The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-19
flames began crowding higher and

the companionway and through the
ventilators, had no effect save to send
up the smoke in great puffs and cause
angry spurts of fire to dart menacing.
ly into the faces of the crew.
"When the news OF the fire reached
the lower depths OF the ship, where
the stokers were feeding the boilers,
they deserted their posts, and rushed
to the deck, eighteen of them in all.
They clambered into the second boat
on the port side, cutting it away. First
Officer Wallace and Chief Engineer
Taylor were after them in moment
"Get out OF that boat" Numbered
Wallace. The stokers refused to
obey and went on cutting away the
lashings OF the boat. Come out OF
that boat" replied Taylor, reaching
his hand for his revolver. 'I'll shoot
the man who cuts away the boat"
The Spaniards looked at the chief
engineer and then sullenly obeyed.
During the excitement of the first
half hour we did not know that any
one had gotten out of the steerage
alive, but later we found in the cabin
that eight OF them had managed to
get out. Their hunks had been near.
est to the companionway and they had
been awakened by the part of the crew
rushing out Of the forecastle. Being
so near the stairs they had climbed
out even before the first officer had
rushed on the first swell above decks.
Among those saved was an old man
aud his wife aud two sons, young
Euglishman and two other young men
bound for Los Angeles.
SIN the extreme bow of the ship was
the forecastle, where two watches OF
about twenty or thirty men were
sleeping. They being light sleepers
they were aroused at the first alarm
and waited for nothing. They ran
through the narrow passageway to the
stairs already filled with smoke, and
gained the deck just in time. Most
OF them had scarcely any clothing on
and none had saved a mess kit. Two
walters and cook who were slow to
rush cut, lost their lives. When they
tried to follow their companions the
passageway was filled with fire, and
it was too late.
"By the stairs and the forecastle was
the steerage, on The port side rolls of
cotton ba gging stored in the unocupied
hunks. In this bagging the fire started
from spontaneous combustion, 50 the
captain thought. 1t burned so quick
ly and so fercely it was like
the flash of a tinder box. The
steerage passengers. few of whom
understood English, did not compre'
hend the cry of fire, and so lost the
opportunity of escaping at the same
time with the crew. For the first half
hour the captain, first and second off
GERS and crew devoted their energy
and attention to s1bduing the flames,
hoping that perhaps they might be
able to get down to tie Imprisoned
people, We were we'll out to sea by
this time. The flames gained steadily.
They began to work aft through
the cargo on the main deck.
Thea there was a frash burst OF
flames. and the sailors were
driven back from where they were
holding lines of hose. Tne tira creps
up through cracks about the pilot
house and then into the house itself.
The auartermaster stuck to the wheel
until the famss almost enveloped him.
Captain Wilder ordered signal lights
of distress burned. Along the rail OF
the port side men were stationed to
give signals.
THE flames forward had broken
through the deck, making greater
light than the colored signals, but they
did not tell the same story Of distress
In a very few minutes, there flashed
up in the darkness far to the north, an
ans wering signal. In little while.
we could see the vessels side lights
and then the day began to break and
when the sun was just rising this vel
come saviour hove to by US and we
saw that she wss the City Of Augusta,
of the Savannah line. Just as soon as
the signals of distress had besn an
swered all the crew were sent back to
their posts to fight the FIRE that was
gaining STEADILY all the time, working
its way further and further aft.
The passengers were all transferred
to the City of Augustain in safety and
the work of fighting the fire was con
tinued. About 9 o'clock in the morn.
ing the flames were under control and
the steamer out of danger. The pas
sengers were sent back to the Lsona
and the City of Augusta continued on
her way to Savannah. The Leona put
about and returned to port under own
steam.
The deck for ward of the pilot house
was burned away leaving the iron
cross bsams bare and red hot. The
heavy anchors dropped down below,
their fastening twisted and broken.
The iron platings of the ships glide
glowed red hot. At the Mallory line
pier tonight, but little information
was given out in regard to the disaster.
Finally at late hour Mr.. Mallory
made a brief statement in which he
said sixteen people were dead. The
bodies were all aboard the steamship
and watchmen had been placed there
| to guard them. At a still later hour
coroner had gone to the scene to
make an investigation.
Turkish Barbarities.
The Athens correspondent of the
London Daily Chronicle says: NJ
Ralli, premier, showed me dispatches
and reports from Colonel Manos and
| ill a,,fhnnikion In IN nin11s