Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-28
FIRE ABOARDSHIP|
THE ARDAsDHu, or THE rwnnp1n
LINE, HAS THIS ExPEnznscR
EXCITEMENT AroIG THB PIssEIeGlS
Eleven Jamaicans Try 10 seiss che
Life-Boass-rhey. Are rreveatsa ri
Ships omcer., and Rest Of Passea-
gers and the Crew Are M.ae ssss.

NEW YORK. July z.--The steamshin
Ardandhu, OF the Tweedie Line. trading
between West Indian ports and this city.
came up the bay to-day with a heavy Ifno
to starboard. and tho cargo stored ir her
lower hold on fire. The fire lrst mado
It's appearance at $50 o'clock Monday
night, when. II the vessel ha,; made an
uninterrupted voyage. she should have
been OF the New Jersey shore and close
TO Sandy Hook. But leaky boilers and
the breaking down of her engines de-
layed the steamer at least thirty hours.
and at the time OF tho discovery of the
flames, in Hold No. 3, the steamer was
on Fenwick's Islands, on the coast oa
Maryland.
The widest excitement followed the
outbreak OF the fire. and several OF the
eleven steerage passengers. all Jamaicans,
endeavored to seize the iife-boats. The
third mate, Percy Sanders, was forced to
draw his revolver TO prevent the men
from the steerage leaving the burning
steamer In the three life-boats. which
could easily accommodate the other forty-
five passengers and members OF the crew.
out of the boats by Captain Walker end
his men, and when discipline. was re-
stored preparations were made fpr saving
the lives of the women and children on
the vessel The three life-boats were
lowered into the sea, which was quite
calm. and the ships officers stood by
the rope-ladders. Thus panic was
averted and the safety of the fifty-sis
persons on board the Ardandhu assured.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST.
The heat was so intense and the smoke
was SO heavy that 1t was for time un-
safe for the passengers TO remain on tho
upper deck. They were ordered forward.
and the women and children were first
put In the life-boats, each OF wQich had
full supply Of food and water on board.
and was supplied with conpasses and
signal Rockets.
1t was nearly midnight when Captain
Walker considered that he had the fire
under control. and decided to continue on
his way to New York The women and
children were taken back to the steamer
and the life-boats were hoisted TO the
davits. but were not taken on board. Tho
officers from that time on kept watch
over the life boats to prevent the eleven
Jamaicans. who appeared to be terror
stricken, from deserting the burning
steamship in them. Two Of the 3teerage
passengers. however, slowed themselves
in the small boat astern. and remained
there until tho Ardandhu reached the
Narrows.
FIRE EXTENSIVE.
On the trip up the coast Captain Walker
brought the steamship to a standstill to
ascertain IL the steam was getting the
better of tho flames in the lower hold.
Although II was apparent that the flames
were being held In check. II was also
clear that the fire in No. hold was an
extensive one. Between decks tha heat
was unbearable. and when the covers
from the ventilator-hoies were removed
smoke rolled out OF the opening. The hrs
continued TO burn. and the Ardandhu, on
account OF the water which had been let
into holds Nos and 4. had "a heavy LIST
TO starboard, preventing much speed.