The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-13
story of the Calamity.

New York, May 0.--The Mallory line
steamship Leona. bound from this port
for Galveston, put back. arriving at her
dock about 8 o'clock, almost completely
destroyed by fire. The fire made such
rapid Roadway that before the passen-
gors in the stecrage could be awakened
thirteen Of them were suifocated and
died.
The Leona left her pier Saturday at
} p. m. bound for Galveston. She
carried n general cargo of merchandise.
Capt. Wilder was in command, with
First Mate Wallace and Second Mate
Sweeney assisting.
The chief engineer was Taylor, with
three assistants and n crew of about
sscventy-five men, including tiremen and
deab hands.
Among the passengers was S. "
Winslow of Rutherford. y. j. On his
return to this city late tonight Mr.
Winslow told the following graphic story
of the affair:
I'VE left the pier at o'clock yester
day afternoon with clear skies and beau
ltiful weather We passed through, max
ing excellent time, the chief engineer
congratulutng himself that all was well
.flnd even making the remark to one of
niS assistants that he could not believe
this, good luck could continue. for the trip
pices.
SANDY Hook was passed, and the
lights of the Jersey shore were still visi-
ble when we went to bed The pas
sengers in the steeragc had also re-
tired 20 their hunks.
1.-The watch going off ut ~ o'clock re.
Z ported everything well. There was no
5 suspicion of any fire or other trouble.
1ihe sea was very smooth and there was
no wind The moon was shining
brightly.
First Mate Wallace was pacing the
bridge about Il. M, when he thought
he smeled smoke coming from the fore
castle. He went down the forward COM
panionway and opened the door to the
steerage. The moment he did this there
was n burst of flames which burned his
face. Wallace turned and ran on deck
and cried the alarm of fire to the for
ward watch, telling him to wake the
steward and have all the passengers
aroused as quickly as possible without
creating any excitement. The steward
did this in Il quiet manner, going to each
state room and waking the occupants.
HE said in calm tone that there
was slight fire in the forward part of
the ship and it might be advisable for
the passengers to get their things to-
gether. 1t might be possible, he added,
TINT the ship would have eventually to
fbe abandoned.
"There was no excitement among the
salon passengers. Almost all of them
packed their luggage and carried it from
their state rooms on to the main salon.
They gathered in the salon and remained
there, and after the officers assured them
there was no immediate danger they
took matters quietly.
The steward made frequent trips for.
ward and came back with reports of the
progress of the flames. He said the fire
was confined below deck. and as the
tlames did not rise very high the passen-
gers did not fully realize the extent of
their peril.
Capt. Wilder rushed on deck at the
nrst alarm, clad only in an undershirt
and trousers. He assumed command
and ut once ordered the crew to rescue
the 'steerage passengers.
ION the same deck with the steeragc
on The port side of the ship large
quantity of cotton bagging was stored
separated from the steerage passengers
by board partition.
1.-THE main deck was almost complete
~ filled with freight cutting of all exit
from the steerage to the after part OF
the ship. The only way out from tn,
steerage was up the forward companion
way. The crew. on the captains or
doris, rushed for the companion way ant
sattempted to descend. They wer,
driven back by dense volumes of smoke
which were quickly followed by flames
The smoke and flame also came III
through the ventilators. and it was ap
parent that below decks was roarin.
furnace.
.'Then it dawned on the officers an,
crew that the unfortunates in the steer
age were probably burning to death
Capt. Wilder saw his crew driven bacl
from the companionway, and the realiza
sion of the horror made him desperate.
'"He rushed to the stairs and attempte,