The times., 1898-02-28
1TEhMtR BURNEO At SEA
tx of the tl,tw ieriSh Before
Hep Arrives.
ETAILS OF THE DISASTER
Loaded with Coinbustible Material,
Instantly After an Explosion
Brave tsescue of the Imperiled
Seamcn.

Boston, Feb. 27.-Thc British steamer
| Flower Gate, which arrived at a. M,
reported the total loss by fire at sea of
| the British steamer Legislator, on Feb
| ruary l6 and the loss of six of the crew.
| The Flower Gate brought d.. w. II.
Mortimer and wife, the only passengers,
and thirty of the crew, who were res
| cued, four of whom are very seriously
burned. They We're removed to the naval
hospital at Chelsea. Their names are
John Troghear, chief engineer; john
Holden, second engineer Robert Milu.
fourth engineer, and Charles Ibboson, or
dinary seaman.
The dead are Second officer Bateman,
Third officer Martin, Chief Steward John
| Gaffney Fireman William Angel; Fire
man Henry Roberts and Mr.. Leak, the
cook
The Legislator. Capt. Tenant, sailed
from Liverpool February 5 for Colon
with a general cargo, including sulphur,
phosphorus, percussion caps, liquid acids
and chemicals, part of which was stored
on deck amidships. The steamer was
making straight course under favorable
conditions until Sunday February IS,
when at 4:l0 a. m, ten minutes after the
watch was relieved, there was an eXpIo-
sion in the cargo Of percussion caps and
chemicals. Instantly the whole vessel
amidship was ablaze, shutting off the en-
gine room. The flames quickly extended
to 400 tons of coal
1t was impossible to get near the en-
gine room, and the vessel continued Un-
der fun steam at about twelve knots an
hour. The first mate Mr.. Arnold, took
charge of the wheel and managed to hold
the vessel SO that the flames and smoke
were kept away as much as possible from
the afterpart of the vessel
Monday night a sailing vessel was sight
ed and as the Legislator then emitted
sheets of fame as well as smoka, this
vessel could not help seeing her, but she
took in her lights and proceeded on her
course without offering to give assist
ance The Flower Gate sighted the Leg
islator at $50 a. m, February 1G. and
with much difficulty rescued the surviv-
ors, who lost all they had
DR.. Mortimer tells the following story
of the disaster:
About a. m, February 13, ] was
awakened by loud explosion, and saw
great sheet of flame shoot aft. 1t APP
peared to me that the cause of the fame
gas. Though l wasted not a mo-
ment but rushed out to see what the
matter was, by the time ! emerged from
the cabin door the whole vessel amid
ships was afiame. The engineers barely
had time to escape from the engine room
with their lives IN two minutes it was
Impossible for a man to pass amidships
and live. 1t is my opinion that among
the cargo there was some explosive that
should not have been there-some nitro
compound When the watch was changed
ten minutes before the explosion no one
had smelied smoke, and it is certain there
was no fire.
The fire was due to the explosion. The
vessel was forging ahead at twelve knots
an hour until II a. m. Sunday, the 18th.
| Nothing was being done to put out the
fire, apparently nothing could be done but
what the first mate Mr.. Arnold, was do
inG-holding the vessel to the wind, that
we would not sunocate. The steam pump
could not be gotten at and there was no
handpump. There were a number Of men
cut off in the forward part OF the vessel
by the explosion, and il was necessary To
rescue them at once If possible. There
were two lifebOats and two gigs. About
: a. m. Sunday John Gaffney, the steward,
and Third Mate Martin entered the port
lfehoat, which Immediately broke loose
and both men Were thrown into the sea
and drowned. There was a high wind
and a heavy sea running, and we could
DO nothing for them.
"Quartermaster Garnett jumped through
the flames aft and escaped with slight
burns About 9 a. m. Sunday one of the
gigs was lowered and the men forward
lowered into it. The gig was swamped,
however. by getting under the steam eX-
| haust pipe and William Angel and Sec
ond officer Bateman were lost.
THE Flower Gate was sighted Wednes-
day morning and the remaining gig was
lowered, and, with the assistance Of the
Flower Gates two boats my wife ana |
were transferred to that steamer
The explosion look place 1899 miles
from Boston and zoo miles from the
Azores The heat of the great Goa! fire
was so intense that it is remarkable that
the vessel kept afioat SO long. The bolts
were heard to snap and the iron sides To
warp and there Is little doubt that the
Legislator sank soon after being aban
doned She was one of he large iron ships
of the Harrison Line, OF Liverpool