Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-13
FATAL FIRE AT SEA.
SIXTEEN PERISH ON AN
ATLANTIC STEAMER.
Flames Had Gained Terrific Roadway
Before They Were DisoOvsrod-Th
steamer Was the Lsona, Bound From
New York to Galveston.

pier on Saturday, bound for GALVESTON,
took fire at sea, put back and arrived
in port last night with sixteen cbrpses
on board. The dead were thirteen
steerage passengers and three mem
bers of the crew, who succumbed to a
terrible fire, which occurred off the
Delaware capes at an early hour yes
terday morning.
The horror of the story can hardly
be told. Those who are dead were
penned up below decks, and although
frantic efforts were made by the Off
GERS of the vessel to save them the fire
had gained such terrific Roadway be-
fore the danger was discovered that
all escape was cut off.
The steamer carried in her cargo
many bales of cotton. 1t is not certain
how the fire originated, but
when it was discovered it burst
forth with such fury that it
was impossible to reach the steerage.
Even then the steerage passengers ap-
parently were unmindful of the dan
ger, else the smoke and flames had not
reached them The saloon passengers
were first aroused, and in such man
ner as to occasion little alarm. When
1t became apparent that the fire had
cut off the steerage the captain and
his men poured great quantities Of
water down the yentilator, and the
most frantic efforts were made for the
escape of those penned up. In this
way eight of the steeragc passengers
made theis escape.
Among the passengers was S. V.
Winslow of Rutherford, n. j. On his
return to this city Mr. Winslaw told
the following story of the fire:
First Mate Wallace was pacing the
bridge about a. m, when he thought
he smelled smoke coming from the
forecastle. He went down forward to
the companionway and opened the door
to the steerage The moment he did
there was burst of flame which
burned his face.
wallace turned and ran on deck
and cried the alarm of fire to the for
ward watch, telling him to wake the
steward and have all the passengers
aroused as quickly as possible, without
creating any excitement. The steward
did this in a quiet manner, going to
each stateroom and waking the occu-
pants. He said in calm tones that
there was slight fire in the forward
part of the ship, and it might be ad-
visable for the passengers to get their
things together. 1t might be possible,
he added that the ship would eventu-
ally have to be abandoned.
There was no excitement among
the saloon passengers. Most of them
packed their luggage and carried 1T
from their staterooms into the main
saloon. They gathered in tue saloon
and remained there, and aftec the Of
hcers assured them that there was no
immediate danger they took matters
quietly.
THE crew, on the captains orders.
rushed from the companionway and
attempted to descend. They were
driven back by dense volumes OF
smoke, and flames quickly followed.
The smoke and the flames also came
up through the ventilators, and it was
apparent to all who were on deck that
below decks was roaring furnace.
Then it dawned on the officers and
crew that the unfortunates in the
Steerage were probably burning to
death. Captain Wilder saw his crew
driven back from the companionway
and the realization of the horror re-
low made him desperate.
He rushed to the stairs and boldly
attempted to go below. lie did not get
down more than half a dozen steps
when the increasing clouds of smoke
and the 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 away. He
stood there dazed and overcome for a
moment. Then he exclaimed; My God,
no man can go through that and come
out alive
when the news of the fire reached
the lowest depths of the ship, where
the stollers 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 and began cutting it
away. First Officer Wallace and Chief
Engineer Taylor were after them in a
moment.
"'Get out of that boat, Numbered
Wallace.
The stolers refused to obey, and
went on cutting away the lashings OF
the boat
Come out of that boat, re-echoed
Taylor Then he rushed forward,
reaching with his hand for his revolt
YER i will shoot the man who cuts
away the boat.
1.-The stokers looked at the chief
engineer and then sullenly obeyed.
The passengers were all transferred
to the City of Augusta in safety and
the work of fighting the fire was con-
tinued About 0 o'clock in the morn
ing the flames was under control, and
the steamer out of danger. The pas
sengers were sent back to the Lsona
aud the City of Augusta continued on
her way to Havana. The Leoni put
about and returned to port under her
OWE steam.
DeposltoFS TO Get $4,000.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May 1O.-The de-
positors Of the failed Kansas City Safe
Deposit and Savings bank will! get
-