The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-17
SCENES ABOARD THE SHIP.
Mrs. Duplnce's Graphic StOry-Her
Husband Probably Dying.

SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 1.-THE rescued
passengers of the Patria spent the night
at southampton awaiting the arrival of the
Kaiser Frederick. Four of the passengers
were left at Dover and one of these,
man named Duplsce, died this evening
because OF his terrible experience in the
English channel
The crew of the Patria are on board the
Hamburg Company's steamer
Athesia, Captain Voss, from PhiladeIphia,
Nov. 2 for Hamburg, which is towing the
Patria toward the Elbe. 1t now seems prob
able that the Patria will at least be part
ly saved.
What caused the fire is still a mystery,
but IL is asserted that the fact that the
steamer was on fire was withheld from
the passengers for some time. Capt. F'rolich
apparently wishing to take his ship TO
Hamburg without causing alarm If pos
sible- Mr. Duplace, who died at Dover
was for twenty years German consul
at San Juan, Porto Rico. With him were
his wife and Mrs. Ivers, of New York, a
fellow cabin passenger. who. being a
trained nurse and seeing the distress of
Mr.. and Mrs. Duplace. generously VOL
unteered to stay and nurse the consul, de-
clining the opportunity TO continue her
journey TO Germany. The fourth survivor
left at Dover is Captain Frolich's steward,
who went to the help of Mr.. Duplace when
the passengers were ordered on deck Mr..
Duplace was suffering from anaema and
the shock of the exposure aggravated the
complaint to such an extent that he died
as stated. Like the other passengers, Mr..
and Mrs. Duplace saved nothing but what
they were wearing al the time
Mrs. Dupl@ce. a short time before her
husband died, gave the following descrip-
ton OF their escape: 1T was about 10
o'clock yesterday morning. the weather be-
Ing calm and fine and several Of us being
seated IN the deck saloon, when suddenly
Captain Frolich appeared and shouted: All
passengers on deck. Everybody started
forward with rush. We are afire.' said
the captain. but there is no danger. Don't
get excited just then smoke began TO pour
out through the deck near the smoke
stacks My sick husband was in his cabin
and undressed 1 hurried 10 him and be-
gan 10 dress him, when in came the stew
ard shouting, Get out OF this He took
my husband by the feet and / supported
his head. We started to carry him to the
deck but the smoke choked US and the
water from the fire hose swished around
our knees. i feared that all was lost but
going backward through another passage,
We managed to reach the deck in safety
There all the passengers were crowded
together. Thick clouds OF smoke were blow
ing over the whole ship and stress signals
were flying One passenger who had
hastily come from the bathroom appeared
found themselves equally mprepared. The
captain told Us that he would lower the
boats as a precaution SO we lined up.
Women and children first shouted the cap
tain. who was standing near me. i replied
that I supposed / would have 10 wait for
the men. as 1 could not leave my helpless
husband. Captain F'rolich answered me by
lifting my husband, placing him In the bot
tom OF one OF the boats ordering me TO fol-
low and telling the steward 20 go with us.
our boat was the first lowered. We were
all terribly frightened bur though a few
cried. there disorder. The officers
and crew did all they could and encoura ged
us to be brave and cool While one boat
was being lowered the bottom began TO give
way. The women <reamed and for a mo-
ment II seemed as II the bottom would drop
out. but the boat was quickly hauled back.
Another boat had no crew. the passengers
doing the rowing.
Meanwhile some fishing smacks had come
up. and several passengers boarded them.
but Captain Frolich beloved through the