New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
THE 'PATR1X' IN TOW.
STEAMER ATHESIA PULLING THE LINER
TOWARD THE ELBE.
ONE MAN DIES AS THE RESULT OF THE

| FIRE-A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
Hamburg Nov 16-The crew of the Ham
| burg-American Line steamer Patria are on
the company's steamer Athesia. Captain Noss'
! from Philadelphia November 2, for Hamburg
which is towing the Patria toward the Eloe
London. Nov 16-The passengers of the Ham
| burg-American Line steamer Patria. which was
reported on fire off Dover last night. while on
a VOYAGE from New-York for Hamburg. were
transferred to the Russian steamer Ceres about
| twenty miles from Ostend They state that
! CAPTAIN Frohlich intended to try to reach Ham
burg with the Patra.
The rescued passengers of the Patria spent
| last night at Southampton They were houseo
at the Hamburg American Companys expense
| while awaiting the arrival OF the Kaiser frieu-
rich Four Of the passengers were left at Dover
| and one OF these. man named Duplace' uieu
in Dover this evening, as a result OF his terrible
experience in the English Channel
MAY BE PARTLY SAVED.
It now seems probable that the Patria will
at least be partly saved. What caused the fre
is still a mystery but 1t is asserted that the
fact that the steamer on fire was Withheld
from the passengers for some time because cap
tain Frohlich wished to take his ship to HAM
burg without causing alarm II possible
Mr. Duplace had been for twenty years Ger
man Consul at San Juan. Porto Rico. with MIN
were his wife and Mrs. Ivers, of New-1ork CITY
a fellow cabin passenger who being trained
| nurse and seeing the distress of Mr. and Mrs.
Duplace. generously volunteered to stay and
nurse the Consul. declining the opportunity 10
continue her journey to Germany.
The fourth survivor left at Dover is Captain
Frohlichs steward, who went to the help OF Mr..
Duplace when the passengers were ordered on
deck Mr. Dupace was suffering from an9mia
MRS. DUPLACE's STORY.
Mrs. Duplace gives the following description Of
their escape:
1t was about 1870 O'Clock yesterday morning.
the weather being calm and fine and several OF
us being seated in the deck saloon, when SUD
denly Captain Fr0hch appeared and shouted.
d, "Al passengers on deck" Everybody started
forward with a rush 1--WE are afire.' said the
captain but there is no danger. Don't get eX-
cited ,
deck near the smokestacks. My sick husDanu
was in his cabin and undressed. l hurried 10
him and began to dress him, when IN came tne
steward shouting, Get out of this, QUICK ne
took nv husband by the feet and | supported
his head. We started to carry him to the deck,
but the smoke choked u.s. and the water from
the fire hose swshed around our knees l t leaieu
that all was lost, but, going backward throusn
another passage we managed TO reach the deck
I
in safety. .
There all the passengers were crowded to-
gether Thick clouds Of smoke were blowing
over the whole ship. and distress signals were
flying One passenger. who had hasuiy come
from the bathroom appeared with scarceS amS
clothing on. Others found themselves equdIiy
unprepared. The captain told us that ne Wouiu
lower the boats precaution so we liheu up
Women and children first shouted ihe cap
tain who was standing near me. l rephed tllat t
I supposed ! would have TO wait Tor the mn iilen
/ y,nt ipaV m
Captain Fr0hlch answered me by Iltlhs my
husband placing him in the bottom OF one Vi .ne
boats ordering me 10 follow ana teliins .he
steward TO go with us Our boat was the nrst
lowered. -. .,., =
We were all terribly frightened. but though
few, cried there was no disorder. Inc olHCel9
and crew did all they could, ana ehcoui astu 49,, u
TO be brave and cool While one boat was perhs %
| lowered the bottom began TO give way me
! women screamed. and for a moment IL seeileu DO
| II the bottom would drop out. but the poat was
| quickly hauled back. Another BOAT hau ho 'i'''
! the passengers doinG the rowing.
| Meanwhile some fishing smacks had come up
! and several passengers boarded these put CaP.
| tain Frohlich beloved through the sihohe ma tiat
| no one must leave the Patrias boats, SO they
! left the smacks. From this order we lnierreu ln,
! that the sailors, VINO were working cedseesS,S ~
| honed 10 put out the fire. For more thdh an
| bour we Law alongside the liner, now not anu
! smoke covered, cinders and deDrle lalilns oETa ~
our boats. Through the hre we ocSdsoLiaIS ',.so
! caught sight Of Captain Frohlich on the prl9se.
| re divided his attention between giving orueIs
to the crew and joking with US. once ne shouted .,
| laughingly The fire is in my caoln NO" l
! can't get my pipe, and you all know can uo
| anything without my pipe. .
| Then the Ceres came up, and her captain sang
out Your ships afire. Shall take your pas
| sengers?" Frightened as we were, we lausheu.
| Cantsin Frohlich made the Ceres promise 10
| take us to Dover. and then our boats puIeu
| over TO her. and were taken aDoaTd me
| last we saw of the Patria she was Just mass
80 erookc ard going slowly toward Hamburg.
! Many of us had to pay for what little we couIu
Get 70 eat on board the Ceres At Dover every
! body was very kind. - -
the fire was discovered we would not nave iost
our belongings nor been exposed 10 suCh ual!
GER 7 have made fifteen trips across the Al
! lantic. and have seen good many storms out
7 never experienced anything so awful as being
on board a ship which was on hre' 40 not
know what Mr.. Duplace ana l woulu W IA ~
| could do had not Mrs. Ivers offered to stay ana
try to cave my husbands life. We did not
know her on board the Patria, but her deed is
quite in keeping with the generous Us, bed Go fre
| by the American women whom we had SO IRE. IRE
ouentlv met at San Juan since Porto Rico came
| under American control
Commenting on the disaster to the Patrla' the
newspapers to-day enthusiastically note the
calmness and pluck OF the captain and crew OF
the vessel, and say that the sturdy manliness
of these Americans and Germans viii be warmly
honored by every Englishman"
The steamer Albertay passing Beachy Heau
! this morning signalled that she spoke the fdtrla
sixty-fve miles from Hamburg in tow OF com
pany's steamer. When last seen names were
| esung from the Patria The Albertay mad
stood by the Patria for five hours. and lett wheh
| no further assistance was required
Sixteen valuable race horses on Doarn 'he
Patria were suffocated or burned to death.
While waiting for the Kaiser Friedrich whlch
arrived at Southampton this evening shorty
before o'clock, the passengers were cateu iol
on hoard the Isle Of Wight steamer Carisbrooke,
provded for their accommodation by the Ham
burg American company. They presented a
strange spectacle on their arrival. Some Of the
men were wrapped in blankets. Some were
Frustrated with nervous excitement and had 10
be carried on board the Carisbrooke
OFFICERS OF THE SHIP PRAISED.
All are loud in their praises Of the GOODNESS
and courage Of Captain Fr0hlich and the crew
L.. oh thntr cir thnN