The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-28
STEAMER IN FLAMES AT SEA.
SIX LIVES LOST AND THE vEssEu
ABANDONED.


panied by "A Number of Explosions
An OHicer and Seaman Drowned
After Playing the HcrO-rwO Other
Members of the Crew Go Adrift ina
a Small BOat-A Fireman Burned
to Death and the Chief Cook Leaps
Overheard.
Boston. Feb. 2-The British steamen
Legislator Capt Tenant, bound from
Liverpool for Colon was burned at sea
Feb. 16 in latitude 31:23 north and longiA
tude 44:1O west.
The fire broke out on Feb. 70 and burned
fiercely for three days. during which time
Fireman Thomas Roberts was burned to
death, Second officer James Bateman and
Seaman William Angel were drowned by
the capsizing of a boat. Third officer Mar
tin and Chief Steward John Ganney went
adrft In another boat, and Chief Coola
Fred e. Lee. crazed with fearful burnss
Jumped overheard. The rest of the creM
of thirty men, with two passengers, DR..
William u. Mortimer and wife of Londons
were rescued by the fruit steamer Flower
gate and brought TO this port arriving
here to-day
-Four of the crew, Chief Engineer John
Troughear. Second Engineer John Holdens
Fourth Engineer Min and Seaman Charles
I. Blitzen were so severely injured that
they were taken TO the Marine Hospital
upon arriving at this port. Holden Is noe
expected 20 live.
The terrible experience OF those who sur
vived the fearful three days which they
were tossed about by the waves while ex-
plosion after explosion threatened to send
the ennamed steamer to the bottom makes
a tale seldom equalled in the annals OF
the merchant marine
The Legislator left Liverpool on Feb.
with a miscellaneous cargo, including
phosphate, cotton goods and percussion
caps, for Colon and Central American
ports. Nothing out of the ordinary ocs
CURED until 4 o'clock in the morning OF
the 18th. when, without warning, an ex-
plosion took place from a hatchway for
ward of midships, followed by a tremen-
dous outburst of smoke and flames. Alt
the tiremen and engineers but one came
tumbling on deck some of them more or
less burned. The missing man was
Thomas Roberts, and Vt was not until two
days that his charred body was recov-
cred during a lull In the fire.
The crew were badly handicapped i'm
fighting the fire, as the hose and pumping
engine were disabled or choked. Soon af-
ter the FIRE started 1t spread so rapidly
that the forward part of the boat, In
which were seven men. was cut of and
Capt Tenant asked for volunteers to
rescue the remainder of the crew. Second
officer Bateman and Seaman William
Angel at once offered TO row along the
side of the ship and bring the men aft.
One of the boats was launched with diff
WI a rlstda
ana by careful work managed to reach
the almost doomed men. All were flnally
taken on board and the boat dropped
astern, but before the nine men could be
pulled on the after deck tremendous sea
capsized the small boat and every man
was thrown into the water. After their
heroic work, Officer Bateman and Sea-
man Angel were the only ones who were
not rescued.
Meantime, through some confusion. an
other boat had been launched and In III
was Third officer Martin and Chief Stew
ard John Gaffney. Another big sea swept
them away and they have not been seen
since. The fighting of the flames still con-.
tlnued, and as the fire reached the boxes
of percussion caps there were almost con-
giant explosions.
On one of these Fred r.. Lee the CHIEF
| cook, was so severely burned that he Jump
ed overheard Ia his delrium, and -ould
not be- saved
At o'clock on the morning of the 18Th
the steamer Flowergate, bound TO this
port from Palermo, Italy, hove In sight
Two boats were Immediately lowered fronY
the Flowergate, and after three hours ell
| OF those on board the burning vessel were
| safely transferred, Capt Tenant being
the last 10 leave. Some of the crew saw
| ed part OF their clothing, but majority
of those on board lost everything.
fhA
| the Flowergate started her engines. the
| fire was seen bursting from the after
decks OF the Legislator and the steamer
was probably entirely consumed not many
| hours after
The Legislator was a steamer of i,ss9
| tons register, 2997 gross tons. Her dimen-
sions were Length, 800 feet, breadth beam
40 feet / inch; depth 20 feet inches She
was built at marlborough, England, In
| 1885, and was owned by the Charante
Steamship Company of Liverpool, Eng
land.
| The dead are:
| Drowned:
| Chief Steward JOHN GAFFNEY.
Second Officer JAMES BATEMAN.
| Third Officer WILLIAM MARTIN.
| Chief Cook ALEXANDER JENKINS.
Seaman WILLIAM GILL.
Burned to death.
Fireman THOMAS ROBERTS.
| Severely burned:
Chief Engineer THOMAS TROUGH
| EAR.
Second Engineer JOHN HOLDEN.
| Fourth Engineer ROBERT MILN.
| Seaman CHARLES IBBSON
| The wounded were taken to the marine
hospital on their arrival at this port
| The fire is supposed to have been the re-
| suit of spontaneous combustion in the car
| go of phosphate.
/ LAUNCHING OF THE KENTUCKY.