The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-16
HAMBURG LINER BURNED.
Steamer Patria on Fire
Near Dover.
All Passengers We're Rescued and
Are at DOVer.
Many of Them Were
Americans.
The Loss Was Nearly Two
Million Dollars.
Were

London, November 15.-Tte Hamburg
American steamer PatriH, Capt. Frolioh,
which left New York. November 9TH, for
Hamburg and passed the Lizard, Is on
fire rear Dover. All the passengers were
rescued and have arrived at Dover.
TIE Russian steamer Gees sighted the
Patria. showing signals Of distress and
demanding immediate help, about IL
miles from Hinder ightship. Tie lirer
was envelorei 10 smoke. Putting on
full steam the &c e3 soon re,ohei the
Patria and tending a boat leafnet that
Cap. Frolich, was In urgent reed OF as
| sistsnce The boats wee got out and,
with greit difficulty, all the Patria's
passengers numbering $50, were trans
ferrei to TIE &c es which proeee lei for
Dover, where sire arrived just te'ore mid
night. MIR. Francis W. Pressett, the
United States consul In Dover. was I'm
mediately notified and he consulted with
the harbor authorities. who arranged to
send out the har Tor tug Lady Vita, which
brought thu rescued ashore. Among the
saved are many ladies and children, as
we'll az six babes In arms.
The hurry OF the rescue was Indicated
| by the fact that most Of them were en-
| veloped In blankets only. They were
rapidly distributed among the hotels or
sent to the sailors home. and everything
Is being done for their comfort.
According to interviews with some OF
the passengers, which elioited tbs fact that
most of them are A mericans who have
come for vacation In Europe, oil 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 Grew were
unable to master it, the captain said
he considered 10 advisable for the passen-
gers to Jake to the boats. At this time 10
was evident that the brs had obtained a
thorough hold upon the cargo. Smoke
and flames were ascending with over
towering force and causing the greatest
alarm. The crew, according to several
passeugers, worked like heroes In their
endsavors to keep the flames under; but
the great quantity Of linseed among the
cargo and the oil supplied by this made
all of their Efforts hopeless.
There was very great excitement among
the women and children, but the example
EST by the GOODNESS OF Capt. Froiioh and
the Grew. had calming effect upon the
passen gers generally.
Ths boats were promptly got over the
side, the Grew working as Il they were at
drill. The safety Of the ladies and the
children were this first COT sideration. As
the tire had by this time consumed the
| greater part of the passengers belong
| ings, they had to get into the boats az
they had come from their hunks and
some were In very light raimsnt.
| Tbs scene WAS striking one with
some touching aspects. as husbands and
fathers parted from their wives and chill
dren. Although every thing was carried
out under the most trying conditions.
| thanks to the great GOODNESS OF this CAP
| tain and crew. there was no panic, all
| the passengers being gotten into the boats
and into two fishing boats said to be-
long to Yarmouth which had come up In
| the meantime.
Just as this had been effected large
steamer was seen to be making toward
the burning liner. She proved to he the
Ceres, which first sent a boat and then
picked up all the Patria's passengers.
The Ceres offered to take off Capt Fro
| lich and the crew, but the latter pre-
| ferred TO remain by the vessel SO long
as there was any chance Of saving her.
although there 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 a considerable period.
The passengers say they learned from
the officers that CAPTAIN Frolich hopes to
pat his steamer ashore at some p oint on
| the coast where there Will be p possibility
of saving her. The scheme is "a bold one
| that does credit to a gallant crew and
which It Is hoped may be successful.
The passengers. who had had nothing
to eat since half past seven Wednesday
morning, were treated with the greatest
kindness on being landed at Dover.
Among them were "a ladies' and about 20
children looked very wretched AS they
landed at the Admiralty pier. the crew
OF the ner is said to consist chiefly of
Am -rioans.