The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-03-01
TOWN TOPICS.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA.
THE COMANCHE OF THE CLYDE LINE
ON FIRE AT sEA.-E. D. BARKER AND
DAUGHTER AMONG THE PAssEN-
GERS.

DAUGHTER AMONG THE PAssEN
GERS.
| The Clyde steamship, Comanche, o
the Clyde line, which sailed from New
York on February IL, had terrible
experience with fire on the trip to Flor
ida. Among the passengers were Err
D. Barker of New York and his
daughter-in-law, Mrs Anna G. Barker
Of Colorado Springs, Col. Al
the Congregational church, Sun
day morning, Mr. Barker preached
an eloquent sermon on ''The Sea-, and
referred with words of emotion to the
deliverance of his relatives. Rev MI
Barker has received the following let.
ter from his father:
Hotel Putnam,
De Land, Fla, February 1s, 1901.
Little opportunity has been present
ed for writing you, as I would have
liked, of the frightful experience
through which we have passed, but
persume New York and Bridgeport
papers have, ere this, told you the
story in part.
On the 18th gale began its work
on the sea soon after dinner, a meal
which most of the passengers took
without restraint. We retired soon
after p. m. Ourrooms were 21 and q
in the Social Hall, on upper deck of
the steamer, aft.
The tumbling and rolling of the ship
kept me awake, and the displacement
of articles in the room and the contin-
ued clutter without and within made
me think of the great storm on the
Friesland six years ago this month.
Yet my former experience made this
so diminutive that I was not worried.
I must have become unconscious about
IL p. M. Near a. m. Of the 18th there
came rap at my door, more sudden
and imperative than any other I can
recall, but heard no word with it.
Immediately Anna's voice and hands
came together in utmost alarm, as I
was getting out Of my berth. She
pounded the door with frightful rapid
ity, and shouted that the ship was on
fire. .'Look out of your window! Look
out OF your window!" she said. The
sea was aglow with the flames, and
sparks were flying past my room. "Put
on your life preserver. They say we
must put on life preservers and go out
on aft deck. Get on your overcoat."
This she was saying and more as was
trying to find my clothes, which had
been scattered by the motion of the
ship. The darkness, caused by the
electric light being shut of, added to
my difficulty. On looking out and re-
alizing that a fire of such proportions
had been added to the boisterous sea,
the gale and the cold, at once felt
that there was no safety in the ship
and that once in the water I could not
survive but few minutes. I knew
that my only chance, slight as it was,
was in being well clothed, and in spite
Of smoke and advice returned to my
room twice, and was fully clothed.
Anna got out partially dressed, like
almost every one. We were for time
on the aft deck; then were led to the
lower saloon forward, where we sat in
a somber group till the fire was under
control.
A thanksgiving and praise meeting
was held that evening, the most i'm.
pressive, I think, I ever attended in
my life. Bishop Foss, Rev Mr. Foster,
Father Dougherty Of New York and
the captain took part. Shall have to
tell you about itat another time. This
hasty scrawl under difficulties will
show you we are here and well, having
been saved from terrible danger and
death by what was repeatedly called
miracle. The captain is a man Of
prayer. He has been upon the sea "a
years; his grandfather, father, and
three brothers having been sea
captains.
It is an interesting coincidence that
a Newtown citizen, George Griffin,
was also a passenger on this steamer.