The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-09
SHIP ON FIRE AT SEA
Thrilling Story Told by Sailors
of the Belle Of Bath.
WAS BURNED TO WATERS EDGE.
The Men Escaped In Small Boats and
Sailed One Hundred and Fifty Miles to
Effect a Landing-Seamen Were
Accused of starting the Fire.

Accused Of Starting the Fire.
New York, July 6.-on board the
Prince line steamer Sandman Prince,
which has just arrived from South
American ports via Barbados, were
Chief officer T. Cox. Second Officer
George Harris and Is seamen belonging
TO the ship Belle of Bath of Searsport,
Mo, which left this port on June
bound for Hongkong with cargo of
case oil, and which took fire and was
burned at sea on June is.
The vessel quickly became mass Of
flames, and the ships crew were COM
PEELED to take 10 the boats and sailed
distance Of $50 miles to Barbados. which
port was reached on Sunday morning.
the goth. Captain Curtis, the Belle Of
Baths master, remained at Barbados
and expected to sail for home within
few days. G
The following particulars of the loss
Of the vessel was learned from the crew
at quarantine: The Belle of Bath left
New York on June 2. All went we'll un-
til the 9Th. when the vessel was found
TO be leaking. The men were at once
set to work at the pumps. They work.
ed in gangs for nine days, until the
18th, when fire was discovered in the
forecastle.
The captain. on being notified, ran
forward and ordered the matches bat
tened down and the ship hove to. Dense
volumes of black smoke rolled out Of
the forecastle and 1t was evident that
the ship was doomed.
The boats We're provisioned and or
dered to be lowered. Within half an
hour after the alarm was given the ship
was one mass Of flames
The crew got into the three boats and
lay TO 10 leeward of the vessel for
about 10 minutes. when he flames sud
denly burst out, and the vessel became
a mass of flames.
The captain then gave orders to sail
for Barbados and the three boats
reached Carlisle bay within As hours.
The crew could give no reason as to
the cause Of the fire. although 1t was
reported a Barbados that Captain Cur
tbs accused the crew of setting fire to
the ship in order to escape the work at
the pumps.
Crew Denied Firing the Vessel.
This the crew Indignantly denied.
They stated that the vessel had fair
and that the pumps had been kept 60
ing to keep the vessel free. About
p. m. of this date the we'll was sound
ed and the vessel found TO be making
water rapidly.
The entire crew were at once ordered
to the pumps. and they finally succeed
ed in getting her free Shortly after
ward. the leak still continuing, the
men were put in gangs to pump the
vessel day and night. The leak was
kept under control. but after a weeks
constant labor the crew became ex-
hausted.
They bore up bravely until the 18th,
when a strong gale was encountered,
and the leak increased faster than they
could pump il out. They were encour-
aged in their labors by the captain, who
had great hopes of reaching Barbados.
On the 18th two Of the seaman in going
into the forecastle discovered a cloud
of smoke coming up out of the forehold.
They shouted to the second mate. who
rushed forward quickly followed by the
captain.
A moments inspection showed them
the vessels peril. Orders were at once
given to heave the ship to. The yards
We're quickly backed and the three
boats made ready to be lowered to the
water.
The chief officer and eight seamen got
into the first boat. the second mate and
five men into the second. the last boat
containing the captain and the remain
ing five men. The captain was the last
man 10 leave the vessel.
The boats pulled to eeward and lay
to until the masts were burned out of
their vessel, and they then bore away
for Barbados. Under light canvas they
made 100 miles in "a hours and finally
reached Carlisle bay on the goth.
The Belle of Bath registered 1,347
tons and was built at Bath. Me-. in
1877. Captain Curtis was part owner
of the vessel