Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-20
ON A FIERY FURNACE
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE Of THE
STEAMSHIP STOCKHOLM CITY.
FLAMES IN HER BUNKERS.
Arrives at Newport News without
Chart, Compass, or steering-Gear-
Officers and Crew Lost Clothes and
Money-A Fierce Fight.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, January l9.-
Especial without chart, compass, or any
steering gear, the British steamship
Stockholm City. Captain Richards, bound
from Manchester to Newport News,
steamed into this harbor at 6 o'clock this
evening. The vessel left Manchester on
Christmas-Day. She not only encountered
fierce gales and rough seas, but fire broke
out in her bunkers, destroying the cabins,
saloon, wheel-house, and all the wood
work in the middle of the ship. The off,
GERS and crew Of thirty men lost ali their
money and nearly every vestige OF wear
ing apparel. Probably no crew on any
ship ever had a more thrilling experience.
For two days and nights death stared
them in the face, and they were COM
PEELED to shift about the burning steamer
in order to keep from being roasted alive.
But they fought the flames like Trojans,
and finally succeeded in extinguishing the
fire.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
When seen at $50 o'clock tonight by a
special correspondent of the Dispatch,
Captain Richardson was clad in rags,
with his hair singed and face and hands
burned brown. For three days / have
had no sleep and nothing TO eat" said the
master of the freighter, land L am al
most ready to collapse. My crew have
no clothes, no money, no anything. We
left Manchester on Christmas-Day for
this port. on the following day We en-
countered heavy seas and hurricane
winds. Tho ship was light as We were
in ballast. She tossed over the billowy
waves like a cork. At times the sea was
so rough we could not steer at all, and
hence were delayed. The first good wea-
Their we had was last week, and all went
well till last Sunday night at IL O'clock
when fire broke out In the coal-bunkers.
For awhile the flames ragged furiousIy,
but after three hours Of hard work the
fire was extinguished. At o'clock Mon
day morning the fire broke out again
spreading to the cabins and destroying
all the woodwork midshlp.
THOUGHT THEY WE'RE DOOMED.
Every man on board was put to work
and we fought fire for our lives, for II
looked as II we were doomed to a fiery
furnace. We did not get the fire under
control until early this morning. 1 lost
all MY cAttillb gear. ut WuNfl-HOuos
was destroyed, and we had 10 steer by
hand, coming $50 miles without chart oil
compass. Fortunately, guessed the lati-
tude correctly first going south parable
and then true west till last night. Their
was guided by the north star, reaching
Cape Henry this morning. We had some
narrow escapes.
ASLEEP INrHIS CABIN.
when the fire broke out the second
time Chief-Engineer Wears was asleeI
/ in his cabin, and he narrowly escaped
in his night-clothes. All OF mis- persona
effects were burned. lie lost about Sl,00
in money and clothes. Losses sustained
/ by myself and crew will reach $1,000. Oul
| provisions were burned. and for the
/ last three days we have lived on a scanty
/ supply Of pork and potatoes. All OF th'
ships papers were destroyed"
The vessel has not been surveyed, bu
/ It is estimated that the damage will reach
| $4,000. The Stockholm city belongs &
| the Furness Witty Line, and she was
en- route for this port to load a genera
cargo for Antwerp. West Hartlepool f.
the steamers home port. Her gross ton
mage is 1859. The fire on the Stockholm
| City, it is thought, originated from spon
taneous combustion, the gases from th'
/ coal fgniting