The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-27

baftled spffh grim determination.
TINE sremen won the aght but 1t waD
exactly midnight before the big beu
sounded the lonely tap which $40
nailed the end. Hundreds and hun
dreds OF gallons Of water were poured into
the hull and foot by foot the twisting.
roaring demon was driven back Until II
ragged alone under the grating and In the
side near the engine There came the test
and t was q hard one Baffled al one
point the attack was made from another.
The flames from beneath the heavy grating
seemed TO laugh AT the firemen ard hiss in
hendish delight at the mass OF water con-
ssantly pouring upon them The swivel
noxzies finished the work and then the Are
men rested worn out and ready to drop
from the strain Of the conflict.
To Go ON Dry dOck.
The schooner is in a serious condition.
and II will be necessary TO pump her out
and then tow her TO a drydcck. From the
engine room. near the stern, she Is Quilted
forward The flames reached from the
hold below TO the top Of the third deck. and
in their relentless course wiped out the
personal property OF twenty-five men, val
ued at si.s50. In Capt. Weber's safe was
$1,000 In gold dust and valuable papers 1t
is feared that the safe fell through to the
hold. but In what condition IL viii be
found remains to be seen. The captain
roughly estimates the loss to the ship from
So 100 to $1,000. 1t may so higher. The
captain said that there was insurance. but
the exact amount Is not known.
The I.akms is a wooden vessel DO feet
long over all Sometime ago she was flttec
up for a transport. and new cabins were
put on her decks. This gave her two decks
above the hold, and accounts for the diff
Guilty the firemen had In reaching the
flames.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon she ar
rived In Seattle from st. Michael with $50
passengers. She was unioaded quickly, and
being very short of coal, went to the south
side of the north wing Of the Pacific Coast
coal bunkers. She was tied up about 6
o'clock. and the crew went ashore, or most
OF them cid
Chief Engineer Lekins states positively
that the fires were drawn and well wet
down. Every precaution possible to be
taken against another fire similar to that
which cost the owner OF the Lakme so. 600
about six months ago was taken. according
to the statement OF the chief engineer.
The Captains Discovery.
II left the engine room al . o'clock or
;hereabogts." said Engineer Lekins and
everything was in perfect order In
structed Fireman Moore to see that things
were shin-shape when he left. Then l
went up town to get a piece Of tobacco.
and knew nothing Of any trouble until
returned.
Capt. Frank Weber also went up town
ard visited the Office OF the Seattie-Yu
Transportation Company. which is operat-
Ing the boat. to transact some business.
This over he started back TO the hunkers.
As he stepped aboard the I.akme he me.
49,. IL
and down the deck
queer osior reached the captains nos
trils. and with feeling or alarm he cried
out: -
What IS that queer Nmeil?"
Flushing 10 the window OF the engine
room he looked down and there saw
sight which made him cry out: MY God
the ship is on fire.
Under the heavy iron grating in the en-
CINE room red flames were dancing. They
did not seem 10 be spread over a large
area AZ the moment, and the captain rush
ed below with q pall of water In hopes
or putting them cut. They Kissed slightly
when the water was poured on and rose
a little higher Then A. T., Sandhorg the
partryman. and n Wedderhurn the stew
ard, who had followed the captain closely
on hoard. Joined in the fight with buckets
az water.
II was a losing fight The flames in
creased in volume and intensity with
Iighsning-like rapidly. They flashed up
Into she face Of Capt. Wehber and nearly
overcarue him. lie and his helpers were
driven back. They rushed On deck and
gave a wild alarm OF fire,
Fire Boat Arrives.
Almost simultaneously with their cries
came the footing OF whistles. The flames
had broken through the windows OF the
engine room and were lighting up the
lark tsnYoers ~ the big coal hunkers I'm a
manner that made sailors tregnhie
From the dock Of the Are tsoat Snoqual-
ME came the signal that she WAS ready
80 meet the call Someone on the street
<eclnx a long tongue ~ flame ssoot ur into
the night ar. pulled IN box u Then came
the rush and excitement TIE fra engines
Numbered down the street the crowd fol-
lowed with a rush and the old nrehoat
p1ftng ous hlg streams Of smoke paowesa
along and IN quick tine slid up on IN.
s,aracarss side 81 the burning vessea and
threw csst her lines
In The reansiFae IRE bose from Company
Ne Z vas run from on shore down tire
soag coal snnkers. The big teams with
their fiery horses trampsi alosg the mar
row walk under tho high tor 81 the saaxr-
moth structure All was excitement ard
In tie midst eg all could he heard ,he voce