The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-28
STEAMER BURNED AT SEA.
Survivors, Of The Legislator Brought
Safely to Boston.

Safely to Boston.
BOSTON, Mass, Feb. T.-The British
steamer Legislator, Captain Tenant, bound
from Liverpool for Colon, was burned at
sea Feb. 16, in latitude % north and
longitude 44:1O west. The fire broke out on
Feb. 10 and burned fiercely for three days,
during which time Fireman Thomas Rob-
erts was burned to death, Second officer
James Bateman and Seaman William An
CELL were drowned by the capsizing of a
boat. Third officer Martin and Chief
Steward John Gaffney went adrift in an
other boat and Chief Cook Frederick e.
Lee crazed with fearful burns, jumped
overheard. The rest of the crew of thirty
men, with two passengers, DR.. William e.
Mortimer and wife, of London, were res
cued by the fruit steamer Flowergate and
brought to this port, arriving here to-day
Four of the crew, Chief Engineer John
Throughear. Second Engineer John
Holden, Fourth Engineer Robert Min and
Seaman Charles Iblitson were so severely
injured that they were taken to the Marine
Hospital upon arriving at this port. Holden
is not expected to live.
JOHN GAFFNEY, chief steward.
JAMES BATEMAN. second officer.
WILLIAM MARTIN. third officer.
ALExANDER JENKINS. chief cook,
drowned.
WILLIAM ANGII4I. seaman, drowned
THOMAS ROBERTS, fireman, burned to
death.
Those severely burned are:
JOHN TRAUGHEAR, chief engineer.
JOHN HOLDEN, second engineer,
ROBERT Min, fourth engineer
CHARLES IBBSTON, seaman.
The suffering of those who survived the
fearful three days in which they were
tossed about by the waves. while explosion
after explosion threatened to- send the fire
eaten steamer to the bottom. makes a tale
seldom equaled in the annals of the mer-
chant marine. The Legislator left Liver
pool on Feb. 3, with a miscellaneous cargo,
including phosphate, cotton goods and per-
cussion caps, for Colon and Central Amer
lean ports. Nothing out of the ordinary oc-
Cured until O'Clock in the morning of the
18th, when, without warning, an explosion
took place from a hatchway forward OF
midships, followed by tremendous out
burst OF smoke and flames. All the firemen
and engineers save one came tumblng on
deck. some Of them more or less burned.
The missing man was Thomas Roberts, and
at was not until two days that his charred
body was recovered during lull in the fire.
Tho creN was badly handicapped in fight
ing the fire, as the hose and pumping en-
CINE were disabled or consumed. Soon after
tho fire started it spread so rapidly that the
forward part of the boat, on which were
seven men, was cut off. and Captain Ten
nant asked for volunteers to rescue the re-
mainder OF the crew. Second Officer Bate
man and Seaman William Angel at once
offered to row along the side of the ship
and bring the men aft. One of the beats
was launched with difficulty, as there was a
heavy sea running, and by careful work
managed to reach the almost doomed men.
All were finally taken on board and the
boat dropped astcrn; but before the nine
men could be pulled on the after-deck a
tremendous sea capsized the small boat and
every man was thrown into the water
After their heroic work, Bateman and An
gel were the only ones who were not res
eued. In the meantime, through some con-
fusion, another boat had been launched
and in 1t was Third officer Martin and Chief
Steward John Gaffney.
Another big sea swept them away and
they have not been seen since.
Tlte.ii ghting of the flames still continued,
and as the fire reached the boxes of per-
cussion caps there were almost constant
explosions In one of these Frederick e.
Lee. the chief cook. was so severely burned
that he jumped overheard and could not be
saved.
AT s o'clock on the morning of the 10th
the steamer Flowergate, bound to this port
from Palmero, Italy, hove in sight. Two
boats were immediately lowered from the
Flowergate and after three hours all of
those on board the burning vessel were
safely transferred, Captain Tenant being
the last to leave. Some of the crew saved
a part Of their clothing. but a majority of
those on board lost everything. The rescue
was none too soon, for as the Flowergate
started her engines the fire was seen burst
ling from the afterdecks of the Legislator
and the steamer was probably entirely con-
stunned not many hours after.
The Legislator was a steamer OF 1899 tons
net register, 1897 gross tons. Her dimen-
sions were: Length, $50 feet; breadth Of
beam, forty feet one inch; depth. twenty
feet two inches. She was built at MiddIes-
borough, England. in 1883. and was owned
by the Charante Steamship Company, OF
Liverpool.
british steamer Ashore.