The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-04
CITY OF MAcoN'S CLOSE CALL.
FIRE BURNS IN HER FORWARD
HOLD MANY HOURS.

discovered About 9.3O O'clock SAT-
urday Night-AII Speed Made for
Tybee which Was Reached Early
Yesterday Observation-Disclosures
Rendered by the Tug Cynthia and
Later by the PauIsen the Cambria
and the observation-disclosures
brought TO the City on the
PauIsen-Thc Fire ExtinEuished
and the Vessel to BE Brought Up
to Her Dock This Morning.
The ocean steamship City of Macon of
the Savannah aud Boston line had mar
row. escape from destruction by fire Sat
urday night The vessel sailed from Bos-
ton Wednesday noon, stopping at New
York. where she took on additional passen-
gers and cargo.
AT $50 o'clock Saturday night while off
Martins Industry lightship, eighteen
miles north of Tybee, fire was discoyered
in the forward hold. There were no
flames to be seen and the fire could not be
definitely located, but the smoke came up
from the hatchways and made its way
between decks. Passengers who retired
early noticed strong smell of smoke in
their rooms for which they were unable
40 account The passengers were not IN
formed of the presence of the
first when it was first discovered, as it
was not intended 10 alarm them If it could
be avoided
The ships fire apparatus was promptly
got to work and a stream was turned into
the burning hold. Capt. Savage then or
dered the ship headed for Tybee at full
speed. As the fire did not yield to the eff
forts of the ships crew, the passengers
were awakened from their berths about
1870 o'clock and notified of the serious.
condition of affairs in order that they
might be IN readiness for any course
which 1t might be necessary to take.
The ship arrived in Tybee roads about 2
O'Clock yesterday morning, and signalled
the tug Cynthia, which was cruising near
by, TO come to her assistance. The tug re-
sponded and began pumping water
into the steamer. An officer was
sent to Tybee in a boat
to telegraph the city for further assist
ance, but there being no operator on the
island, the message could not be sent.
Later a telephone message was sent and
the Propeller Towboat Company was no.
tilted of the vessels situation. The tug
Paulsen was sent down and Joined the
Cynthia in pouring water into the burning
vessel. Capt Savage at length decided to
bring the ship into the river, which was
done She was run ashore opposite the
quarantine station stern foremost, in or
der to confine the water to the forward
hold by elevating the stem and thus pre-
vent damage to the cargo as much as pos
sible. The tugs continued TO pump water
into the vessel the greater part of the day.
the tugs Cambria and McCauley ADDING
their efforts to that of the Cynthia.
The passengers were put aboard the
Paulsen and brought up TO the city, arriv-
ing about IL o'clock. There were eighteen
passengers, including Storage, several Ia
dies being among the number. All were
pretty we'll tagged out after their nights
experience, as there was no sleep for any
one after the seriousness of the situation
was realized. The passengers admitted
that they were considerably excited when
first notified that the ship was on fire.
Some of the ladies were almost hysterical.
The GOODNESS of Capt Savage and his off,
GERS, however, and the methodical man.
ner in which they went about their work
reassured them, and they soon saw thai
the danger was not imminent.
Among the passengers were Messrs. l..
G. johnson and A. A. Daggett of New
York, Mr.. e. H. Chaffee of Worcester.
Mass, and Miss Kate Naughtin of Savan-
nah.
Vice President Egan of the Ocean
Steamship Company stated last night
that the Macon would be brought up to
the city early this morning. The fire in
the hold was extinguished in the after
noon and the tugs began pumping out the
water which they had previously pumped
in. The damage to the vessel is thought
TO be slight, but the damage to the cargo
in the forward hold, which was of general
merchandise, is likely to be considerable
The cargo is insured. No insurance is
carried on the ship.