The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-05-22


Alfred Hardy. New FORK.
Alfred Lang, New York.
II. Hartmann, New York.
The passengers were all transferred
to the city of Augusta In safety and
the work of fighting the fire was con-
tinued.
About 8 o'clock in the morning the
flames We're under control and the
steamer out of danger. The passenger
were sent back to the Leona and the
City of Augusta continued on her way
to Savannah.
The Leona put about and returned
to port under her own steam.
The Leona left her pier Saturday at
8 p. M, bound for Galveston, with elev-
en- saloon passengers. She carried a
general cargo of merchandise. Captain
Wilder was in command, with First
Mate Wallace and Second Mate Swee-
ney assisting. The chief engineer was
John Taylor, with three assistants, and
a crew of about seventy-five men, in
Guiding fremen M deck hands.
Story of the Fire.
An incipient mutlny among Italian
stokers, who fought to desert the ves-
sci and had to be beaten back to their
posts, added vivid coloring to the tragic
voyage.
At l O'Clock Sunday morning, when
the Leona was Off the Delaware break
water, a fierce fire broke out In the for
ward cargo compartment underneath
the steerage, in which twenty-three pas
sengers and some of the crew were
asleep. First Mate Wallace, who dis
covered the fire, aroused the captain
and crew and Immediately efforts were
made to ave the lives Of the Storage
passengers. With the first alarm OF
fire the Italian stokers in the hold
rushed up on the deck and tumbling into
one Of the lifeboats were about to swing
it off the davits when Wallace saw
them. Calling the captain to his assist
ance he pulled the Italians out Of the
boat after a stubborn fight and they
We're driven forward to assist other
members of the crew in fighting the
fire. The flames gained Roadway. Cap
tain Wilder sen up signal after signal
for assistance. Sailors jumped down on
the steerage deck, but We're forced back
by the flames. The steerage was
charged with mok Inc the glimpse
that the sailors got of it showed the un-
fortunates in there trying to get out
of their hunks. while some of those who
had got out were huddled upon the floor
unconscious Captain Wilder and g.
couple of volunteers dashed into the
steerage despite the moke and flames
and dragged out as many passengers as
they could and then returned for q
breath OF air. They started again, but
saw it to be suicide to attempt another
venture. For three hours the officers
and men battled with the flames. The
cabin passengers who had been awak-
ened turned out of their state rooms in
night clothes. and 1t was with great Diff
iculty they were quieted by the sailors.
Rockets were sent up every few min
utes, but not an answering signal was
seen. OF the loss of life that occurred
in the quarters Of their poorer fellow
passengers those in the saloon knew,
nothing. They did not know h the
entire forward part of the steamer was
a fiery furnace. But then, even the men
who were fighting the fire could only
guess what had happened to the missing
emigrants. About daybreak signals for
assistance were answered by the steam
er City of Augusta, which left his port
shortly after the Leona on the way to
Savannah.
A half hour later, or about S o'clock / in
the morning the City Of Augusta hove
alongside the burning steamer. The sa-
DON passengers were transferred to the
Iity of Augusta in safety, and the work
If fighting the fire was continued.
About 9 O'Clock in the morning the
flames We're under control and the
steamer out of danger. The passengers
were sent back to the Leona, and the
City of Augusta continued on her way
20 Savannah. The Leona put about and
returned to port under her own steam.
An examination of the Storage COM
partment was made as soon az the ship
cooled off sufficiently and thirteen
corpses were discovered. Their atti-
tudes showed that they were trying to
escape when death found TIM. Some
lay huddled In a heap. Others We're on
their knees with hands outstretched as
IT to grope their way through the dark
ness and binding smoke. Nine of them
sere burned SO horribly that they were
utterly unrecognizable. The flesh on
their features was gone. n in places
the naked bones, charred and blackened,
we're disclosed to view.
A of the Leona's cargo consisted
of matches, which were stored near the
wheel house, and 1t is possible the fire
was caused by the matches. The dam
age to the vessel and cargo is extensive.
This morning Coroner Hoebe r boarded
the Leona and viewed the bodies. He
asked a number Of questions regarding
the breaking out Of the fire, the means
OF egress which passengers had, etc.
Then he turned to Mallory and said: II
consider 1t my duty to put Captain Will
der under arrest pending Investigation
Into this deplorable accident. But l do
not wish to put him to any unnecessary
Inconvenience n will accept Mallory's
assurance that he will not run away"
This being given the formalities were
ended.
Early this morning the coroner re-
moved h bodies to the morgue. An
INQUEST will be held later.