Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-18
PATR|A BURNING.
Short, Un|ucky Life Of Ocean,
Going Steamer.
All the Passengers Rescued, bus
Only In the Nick of Time-Cap.
tain's COolness Gained Fears
Crew Were Mostly Americans.

New York, Nov lG.--Emil Boas, gem
eral manager of the Hamburg American
line, when told of the steamer Patriu's
misfortune, said: The PatIia carried
only second ca bin passengers, and steer
age. She may have had about $50 per-
sons in the steerage. The cargo was
worth the greater part of 81 900. The
vessel herself was worth about 900.
We insure ourselves. The Patria had
about 80 officers and crew, all of them
living in Germany"
In her short life the Patria was un-
lucky. She was steel. twin screw,
four-masted steamship. She was built
at Stettin in 1884. Her total tonnage
was 1854. She was AGO feet long. She
had triple expansion engines. Her
horse power was 5,S. She was a COM
bination cargo and passenger steamship.
Her last trip to this port ended Oct 26.
and she sailed for Hamburg on Nov. 4.
The Patria, Captain Frohlen. which
left New York Nov. a, for Hamburg, and
passed the Lizard Tuesday. is on fire
near Dover. All of the passengers were
rescued, and have arrived at Dover.
uc nuSSldi SlcdIllct SSktS liC
Patrla, showing signals of distress and
demanding imemdiate help, about II
miles from Hinder lightship. The liner
was enveloped in smoke. Putting on
full steam, the Ceres soon reached the
Patria, and sending boat learned that
Captain Frohlich was in urgent need Of
assistance. The boats were got out,
and, with great difficulty. all the Patria's
passengers, numbering $50, were trans
ferred to the Ceres. The Ceres pro-
ceeded for Dover, where she arrived just
before midnight. Among the saved are
many women and children, as we'll as six
babies 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 every
IL ing possible is being done for their
comfort.
According to interviews with some Of
the passengers, which elicted the fact
that most of them are American citi-
zens who have come for a vacation in
Europe, all were ordered on deck at
o'clock Wednesday morning, when they
were informed that u disastrous fire had
broken out among the general cargo.
and, as the crew were unable to master
1t, the captain said he considered 1t ad-
visable for the passengers to take to the
boats.
At this time it was evident that the
fire had obtained thorough hold upon
the cargo. Smoke and flames We're as
cending with overpowerirg force, and
causing the greatest alarm. The crew,
according to several passengers, worked
like heroes in their endeavors to keep
the flames under, but the great quantity
of llnseed 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 coolness OF Captain
Frohlich and the crew had calming
effect upon the passengers generally.
The boats were promptly got over the
side, the crew working as II they were
at drill. The safety of the ladies and the
children was the first consideration. AS
the fire had by this time consumed tie
greater part of the passengers belong
ings they had to get into,the boats as
they had come from their hunks, and
some were in very light raiment.
The scene was striking one. with
some touching aspects, as husbands and
fathers parted from their wives and
children.
Although everything was carried out
under the most trying conditions, thanks
to the great GOODNESS Of the captain and
crew, there was no panic, all the passen-
gers being gotten into the boats and into
two fishing boats 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 be the
Ceres, which first sent a boat and then
picked up all the Patria's passengers.
The Ceres offered also to take off Cap
tain Frohlich and the crew, but the lat
ter preferred 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 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 Frohlich hopes
| to put his steamer ashore at some point
| on the coast where there will be pos
! sibility of saving her.
The passengers, who had nothing to
eat since 7:30 Wednesday morning, were
treated with the greatest kindness on
| being landed at Dover. Among them
| were "a ladies and about &c children. who
| looked very wpetehed as they landed at
| the admiralty pier.
The crew of the liner Is said to con-
| ctot cbipfav Of Americans
Little Girl Causes Burglar ar's Arrest