The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-05-13
.PENNED BELOW DECKS
SIXTEEN sTEERAGE PASSENGERS
ARE ROASTED ALIVE.
Raging Furnace of Blazing Cotton In
n Steamer on the Delaware
Cnpes-Sixteen Dead.

New York May 10-The Mallory steam
ship liner Leone. which left her pier or
Saturday for Galveston. took fire at Sea
and has returned with l6 corpses or
board. The dead were 10 steerage pas
sengers and three members of the crew
who succumbed to the terrible fire which
! occurred off the Delaware capes at an
carly hour this morning. The horror OF
the story can hardly be told tonight.
Those who are dead were penned up be-
low decks and although frantic efforts
We're made by the officers of the vessel
TO save them. the fire had gained such
terrible Roadway before the danger was
discovered that all escape was cut off.
The steamer carried in her cargo many
bales of cotton. II is not certain how
the fire originated. but when it was dis
covered 1t burst forth with such fury that
1t was impossible to reach the steerage.
Even then the steerage passengers APP
parently We're unmndful of the danger,
else the smoke and flames had not reach
ed them.
The saloon passengers were first arous-
ed in such a manner as to occasion little
alarm. When it became apparent that
the fire had cut off the steerge the cap
tain and men poured great quantities of
water down the ventilators and the most
frantic efforts were made for the escape
of those penned up.
There was no excitement among the
saloon passengers Most of them packed
their luggage and carried II from their
state rooms into the main saloon. They
gathered in the saloon and remained
there, and after the officers had assured
them there was no immediate danger
they took matters quietly.
The steward made frequent trips and
came back with reports of progress of the
flames. He said the fire was confined
below the decks, and as the flames did
not rise very high, the passengers did
not fully realize the extent of their peril
THE crew, on the captains orders
rushed for the companionway and at
tempted to descend. They were driven
back by dense volumes of smoke, and
flames quickly followed Smoke and
flames also came up through the ventla-
on deck that below decks was a roaring
furnace.
Steernge Passengers Burned.
Then it dawned on officers and crew
that the unfortunate steerage passengers
We're burning to death. Captain Wilder
saw his crew driven back from the COM
panionway. and a realization of the hor-
ror made him desperate He rushed to
the stairs and boldly attempted to go be-
low. He did not get down more than half
a dozen steps when increasing clouds of
smoke and flames shooting up around him
drove him back on deck. He stepped back
to the shelter of the pilot house. His face
was scorched: his eyebrows were burned
off. He stood there dazed and overcome
for a moment then he exclaimed: My
God no man can go through that and
come out alive.
StoI<ers in n Panic.
when news of the fire reached the low
er depths of the ship, where the stokers
were feeding the boilers. they deserted
their posts and rushed to the deck is
of them in all. They clambered into the
second boat on the port side and began
cutting it away. First officer Wallace
and Chief Engineer Taylor were after
them in a moment.
:" Get out of that boat, Numbered Wal
lace
1.-The stokers refused to obey, and went
On cutting away the lashing of the boat.
IS Come out of that boat reiterated
Taylor, reaching forward with his hand
'cr his revolver. L will shoot the man
who cuts away the boat
THE Spaniards looked at the chief en-
sineer and then sullenly obeyed.
Assistance Came.
The quartermaster stuck TO the wheel, |
he flames almost enveloping him. Cap
ain Wilder ordered signal lights OF dis
ress burned. and in a very few minutes
here flashed up on the darkness to the
lorth an answering signal. 1t came from
he City of Augusta of the Savannah |
inc, which came alongside about day
freak. In the meantime the deck for
ward of the pilot house burned away |
eaving the iron cross beams bare and |
ed hot. The iron plating of the ships |
ide glowed red hot. The passengers
we're all transferred to the City of Au-
-usta, and the work of fighting the fire /
vas continued. About o'clock in the
morning tho flames were under control,
nd the steamer out of danger The
assengers were then transferred to the
Zone and the City of Augusta passed
n her way. The Leone returned to her
ock."