The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-05-15
PINNED BELOW DECKS.
SIXTEEN sTEERAGE PASSENGERS
ARE ROASTED ALIVE.
Raging Furnace Of nlasing Cotton I'm
= Steamer on the Delaware
Capeu-sixteen Dead.

New York. May 10-The Mallory steam
ship liner Leone. which left her pier on
Saturday for Galveston. took IRE at sea
and has rssarneo with le eorpses on
board. The dead were Il steerage pas
sengers and three members OF the crew.
who succumbed 10 the terrible fire which
occurred on the AseIAware eapes at an
early 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
were made by the officers of the vessel
to save them. the IRE had gained such
terrible Roadway before the danger was
discovered that all escape was cut on.
The steamer carried In her cargo many
bales of cotton. 1t IS not certain how
the IRE originated. but when 1t was dis
covered 1t burst forth with such fury that
Il was impossible to reach the steerage.
Even then the steerage passengers APP
parently were unmlndfuI OF the danger.
else the smoke and flames had not reach
ed them
The saloon passengers were first arous-
ed In such n manner as to occasion little
alarm When II became apparent that
the IRE had cut on the steergs. 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 il 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 ventila-
tors. and 1t was apparent to all who were
on deck that below decks was a roaring
furnace.
steeraEe Passengers burned.
Then il dawned on officers and crew
that the unfortunate steerage passengers
were 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. Ills face
was scorched: his eyebrows were burned
on. He stood there dazed and overcome
for a moment. then he exclaimed: My
God. no man can go through that and
come out alive
StOkers I'm 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 clambersd into the
hllsaf n hea zffla and n
cutting 1t away. First Officer Wallace
and Chief Engineer Taylor were after
them in a moment.
Get out OF that boat Numbered Wal
lace.
The stokers refused to obey, and went
on cutting away the lashlng OF the boat.
Come out of that boat reiterated
Taylor. reaching forward with his hand
for his revolver. I will shoot the man
who cuts away the boat
The Spaniards looked at the chief en-
gineer. and then sullenly obeyed.
Assistance Came.
The quartermaster stuck TO the wheel
the flames almost enveloping him Cap
tain Wilder ordered signal lights of dis
tress burned. and in a VERY few minutes
there flashed up on the darkness to the
north an answering signal. 1t came from
the City Of Augusta Of the Savannah
line, which came alongside about day
break In the meantime the deck for
ward Of the pilot house burned away,
leaving the iron cross beams bare and
red hot. The iron plating of the ships
side glOwed red hot. The passengers
were all transferred to the City of Au-
gusta. and the work Of fighting the fire
was continued. About 8 o'clock in the
morning the flames were under control,
and. the steamer out OF danger. The
passengers were then transferred to the
Leone and the City OF Augusta passed
ON her way. The Leone returned to her
dock