New-York tribune., 1899-08-21
ON FIRE IN THE STORM
THRILLING EXPERIENCE OF THE KANSAS
CITY IN THE HURRICANE OFF
HATTERAS.

Savannah. Ca. Aug 20 CSpeciaD The steamship
Kansas City arrived at midnight from New-York
after q most exciting and dangerous voyage. The
steamer left New-York Tuesday afternoon and
nearly hundred hours coming down the coast.
The ship struck by the terrific gale that has
been lowering of the Atlantic coast during the
last several days and had a escape from
sinking There only fifty passengers on board.
beside the crew with Captain Fisher in command.
At one time the danger of fire added to the
horror OF the storm. Between and o'clock on
Friday morning the electric light wires set fire 10
the casing inclosing them in the after companion
way. The fire worked it's way along the casing
10 the main saloon where the smoke made its
presence known. The alarm was given immedi-
ately. and the call 20 quarters sounded The
storm stlll its height. but the crew respond
ed promptly. and the fire was located and ex-
tnguished in fifteen twenty minutes. This oc-
CURED in the early morning. and few OF the pas
sengers OF the danger which threat
ened them until hours after In going TO the fire
Captain Fisher slipped and fell in the companion
way. bruising himself quite severely. His In
juries are not serious however. and did not cause
him to lose a moment from his duties.
All the casualties Of the trip were to the officers
and crew. In making his way along the deck on
Wednesday morning First officer Smith was
thrown 10 the deck by urch OF the ship and
severely bruised. His injuries were internal
and painful The officer refused to be confined to
his room. although ne unable to stand his
watch Three Of the coal passers in the engine room
had their hands badly cut in handling the ash
buckets. The men worn out with overwork,
and with their injuries added would doubtless
have given up but for Chief Engineer Smith. who
held them TO their work. Captain Fisher says OF
the trip:
We left New-York at $50 o'clock Tuesday after
noon and had fine weather until the next day at
noon. when it began to grow. squally This con-
ffuua rfn ah In 10
teras in the night and so We hove to and laid the
vessels head to eastward. Al midnight II was
blowing a heavy gale and with heavy seas, ana ny
oclock Thursday morning the wind had increased
10 a violent gale with heavy confused sea. Al 3
o'clock the wind was blowing with hurricane
force and the barometer was down to q % The
velocity OF the wind at this time was about slghty
miles hour. coming in squalls At noon Thurs,
and weather unchanged. -,
The storm continued until O'Clock on Friday
night, when the weather moderated. The ship be
haved splenddly. There is nothing broken, not
even a strand of rope. There IS probably some
We shipped a good deal The seas were terruic nc
plling over one another and breaking over the
when the storm subsided on Friday night We
had been blown considerable distance Qut OF our our
course probably one hundred miles When the
storm was a. its height the sight in the main
cabin where most OF the passengers were gain
cred. was not inspiring one. The saloon was
flooded with water and the passengers were wet.
bedragged and sick Some Of the women were
while some of both sexes prayed loudly for de-
livery from the storm"
the case with Mr. and Mrs A. IIlges, Of New-Y ork.
numbered ten in all and their distress because Of
the danger 20 their children was so great as 10
had oniy themselves 10 think Of The passengers
presented to Captain Fisher testimonial for n @Lne
New-Yorkers aboard the Kansas City were W. F.
Keine and A. Wilkinson.