The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19
STORY OF HARDSHIPS AT SEA
Graphic Account Of an Experience On he
Steamer Finance.
Battle FOR LIFE WITH THE FLAMES.
After = Heroic Struggle with tho tire In
the ship /, Was Estingui'hed' but the
Storm Ragged On-Iinally the sun
Came out and All Went We'll.

New York Tor Panama. N"'h ouN on N"'
ocean only one day. the Columbian Line
steamer Finance. on which MI. Michel
bacher was a passenger. was struck by
q severe storm. as has already been
stated I'm tho columns Of The Times, aud
ct the same time the crew had to fight
a Ere that had broken out on board or
the vessel.
The following IS an extract from let
ter written by Mr.. Micholhachcr 10 his
family Ia this city. IN regard TO bis ex-
pcrionce on his sea-vOyage. The latter
was received here on Friday morning The
81 inst. from Panama. Mr.. Michelbacher
Is on his way 10 Valparaiso chile. where
he viii assume charge Of the largest
cigarette factory In South America. The
Uncle Chris" referred 20 in the letter Is
Mr.. Chris Evensen, OF lie East Main
street, IN this city.
THE LETTER.
We sailed from New York on Tuesday
the 10Th, at 1885 Il. NJ, nj sea during a
snowstorm. and passed Sandy Hook at
3 o'clock The sea was calm and all went
well for that day. on Wednesday, The
I.th at breakfast. the first officer Hr.
Curtis. whom ! sat next TO at the table,
In reply 10 my question Of how he cS-
pectcd the weather would he for our
frip. said IN a very dubious way, that
he could not exactly say, but that ne
thought the chances were that we would
have a blow of Hattoras. That his
words were true you will soon know
About noon the sea began 10 get rough,
and the wind 10 blow. every moment II
increased. higher and higher the waters
dashed, norcor and fcrcer the wind blew
from a blow IL increased 10 n gale, from
a gale 10 a tempest. from tempest to
n hurricane We were then about 10
miles on Virginia Reach. and was wisn-
ing that the Captain would decide 10 Try
and make Norfolk. All Of sudden rs il
IN answer 10 my wishes, the vessel was
headed for the west. but they could make
no Roadway against the storm, and her
course was again altered. going to the
South. II was now dark. and the roar
and crash Of wind and waves was horri-
bic. our vessel was tossed about by the
elements. as II 10 were but a nutshell
How the boat lived in such storm 600
only knows. Everything was made iast
and 10 one was allowed on deck. FIRST
n crash on one side and then on announcer
Every wave cleared the decks. First we
would be riding mountain high. then the
vessel would give a dive deep down IN
the sea and Il seemed as If an age would
mass before she would right herself
Every dip I expected TO be her last al
every rise 1 expected her TO rise no more
but CALAMITY she kept on. II was pat
tie royal between man and nature ana
each time man conquered. Again, again
the waves and winds returned to the on
slaught. only TO be dashed back again.
At each tack the vessel would moan
and SILVER from bow 10 stern. only 10
moan and SILVER again. Every passenger
on the vessel excepting Spaniard ana
myself thanks TO Uncle Chris's remedy
was sick. Every one despaired, no one
exnccted the vessel 20 go through IT. We
were now of Hatteras, Immediately III
the Gulf Stream. This point have since
been told. is the most dangerous on the
Atlantic Coast IN q terrible hurricane.
Every moment We expected TO be our
last (on8 I was well enough TO know all
that was going on, those who were SICK
did not care what happened; they tell
me that is how you feel when you are
eeasick) Tired Of being knocked around,
went 10 my state-room.
THE VESSEL WAS AFIRE.
suddenly heard the order, 'All hands
on deck" l put on my cap 10 see what
this strange command could mean IN
such a sea. and as quick as any of the
crew. / was on deck, too. and imagine
~ You can. my feelings when I heard
the second order come, "All hands for
rard 70 fight the fire." The vessel was
afre. Seventy miles from shore with
the vessel at the mercy OF the waves
with a sea I'm which no boat could i've!
Morclful Father. spare me from another
such experience. during the TOUR ana
half hours we fought the fire.
lived an age and suffered an eternity
Tho fire was In what they call the ships
locker where they store the supplies
such as ropes. paints. canvasses, ETC.
md only a wooden partition separates II
from the hold, which contained an as
sorted cargo. amongst which was Den
zine. turpentlnc. oils. etc, truly ter
rible cargo 20 have aboard q vessel aiire.
II was about twelve o'clock when the IRE
was discovered. Capt. DAILY took charge
Of tho vessel. going on the bridge, and
Mr.. Curtis was given charge Of the crew
10 fcht the FIRE. We could not get al H.
the smoke was sitting six OF the men
were overcome. and had 10 be carried
aloft This band Of heroes worked ana
toned, but Il seemed IN vain. Five streams
were poured down in the locker. but
hotter grew the blaze. lurch or the
ship. apd the quartermaster fell WIN
broken collar-bone, a sailor with n broken
arm. Slowly and surely was the IRE Get
ting away from control. Mr.. Bins, tho
assistant purser, was given several men,
with orders 10 move the benzine ana
other explosive stuns aft, ana when they
went 10 move Il the cans were so hot
that IL blistered the mems hands 10 touch
them. Seeing that the IRE was getting
bevoud control. Mr.. Curtis resolved TO DO
the heroic Turning around he said. Men
Il il life or death. and better TO die as
men than 10 die withou, trying, we must
ge, closer TO that fire. IL Is our only
chance come follow me then, those WHO
will" As II by machinery every man
ana every hose sprang forward 10 the
narrow steps up which the flames ana
smoke was pouring. curtis I'm front WIN
the first hose: az times you could not see
MIN so surrounded would he bo ty
names and smoke. and behind him, WORK
inc as he never worked before, was yours
tr,,lv. with a sponge I'm his MOUTH hsht-
tr, for life and thinking OF home. BIND
ed az times. / thought l would SINK
Gradually We began 10 get the upper
ham. when suddenly, the CHER I'm
gineer sent word that II was imposainie
20 punp any more water, saying thdt 'he
men were up TO their waists in water
win four Of tho fires OF the boilers al
ready out. and more water would put
them all out. Now for this TO happen,
meant that with fire out, we could tot
get any more water through the hose
and there would be no way to propel the
chip. God help u.s." cried Curtis we
are then indeed doomed
went on deck. rocket after rocket, was
being fred / have seen many rockets
fred before. but never any that so burnt
In my soul. none so beautiful and so ter
rod