The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-10

large quantity Of cotton baggins We
stored separated from the steerago pas-
sopscrs by board partition. Tho main
deck was almost completely flied with
freight. cutting Off all exit from the steer-
age to the af,orpart OF the ship. Tho only
way out from tho STORAGE was UP the
forward companion way.
"The crew. on the captains orders. rush.
cd for the companion way and attempted
to descend. They we're driven back by
dense volumes Of smoke and flames quick
| ly followed. The smoke and flame also
came up through the ventilators and 1t
was apparent that below decks was u roar
ing furnace.
Then 1t dawned on tho officers aud crew
that the unfortunatcs In tho stecragc were
probably burning 90 death. Captain Will
der saw his crew driven back from tho
companion way and tho realization OF the
horror below made him desperate.
'ilo rushed to the stairs and attempted
| to 70 below. Ho did not get down inore
| than half a dozen steps when tho increas-
ing clouds OF smoke and the flames shoot
| ing mn around him drove him back.
lilo stepped back 10 tho shelter OF ~
pllot house. His face wns scorched. His
eyebrows we're burned away. lie stood
there dased and overcome for moment
Then no exclaimed; My God, no man can
| rp through that md como out alive
when the steward aroueod me jumped
nm hastily and dressed. ran forward 10
ace how extensive tho fire was. tho cap
,ain waa Just coming out of the companions
wov ati.,. his trmltess effort to go pc
law atood by and tried TO look down
| the hole, but the heat and smoR" WEI"
great that l WAS driven BACK
when looked down into that horri-
b,e hole tho thought camc over me- hhe
~ Ind over the captain and crew, tha' 'ncro
were holplcss people down below VINO were
| probably burning to death. uieo 70
pcer through the smoke 10 sec II the stec'-
a,e passengers were running around baow'
mud hopcd we would be able TO reacn
| them In some way
"I listened for sounds, but could near
nothing save the roar q tho hhincs 10
they grew steadily In volume below rnd
rolled round and round In the narrow
anartcrs There was not scream, not
groan. and no signs Of life below. ON deck
thoro was only tho hoarse shouts or mo
captain and tho hurry and hustle OF tho
CROW AZ they rushed about, laying lines OF
hose and pouring streams Of water down
the compnnionway and through tho open
vcnlilat0rs.
only slight wind was blowing from tho
nf
smoke AFT over the full length of the ship
mud enveloped her in "A shroud OF choking
black until the captain gave orders 10
change the course completely so that the
smoke would be blown over the bow. inc
speed of the ship was first slackcned. then
tho order was given TO keep up bare steer
age way.
&c; stood In the lee OF the pit OF the house
watching tho officers and men making
futile efforts 10 reach tho steerage' Tho
horror of the situation was paralyzing.
IL seemed Az though tho men ana women
whom Ind seen go into the storage the
day before were bcing cromated beneath my
feet
THE deck was getting bllstcring hot.
The flames began creeping higher and
higher. through every outlet from beneath
the deck. The pouring OF water down the
companion way and through the Venhla-
tors had no effect save to send mp the smoke
in ereat puffs and cause angry Bpurs Of
Hro 10 dart menacingly into tho faces OK
the crew.
when the news Of the fire reached tho
forward part OF the ship. where the stokers
were feeding the boilers, they deserted
thodr posts and ran TO the deck, eighteen
Of them in all. They clambcred into the
second boat on tho port sidc and began
cutting II away First officer Wallace and
Chief Engineer Taylor were after thom In
a moment.
"'Gct out OF that boat! Numbered Wall
lace. The stokers refused to obey, and
went on cutting away tho lashings Of the
boat.
Come out OF that boatv roared Taylor.
Then he added, reaching with his hand for
n revolver. 81 VIII shoot the man who cuts
away the boat!'
1.-THE stokers looked at the chief en-
glnoer and then suilonly obeyed.
Eight OF the steerage passengers es-
capped.
"The fire burst up through cracks about
the pilot house md then into the house
Itself The quartermaster stuck TO tho
wheel until the flames almost enyeloped
him. Captain Wilder ordered signal lights,
Of distress displayed, and In a very few
thore flashed up In the darkness
far TO the north an answering signal. II
came from the City OF Augusta OF the pa
vanDah line. which came alongside about
daybreak.
in the meanwhile the deck forward OF
the pilot house was burned away. leaving E
the crossbeams barc and red-hot."
PITTSBuRG, Pa---The rumor y preva-
lent that tho beam pool has collapsed y
though local manufacturers Will not dis
ciss the matter II was composed OF the
Carnegie company, The Lackawanna Steel