The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-30

- very serious damage. IL
go She was scuttled and
rwo The company expects
- IA out and afloat again
- loss II estimated by them
900 The scene of the fire
Ihs one. Thousands of per-
b on the bunkers and from
Grounding point OF vantage
HE fight TO save the big collier.
NJ tho forenoon the steamer Rapid
ran alons~ide the Willsmette
400 barrels Of lime for San Fran
The lime was stored between decks
A6idehips, just forward OF the bulkhead.
yThe work OF taking II aboard was COM
pleted about $50 O'clock
Ch3ef Engineer Horton discovered the
aro half an hour later. He was In the
meos room at the time. Some OF the crew
were a<ieep below. and fremen and the
engine room assistants were on duty down
IN the bowels OF Tho big ship. He gave the
alarm mt once. and on this account all
hands escAped. being also able to pack
- ana save many Of their personal be-
lonw.ngs Capt Hansen WAS ashore at
Madison street pavilion. First Mate Gil
lespae and Second Mate OBrien we're the
only officers aboard
The fire was found to be In the vicinity
or the lime Tho steamship Al-Ki, of the
pAeinc Coast Steamship Company. was
lying not FAR away. She was hailed for
aaststante. and strenuous effort made
70 t0srow the lime overheard A large
nunsber of barrels were tumbled out
thrUsxh the ports, but fhe fire gained
hoadwNy and drove all hands to the upper
Aosk for air. The smoke became so thick
the men coasld not breathe down between
the decks. Then an alarm was turned In
and the nrc department and great crowd
a sunday oilers rushed to the scene.
Fire Fighters Make . Blunaer.
Il was said to have been the Intention
II flref to run the Willamette across the
hay and beach her. Following this idea.
the ship was moved out from the bunk
90 Hut the fire became so DANGEROUS
q to cause q deeert,on Of the hre ami
eaEine. rcomA and the fires burned out.
the steam went down. and the big collier
lay helpless with a few Dies stili fast
ashore.
Only with great DIM ulty and delay was
chief Keliofg OF the IRE department. able
10 eet iine Of hose and stream OF wat
or aboard. Three engines were stationed
On the superstructurc At the shore end
Of the bunkers. They pumped water from
the bay small boat was used to carry
= line Of hoee aboard through the lar
board forward. but this seemed to have
No moro effect on the burning interior
than q sprtnkling pot. As q matter Of
fact n IL a serious question whether the
wAker did not make the IRE worse.
When the ship became helpless from
lack OF steam II was decided TO scuttle
her. Chief Engineer Horton opened the
intectors. six inches in diameter. in the
hilwa, and she began 10 make water In the
lowcr hold. which was full Of coal. On
account OF the coal. or for some other
reason unknown, she did not Ill rapidly
or sink until more than two hours after
the injcctofs were opened.
During that time there was confusion
ana excitement both on ship and shore.
Immense volumes Of smoke poured out
OF the matches and ports. and the plates
amtdshins became hot enough TO fry meat
on. The paint was badly blistered In
places A line WAS thrown to the bunk
erS A large number Of spectators grasp
ed II. and with long pull. a strong pull
and q pull all together, slowly drew the
willamette 60 the hunkors. Fire ladders
and pIanks were then run aboard. and
several more streams OF water from nox-
xlea in the hands OF nreman. almost suffo-
Gated BY the smoke, were poured into the
mass of flames amidships.
Before these additional streams were
got aboard the sole communication from
ship to shore WAS a small boat and line
OF hose. Firemsn ana scamen slid down
the line Of hose into the boat and were
thus transferred 10 and fro. When the
nhip began to swing in TO the hunkers
two small boats and their occupants had
\ narrow escape. One WAS crushed be.
tween the ship and hunkerr. the occn-
pants escaping just In time by pulling
themselves through the port into the
burning ship,
Fire Gains Great Roadway.
After the frcmcn got aboard Chief Kcl-
ieSs directed their work. standing on the
bunkers This was early IN the battle
ana II was then thought the ship might
rink any minute. He had the boats re-
main there for the purpose OF taking OF
the nremen. and ordered them TO Jump
aboard the moment he gave the word,
AsAistant Fire Chief Cook was on the
main deck OF the Willamette. Tho two
mates and most OF the crew were also
aboard.
IL soon became apparent that the adai-
tlonal streams of water had little effect
IN susduing the fre, The ship hal taken
n list 10 ssarsoard, and Il was seen that
rho was settling steadily but slowly. The
streams were kcpt playing for the aadi.
uonai purpose OF facilitating the sinking
Of tho ship II was q nxht Of llnc and
waisht OF water against the Are, and for
an hour or more the issue was doubtful.
The ship listed more and more, ard when
the water poured through the aiarhoar,i
port forward she began 90 sottlc rapidly.
The positions az the ladders and planks
were shifted 60 an anEio 60 permit the
swtftost possible departure from the shin
fer II was anticipated. with the immense
volume OF water pouring into the hold for.
ward, that when the Willamette asa SIM
she would so quickly. And she a,d
As she settled lower and lower the s2e,,.
tators On TIE eslnkerS va ne3 tfa e aooa 4
20 come ashore. Supt. l. \ TrowprtAgs
aud several employees Of the Fsciao Coast