The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-28
CASE OF THE ARDANDHU
CARGO BURNING FIERCELY in
THE LOWER HOLD.
WILD EXCITEMENT AMONG PASSENGERS
Storage Passengers Attempt to Seize the Life
Boats--The Captain, However, Succeed
ed in Restoring Discipline and
No Ives Were Lost.

New York. July 27.-The steamship
Arlandhu. of the Twccdlc Line, trad
inc between West Indian ports and this
city. came up the bay today with Il
heavy list to starboard, and the cargo
stored in her lower hold on fire. The
fire first made its appearance ut $50
o'clock ON Monday night, when If the
vessel had made an uninterrupted V0y-
age. she should have been off the Jersey
shore and close to Sandy Hook. But
leaky boilers and the breaking down OF
her engines delayed the steamer ut least
thirty hours. and at the time OF the
discovery of the flames i'll hold NO. .
the steamship was off FenWlck's Island.
on the coast of Maryland. The widest
excitement followed the outbreak OF the
fire and several of the eleven steerage
passengers. all Jamaicans endeavored to
seize the life boats. The third mate,
Percy Sanders, was forced to draw MS
revolver to prevent the men from the
stecrage leaving the burning steamer i'll
the three life boats, which could easily
have accommodated the other forty
five passengers and members of the
crew. The passengers were, however,
forced out of the boats by Captain Wal
kcr and his men, and when discipline
was restored, preparations were made
for the saving Of the lives of the women
and children on the vessel. The three life
boats were lowered into the sea, which
was quite calm and the ships officers
stood by the rope ladders. Thus panic
was averted and the safety of the nifty
six persons on board the Ardandhu as
surcd.
The heat was so intense and the smoke
was so heavy that it was for time
unsafe for the passengers to remain on
the upper deck. They were all ordered
forward and the women and children
were first put into the life boats, each
of which had a full supply of food and
water on board, and was supplied with
compasses and signal rockets.
1t was nearly midnight when Captain
Walker considered that he had the fire
under control, and decided to continue
on his way TO New York. The women
and children were taken back to the
steamer and the life boats were hoisted
to the davits, but were not taken on
board The officers from that time on
kent watch over the life boats to prevent
the eleven .Jamaicans. who appeared to
be terorr-stricken, from deserving the
burning steamship in them. Two of
the stccragc passengers, however. stow
ed themselves in the small boat astern,
and remained there until the Ardandhu
reached the narrowS.
On the trip up the coast Captain Wal
kcr brought the steamship to II stand
still to ascertain if the steam was get
ting the best of the flames i'll the lower
hold. Although it was apparent that
the flames were being held i'll check, it
was also clear that the fire i'll hold No.
3 was an extensive one. Between the
decks the heat was unbearable and
when the covers from the ventllator
holes were removed. smoke rolled out
of the opening. The fire continued TO
burn, and the Ardandhu on account of
the water which had been let into holds
3 and 4 had Il heavy list to starboard,
preventing much speed.