ
Wilhelm Grashoff, Miss Olga GrunberI
Mr.. C. w. Schubert, Mrs. Soph
Schwabe. Mr.. Albert S~chwahe, f,
win Schwabe, Miss r. schlesse