Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-05-15
A DAYS TRAGEDIES.
Steamer Puts Back With Six
teen Charred Corpses.
Ship Aba ndoncd and Burned Tug
Boat Sinks Schooner.

NEW YORK, May 13-Thc Mallory line
steamship Leona, which sailed from this
port on Saturday afternoon, put back on
Monday morning, still hot and blistered
from fierce fire that had ragged in her for
ward hold, and with sixteen charred corpses
where the blaze hal been. Thirteen pas
sengers, two stewards and n butcher per-
ished. The Leona is one of the regular
passenger and freight carriers of the NAL
lory fleet. She was bound for Galveston,
and had twenty-five steerage passengers in
her tween deck" quarters, and was laden
with n general cargo. The vessel was com
manded by Captain Wilder, Il mariner well
known in this port.
The vessel lett the pier with clear skies
md fine weather. BY the time Barnegat
light was passed, at 10 o'clock, all the pas
sengcrs were in bed. The watch going off
at II o'clock reported everything well. The
sea was very smooth and there was no wind.
The moon was shining brightly. First Mate
Wallace was pacing the bridge about am,
when he thought he smelled smoke coming
from the forecastle. He went down the for
ward companionway and opened the door
to the Storage. The instant he did this
there was a burst of flame that burned his face
and scorched of his eyebrows and mustache.
He reported to the e plain who at once
assumed command. Sa ODn passengers were
notified that there was slight blaze but no
danger, but they all took their effects to the
main saloon. As the fierce fire did not show
on the outside they were not alarmed. 1t
was impossible to get at the steerage pas
sengers who were burning to death. although
the most desperate and self-sacritcng eff
forts 50 to do were made. The rest of the
story is quickly told. Or and
passengers fought nobly. At daylight
on Sunday morning the steamer City of
Augusta bound for Savannah hove In sight
and the passengers we're transferred TO her.
The crew continued to fight the fire until
o'clock when they got it under control.
Then tho passengers were re-transferred,
the Savannah bound steamer went on her
way. and the Leona, her exhausted crew,
her living and her CHASTITY dead freight put
back to New York under her own steam and
little more than an iron shell.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j.. May 13-With
the entire hold raging mass of flames the
fun rugged ship Francis of New Bedford, l12
days ont from San Francisco and on route
for Now York with an assorted cargo of gen.
eral merchandise valued at over 1850, 900 has
been driven on tho shoals of tho Little Egg
Harbor inlet deserted and the shi is burned
to the water line. Vessel and cargo are q
total loss. Tho story of tho discovery Of
the fire, the panic which followed, and the
four days fight with the flames in midocean
before the ship was deserted form thrill
ing chapter of maritime history.
Trouble began with gales and head winds
while Off the South America coast. On May
fire was discovered in cotton bales and
Notwithstanding the fierce endeavors of Of
fcers and crew constantly gained. On Sun
day afternoon. when the ship was just off
this city, Captain Smith recognized that it
was useless to attempt longer to gave his
craft, and gave orders that n course be
steered for the nearest available beach, in
order that the crew might be- saved. The
wind was dead ahead and 1t was only
after five hours of mingled navigating and
heroic fire fighting, with the deck blistering
under their feet, that the crew finally sue
Little Egg Harbor shoals, just opposite Short
beach.
Hero the life saving crew Joined hands
with the crew in final effort to subdue the
flames, and their efforts were supplemented
by the tug James McCuly, which hove to and
for several hours threw stream upon the
burning ship and cargo to no avail. The
men fought like demons, but the flames
steadily gained ground. At $50 o'clock on
Monday morning the tiny tongues of flame
began to creep through the deck, and orders
were given to abandon the ship. Then a
scene of panic followed. The crow of the
Francis, composed principally of Swedes,
boats, only to be driven back and cowed by
Delaying pins in the hands OF their officers
and the lfesavers. All were finally gotten
into the boats and the shore reached. Not
even personal luggage was saved.
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass, May 13-The
tug Paoli, Captain Harding, collided with
and sank the schooner Annie T.. Rudolph Of
Camden, N. j., Off the Nauset lights. The
latters skipper, Captain Caroline Mate
Smell and a Norwegian seaman called Bob |
were drowned The collision between tho |
tug and tn schooner occurred about three |
and one-half miles southeast OF the three |
lights which surmount the bluff of Nauset |
just before daybreak. The Paoli was on her |
way from Boston. bound for South AmbOy, |
with the barges Braddock, STAFFORD and |
Moore strung out on long line behind, |
making a tow of nearly half lie. The |
of the appearance of the schooner
are conflicting, and it is said that
she carried no lights. Her approach, |
however, was very sudden, and |
before the tug could swerve from her course, |
hampered as she was somewhat by the |
bargos astern, the two vessels came together.
The crash was terrific, the sharp prov of the
tug plunging into the schooner's side and
tearing hole into which tons of water
rushed. The schooner careened under the
crew of either vessel realized what had Oc-
Cured she plunged downward into the
ocean. The crew of the tug were Mortified I
at the sudden disappearance of the schooner.
One minute before she had been before Them
and then she seemed to vanish sinking out
Of sight like phantom. The Paolfs crew