The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-16
ALL SAVE LIVES.
Steamer Patria Is
Burned in the
Channel.
PASSENGERS RESCUED.
Many Americans Taken to
Dover and Cared for
BY Consul,
PASSENGERS RESCUED.

London, Nov 15.-Word comes of the
destruction by fire of the Hamburg
American liner Patria, bound from
Hamburg to New York. The passengers
were all rescued.
The Russian steamer Ceres sighted
the Patria, showing signals of distress
and demanding immediate help, about
u miles from North Hinder lightship
The liner was enveloped in smoke. Put
ting on full steam, the Ceres soon
reached the Patria, and, sending boat;
learned that Captain Frohlich was in
urgent need of assistance.
The boats were got out, and, with
great difficulty, all the Patria's passen-
gers, numbering $50, were transferred
to the Ceres which proceeded for Do
yer. where she arrived just before mid
night.
Francis w. Prescott, United States
consul at Dover, was Immediately no
tilted, and he consulted with the har-
Dor authorities, who arranged to send
out the harbor tug, Lady Vita, which
brought the rescued ashore. Among the
saved are many ladies and children,
as well as six babes in arms,
The hurry of the rescue was indica-
ted by the fact that many of them
were enveloped in blankets only. They
were rapidly distributed among the ho-
tells or sent to the Sailors home and
everything possible is being done for
their comfort.
According to interviews with some of
the passengers, which ELECTED the fact
that many of them are American cit
liens, who have come for a vacation
in Europe, all were ordered on deck
at o'clock Wednesday morning, when
they Were informed that disastrous
fire had broken out among the general
cargo; and as the crew were unable
To master it, the captain said he con-
sidered it advisable for passengers to
take to the boats. At this time 1t was
evident that the fire had obained a
thorough hold upon the cargo. Smoke
and flames We're ascending with over
towering force and causing the great
est alarm. The crew, according to sew
eral passengers, worked like heroes in
their endeavors to keep the flames I'M
der, but the great quantity of linseed
among the cargo and the oil supplied
by this, made all their efforts hopeless.
There was very great excitement among
the women and children; but the ex-
ample set by the GOODNESS of Captain
Frohlich and the crew, had a calming
effect upon the passengers generally.
The boats We're promptly got over the
side, the crew working as if they were
at drill.
The safety of the ladies and the chill
dren was the first consideration. As
the fire had by this time consumed the
greater part of the passengers belong
lngs, they had to get into the boats as
they had come from their hunks; and
some were in very light raiment. The
scene was a striking one, with some
touching aspects as husbands and ia
theirs parted from their wives and chill
dren. Although everything was carried
out under the most trying conditions,
thanks to the great GOODNESS of the cap
tain and crew, there. was no panic, all
the passengers being gotten into the
boats and into two fishing boats said
to belong to Yarmouth, which had come
up in the meantime.
Just as this had been effected, large
steamer was seen making toward the
burning liner She proved to be the Ce-
res, which first sent a boat and then
picked up all the Patris's passengers.
The Ceres offered to take off Capt.
Frohlich and the crew, but the latter
preferred to remain by the vessel so
long as there was any chance of saving
her although th-re was the greatest
danger in doing so, her hull being red
hot at the time, and there being every
evidence that she would burn for con-
siderable period.
The passengers say they learned from
the officers that Capt. Frohlich hopes
to put his steamer ashore at some point
on the coast where there will be pos
sibiIity of salving her. The scheme is
bold one that does credit to a gallant
crew. and which 1t is hoped may be
successful. The passengers, who had
had nothing to eat since 730 Wednes-
day morning, were treated with the
greatest kindness on being landed at
Dover. Among them were "a ladies and
about 30 children, who looked very
wretched as they landed at the admiral
tv pier. The crew of the liner is said to
consist chiefly of Americans.