The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-10
PeriIs of Fighting Flames on the
Ocean Experienced by Twcnty-
Five Sailors.

vessel to save them the fire had gained such
terrific headway before 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 II
burst forth with such fury that it was inn
possible to reach the steerage. Even then
the steerage passengers apparently We're
unmindful of the danger, else the smoke
and flames had not reached them. The sa-
lon passengers were first aroused, and in
such manner as To occasion little alarm.
When it became apparent that the fire had
cut off the steerage the captain and his men
poured great quantities OF water down the
ventiIator and the most frantic efforts
were made for the escape of those penned
up. In this way eight Of the .steerage pas
sengers made their escape. The dead are
steerage passengers:
BRIDGET SULLIVAN.
r. CATANIE.
MRS. c. GUZZA.
MISS GUZZA.
MISS HANNAH soLoMANsoN.
MIR. AND MRS VALSICk.
SOPHIE SCHWARTZ.
MARIE WADES
TWO UNKNOWN CHILDREN.
TWO UNIDENTIFIED.
The crew dead are:
ALFRED HARDY, waiter.
ALFRED LANG, waiter
II. HARTMANN butcher.
The Mallory steamer Leona left her pier
Saturday at p m, bound for Galveston,
with eleven saloon passengers. She carried
a general cargo of merchandise. Capt.
Wilder was in command, with First Mate
Wallace and Sc ;ond Mate Sweeney assist
ing. The chief engineer was Taylor, with
three assistants, and a crew of about sew
enty-1ve men, including tiremen and deck
hands. Among the passengers were S. V.
n n
turn to this city late tonight Mr. Winslow
told the following graphic story of the fire:
I'VE lefti the pier at 3 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon with clear skies and beautiful
weather. We passed through making ex-
cellent time, the chief engineer congratu-
lating himself that all was we'll and even
making the remark to one of his assistants
that he could not believe this good luck
could continue, for the trip had started
under such favorable auspices. Sandy
Hook was passed and the lights of the
Jersey shore were still visible when we
went to bed. BY the time we passed Barn
egat light, at 10 o'clock, all the passengers
were in bed. The passengers in the steer
age had also retired to their hunks. The
watch going off at u o'clock reported ev-
erything well. There was suspicion OF
any fire or other trouble. The sea was very
smooth and there was no wind. The moon
was shining brightly
First Mate Wallace was pacing the
bridge about a. nj. when he thought ne
smelled smoke coming from the forecastle.
He went forward TO the companion way
and opened the door to the steer
age. The moment he did this there was
burst of flame which burned his face.
THE ALARM SOUNDED.
"Wallace turned and ran on deck and
cried the alarm of fire to the forward
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 quiet
manner, going to each stateroom and wax
ing the occupants. He said in calm tones
that there was slight fire in the forward
part of the ship and it might be advisable
for the passengers to get their things to-
gether. 1t might be possible. he added.
that the ship would eventually have to be
abandoned
There was no excitement among the
saloon passengers. Most of them packed
| their luggage and carried it from their
staterooms into the main saloon. They
gathered in the saloon and remained there,
and after the officers had assured them
that there was no immediate danger, they
took matters quietly. The steward made
frequent trips forward and came back with
reports of the progress of the flames. He
said that the fire was confined below decks,
and as the flames did not rise very high,
the passengers did not fully realize the e1-
Captain Wilder rushed on deck at the
first alarm, clad only in an undershirt and
trousers. He assumed command and at
once ordered the crew to rescue the steer
( age passengers. On the same deck with
! the steerage, on the port side Of the ship,
a large quantity OF cotton basglng Was
stored, separated from the steerage pas
sengers by a board partition. The main
deck was almost completely nlied with
freight cutting off all exit from the steer
age to the after part of the ship. The only
way out from the steerage was up the
forward companion way.
"The crew, on the captains orders,
rushed for the companion way and at
tempted to descend. They were driven back
quickly followed. The smoke and flame
also came up through the ventilators ana
it was apparent TO all who We're on dtck
that below decks was a roaring furnace.
that the unforutnates in the steerage were
probably burning to death. Captain Wilder
saw his crowd driven back from the COM
panion way and realization of the horror
below made him desperate.
VICTIMS IN THE STEERAGE.
''IIe rushed to the stairs and boldly at
tempted to go below. He did not get down
more than half a dozen steps when the in
creasing cloud of smoke and the fire drove
him back He stepped back to the shelter
of the pi.ot house His face was soorehed.
His eyebrows were burned away. He stood
there dazed and overcome for moment.
Then he exclaimed: My Cod no man can
go through that and come out alive.
when the steward aroused me | jumped
up hastily and dressed. l ran forward TO
see how extensive the fire was. The cap
tain was just coming out Of the companion
way, after his fruitless effort to go below.
stood by and tried 10 look down the
| hole but the heat and smoke were so great
| that / was driven back. When i looked
down into the horrible hole the thought
| came over me- like 1t had over the captain
and the crew, that there helpless people
! down below who were probably burning to
| death. / tried to peer through the smoke
! to see IL the Steerage passengers were