Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-16
OCEAN LINER on FIRE.
All Passengers Saved, But Most Ar
rayed I'm Blankets Only.

LONDON, November 15.-The Hamburg
American Line steamer Patria, Captain
Frohlich. which left New York November
4th for Hamburg, and passed the Lzard
Yesterday. is on fire near Dover. All the
passengers were rescued and have arrived
at Dover.
The Russian steamer Ceres sighted the
Patria, showing signals OF distress ana
demanding immediate help, about Twelve
miles from North Hinder lightship. The
liner was enveloped I'm smoke. putting on
full steam. the Ceres soon reached the
Patria. and, sending a boat, learned that
CAPTAIN Frohlich was I'm urgent need OF
assistance The boats were got out, and
with the greatest difficulty all Of the Pa
trials passengers, numbering $50, were
transferred to the Ceres, which proceeded
for Dover. where she arrived Just Delore
midnight.
Francis w. Prescott, the United states
Consul in Dover was Immediately hot-
fed and he consulted with the harDor
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 Indicated
by the fact that most Of the passengers
we're enveloped in blankets only. Ihey
were rapidly distributed among the no
tells or sent to the Sailors Home, ana
everything possible is being done Tor their
comfort
CAPTAIN AND CREW HEROIC.
According 10 interviews with some Of
the passengers, which ELECTED the 1act
that most Of them are American eltlzehs
who had come for a vacation In Europe
all were ordered on deck at . oc.ock
Wednesday morning. when they were IN
formed that a disastrous fire had broken
out among the general cargo and. as the
crew were unable TO master It, the cap
tain said he considered it advisable for
the passengers 10 take TO the boats. AT
this time il was evident that the fire had
obtained a thorough hold upon the cargo
Smoke and fame were ascending win
overpoWering force, and causing the
greatest alarm. The crew, according 10
several passengers, worked like heroes III
their endeavors to keep the flames under,
bur 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 example
set by the GOODNESS Of Captain frohlch
and the crew had a calming effect on
the passengers generally. The boats were
promptly got over the side, and the
crew working as If they were al drill.
The safety of the ladies and children
were the first consideration. As the fire
mad by this time consumed the greater
part Of the passengers belongings, they
had TO get into the boats as they had
come up from their hunks, and some
were in very light rainent.
NO PANIC.
The scene was a striking one, with
some touching aspects, as husbands and
fathers parted from wives and children.
| Although everything was carried out
under the most trying conditions, thanks
10 the great GOODNESS OF the captain and
crew, there was no panic, all of the
passengers being gotten into the boats
and into two hshing-boats, said 10 belong
| 20 Yarmouth, which had come up In the
mean time.
Just as this had been effected a large
steamer was seen to be making toward
| the burning liner. She proved TO be the
| Ceres. which first sent u boat and then
picked up all the Patria's passengers
! The Ceres also offered 10 take or Cap
| tain Frohlich and the crew, but they pre-
ferred to remain by the vessel so lons
as there was any chance OF saving her
| although there was the greatest danger
I'm doing so, her hull being red-hot al
the time, and there being every evidence
that she would burn for considerable
period.
The passengers say they learned from
! the officers that Captain Frohlich pro-
posed to put his steamer ashore at some
point on the coast, where there would be
a possibility Of saving her.