The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-10
Flames Burst Out In Her Held
While Anchored at Skagway.
PASSENGERS wlLDwlVA FRIGHT
They Thought There Was Dynamite
In the Hold Near the Ftre-Wcrs
Taken on Tug Mascotte-
steamer Finally BeWchcd and HOLD
cd-WhtteimVv'x Exciting Trip.

The old wrecking steamer Whitelaw
ended one of the most exciting trips ever :
made on the Alaskan run when Capt.
Doilard ran her on the beach in the Skag-
way harhor on the morning OF March I.
that he might fieod her hold and extin-
guish the fire, which was rapidly eating
its way through the baggage into her
sides.
The fire was discovered shortly after the
Whiteaw dropped anchor haifmile ote
the Skagway wharf. The smoke was soon ,
pouring out Of the forward hatch and the
sixty passengers aboard became mad with
fear. They tried to launch the ships .
boats. unaided by the crew, who were
busily fighting the flames. and In the ex-
element one passenger fell overheard. He
was hauled out almost drowned. The pas
sengers were compelled 10 wait until tho
tug Mascotte came out and took them
ashore. The crew could not get at tho !.
fire and Capt Doilard headed the steamer
for shore. AS soon the beach was
touched streams of water from the big
pumps which the White.aw formerly used
for wrecking purposes were turned into
the hold and the fire was soon under cons
troll.
This news was brought to Seattle by
Capt. Bonniheid, of the steamer Humboldt. y
who believes that the steamer Is dam
aged but slightly. although the cargo viii
be almost total loss. &
The Nhitelaw left San Francisco sew s
eral weeks ago with scme sixty klon- 4
dikers, their horses. outfits and large
cargo OF general merchandise. She put :.
into Port Angeles after stormy trip up !,
the coast. There the passengers regis
tered a protest because there was no fresh,
meat aboard. Next came the news that
the steamer was on the rocks near Ju-
neau. where she stayed for five hours.
Some of her bottom was ripped of by this
contact, but II made little difference. 40,
the Whitelaw had an extra bottom for
wreckng purposes. Before she reacheds
Skagway she ran on a mudbank and re-
manned there several days. 1t was re-
ported by her passengers at Juneau that.
she had been on fire three times. but that +
the flames had always been extlnguGshed.-
Early on the morning of the 4th she
steamed into Skagway and anchored out
In the harhor unNi room could be found
at the dock. The story OF the interesting
fire which followed Is best told by Capt.
BonnIfeld, OF the Humboldt who wit
messed IL from the deck of his steamer. >
Shortly after the Whitelaw anchoreds
our attention was attracted by long whs-
ties for assistance. Smoke was soon OBJ
served coming out OF the forward hatch.s
about her decks and the crew seemed TO
be working with the fire. The passengers
attempted TO launch the ships boats and
in the excitement one OF them fell over
board. I believe that he was picked up
afterward. The tug Maseotte went QUE
after the sixty passengers and one lighter
loaded with goods was brought ashore.
Capt. DolIard, OF the whltelaw, thea
headed the steamer fer the beach. He
backed her stern into the sand and started
her big pumps. They were pumping water
into the hold nearly all morning. A stiH
southeaster was blowing and rs the tide
receded the boat listed over on her side..
The fire IN the hold continued 10 burn for
long time. but as we left they seemed
to have control OF X.
capt. Taylor. of the tug Mascotfe VIII
brought off most OF the passengers, says
thst the people were frantic TO get away
from the burning steamer. He says they
told him that the Whitelaw had dyna-
mite in the hold. They had learned all
about the wreck or The Clara Nevada and.
the thought of fisrcely burning fire In
the vicinity OF lot of dynamite was not
the most cheering. Personally dom u
know whether there was any dynamite in
the bold or not. At any rate, she had
not blown up when we left the port.
From what could learn from those who
were out 10 the Whiteiaw after the fire
l don't believe that the vessel has beenS
injured much. The cargo and outfits wilf
probably be nearly a total loss. / was
told that seventeen horses tied In stalls
In the hold were also burned. The wht.e-s
law was very we'll fixed FOR fighting a
fire or this kind As "A wrecker she war
provided with powerful pumps with which
Capt. Dollard rapidly pumped her fun
He can use the same pumps In empty Il
Ing her when the fire IL out He still had
steam up when we left harbor.
Il heard two theories az 20 the origin
or the fire. One was thar e was caused
by spontaneous combustion among tbs
oiled bags with which the miners out
his were covered The other theory waa
that the fire originated In one Of the
cesl bnnkers and burned through into tue
baggage"
Tee tug Sea Lion. which arrived al {
c'cloek last night from Skagway, reports
that the crew OF the whIrelaw had conn
meuced unloading or the beach that pnr<
tion % the cargo not DESTROYED bv fire.
The officers report that the Whitelaw was
very little damaged by the FIRE and that
the Other injuries sustained on the rocks
and muabanks Wit be repaired before she
Is taken OFT the beach.
q