New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-01
HARD FIGHT WITH PRETORIA FIRE
CONQUER BLAZE-THE BOW RESTS
ON THE BOTTOM.

The thrilling experiences Of those who had 10
combat the FIRE in the forehold of the bermuda
steamer Pretoria. with the knowledge that at any
moment 100 barrels of oil might catch fire and
explode beneath their feet only ended yesterday
morning when the compartment had been hheo
so full of water that the bow Of the steamer rested
on the bottom under its own weight Inc race 10
port with the present danger or explosion was
not all. Several times while the fire was pelhs AZ
tackled by the pumps OF the police boat Patroi ana
the sreboat New-Yorker did the oil soaked wooden
slaves of the oil casks take fire and pesln 10 oia|e
Only the six-inch streams of the New-1 oThef were
able TO cope with this situation, and prevent the
imminent catastrophe
At one time the dreaded explosion seemed so Ger
tain that Roundsman Murray. who was in COM
nand Of the force OF nine patrolmen on the
was on the point OF ordering every Soul ifoi 'ie
ship The deck so hot that the nre-neh'eis
! were obliged TO keep moving about ana 'ie soieo
! of the shoes OF several OF the patroirneh "eie
! searched The nauseating fumes from the scorcned
oil barrels made several OF the men tefhpoi an
! i'll as well as a number of horses COWS anu pAs'
stabbed Oh the afterdeck All quickly recovered dS
soon as the flames were drowned out and the smoke
! subsidized.
: II was about . o'clock Monday morning When
the Patrol and the New-Yorker reached the Vessei
and began pouring water into her FORWARD ho'u'
: Al tho time the smoke from the burning hay COM
nletelv enveloped the ship. 1t was SO tnlck tha'
ONES hand could not be before his face. AT
40 o'clock it was believed that the ire was out
and the tugs prepared to haul the steamer away
from Quarantine, where she had been anchored IL
was discovered that fire was still smouder1ns IN
some hay and it was decided to flood the hold
This was done until forward part of the vessel
rested on the bottom. the deck being but d ie"
The water was pumped by the wrecking
steamer William Z. Chapman yesterday, ana me
steamer taken to Brooklyn to be surveyed ~
was not believed that the steamer was seriously
damaged and il said that she might san on
Thursday taking the place OF the steamer Irlnl-
dad which will sail to-day at p. M taxing tWeh-
tv Of the twenty-siX passengers OF the Pretorla'
Sly Of the passengers, who holiday TIP.
have decided to give up the voyage The passen-
gers were landed by the Noord1and at Fulton-st
about 3 a. m and the steamer Immediately put
TO again her TO Liverpool 10 Which
mort she was bound from Philadelphia when she
fell in with the Pretoria. -, -,
For time Yesterday it thought that the
escaped She had calmly walked aboard steamer
AT bermuda weeks ago. and was being re-
turned on the Pretoria by the Bureau of 1mmi-
grafton as a stowaway. after she had given the
bureau a lot of trouble looking for relatives she
said lived here Had this been the case the Quebec
fine of 81 900 1t turned out later that she had
been taken aboard the Fontabelle another steamer
of the company, by stewardess OF the Pretoria
Many EXPRESSED the opinion yesterday that Cap
McKensie of the Pretoria had displayed excel
lent Judgment and great bravery In meeting the
emergency. Roundsman Murray OF the Patrol,
said: 49,. ,or 90 co.,,
tain w J. McKensie. II was undoubtedly ms cooi-
ness that saved the crew from becoming panic
, stricken and taken altogether, he is about the
have ever seen