The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-12
BURNING OF THE DELAWARE.
DRAVERY AND QUIET CHARACTER
lied PASSENGERS AND CREW.


Passengers Did Not Even get Wet.
Additional details of the burning of the
Clyde steamship Delaware off the New
Jersey coast Friday night as reported in
the Morning News dispatches, furnish
several striking incidents Illustrating the
self-possession and bravery of those on
| board, both passengers and crew. The
manner in which the debarkation from
the Delaware was managed is in very
striking contrast with the panic and at
tendant horrors that We're witnessed on
the French steamer La BouTgogne day
or two previously. The following particu-
lars of the loss of the Delaware are taken
from the New York Worlds report;
At $3.50 p. m. Friday. when the ship was
about abeam of Cedar Creek N. j.. sew
eral of the stewards and one of the Off
| GERS smelled smoke. 1t came from the
after part of the ship. The smoke became
stronger with every minute, and Capt
Ingram was notified. He hurriedly left
the pilot house and started out on tour
of investigation.
1t was soon discovered that the cargo
stored III the after matches was a roaring
sea of flames. No doubt it had been
smouIderiug ever since the Delaware left
port. Quick action was taken. Steam
was turned into the after compartments,
but it was too late. Cant. Ingram realz-
ed that his ship was doomed and that he
and his officers and men would be utterly
unable 10 fight the fire, which was now
sweeping all before it.
The captain summoned First officer
Macbeth Second Officer Hill, chief Engi-
neer PLAT and the ships stewardess,
Miss Ellen c. Hin, as brave an American
woman as can be found anywhere, before
him.
1--WE will have to notify the passengers
said Capt. Ingram. Now, let there be no
panic. There is no need for one. just so
| and do your duty"
Capt. Ingram and the officers of the
ship, Miss Hill, too, went from stateroom
to stateroom and notified each one of the
passengers in the most quiet manner, just
as though it were a call for breakfast.
They simply went TO each stateroom and
knocked at the door. They waited for
response before they attempted to open
the doors. Then only would they enter
Pardon me-" the officers would say TO
each passenger, but it is absolutely ne
cessary that you arise at once and dress
as hurriedly as possible. Now, be per-
fectly quiet. Don't get excited. There
| is absolutely no danger. The ship is afire,
| but we may be able to control ii. If we
are compelled to leave in the boats there
will be no danger. as the sea is perfectly
| calm. The boats will be lowered prompt
| ly and there must be no confusion. Now,
get dressed, and above all. keep cool"
| 1t was on account of the GOODNESS shown
by the officers of the ship that there was
not only no panic aboard the burning
steamer, but that every life aboard the
! Delaware was saved.
While the passengers were hurrying on
deck some fully dressed, while others
were only in their night gowns aud could
not be induced to return to their state
rooms to complete their toilets, the Off
| GERS and men aboard the Delaware We're
pouring tons of water into the after part
of the burning steamer.
As soon as all the passengers had been
notified men with axes went into the after
saloon and began to cut holes into the
deck. Lines of hose We're run through
these holes and the fight against the file
was continued with all vigor.
In the mean time men. women and chill
dren were running about the decks. 1t is
true that some were greatly excited and
ready to give way under the great strain:
but the officers would get hold of these
passengers and talk to them so quietly and
so calmly that they soon realized that they
would be cared for.
And as for the stewardess, she was the
was as cool as Capt. Ingram, and they say
of him that he was the nerViest man they
ever saw.
Miss Hill walked about the deck carrying
bundles of life preservers, and dished them
out lust as unconcernedly as though she
was serving coffee TO the passengers
Now, my dear" she would say to the
frightened woman. there is absolutely no
danger. Please let me show you how to
adjust this life preserver. Well, now just
put your right arm under this strap, and
now raise your left arm and let me tie this
strap in the back, and there you are. And
now keep cool"
What frightened woman could do other
wise than obey this brave stewardess. In
This manner she went from woman to w0-
man, and before they all knew 1t each one
was provided with 4 life preserver. And
the children were cared Ior in like man.
ner.
There was one man passenger on board
who was frightened almost out of his wits
The officers had been talking to him, but
still he would moi be consoled. Miss Hill
saw him. She had a life preserver in her
hand and she quietly walked over to where
this frightened man was standing.
Pardon me, sir, but just let me show
you how TO put on this life preserver"
and then she took the life preserver and
before the passenger knew what it was
all about he was being fitted with the
When he sax the face of the stewardess
was smiling the man forgot all his trou-
bles and after that he was one of the
coolest men aboard the burning steamer
The passengers were sent to the forward
part of the steamer The after part was
now a roaring furnace. Thick clouds of
black smoke were shooting up in the air
The heat was awful. There was not a
soul aboard the Delaware then who did
not realize that the ship was doomed
And with that knowledge the passengers
all admitted yesterday that they felt that
they stood a very good chance Of saving
their lives because they realized thai the
officers and men aboard that ship were
cool and knew their business.
Rockets had been sent up in the mean
time and the steam whistle was sound
ing al intervals. When the fire was dis
covered the steamer was about eight or
ten mics off shore She was headed
toward the land, and when within two or
three miles from the beach the engines
were stoned and the steamer brorgbt