The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-02-29
STEAMSHIP QUEEN
CATCHES FIRE OFF
THE OREGON COAST
Fourteen Persons PerishThe Ship and ALI of the Other
Passengers and Remainder of the Crew Saved
Through the Efforts of Captain Cousins

PORT TOWNSEND, Feb. 29.-Fire
broke out on the steamer Queen at 400
q. m. Saturday, while she was off Tilla-
nook lighthouse. Before the flames were
finally extinguished at a. m. fourteen
persons had persisted, four being burned
to death, nine drowned, while one died
from fright and exposure. The fatalities
were as follows:
PASSENGERS-FIR CLASS.
MISS ANNA MAUD STEINER, Gle
Elum Wash, drowned.
MRS. E. ADAMS, Dawson, died of ex-
posture.
PASSENGERS SECOND CLASS.
D. E. NEWBERRY, of Texas, drowned.
H. BUCKLEY, residence unknown,
drowned.
STEWARDS DEPARTMENT.
"A. RAYMOND, pantryman, suffocated
A. DONNELLY, pantryman, suffocated.
NJ. SOMERS, pantryman, suffocated.
HENRY DOUGLAS, pantryman, suffo-
1ated.
w. HElNEMAN, pantryman, drowned.
MEMBERS OF CREW.
"A. NIELSEN, San Francisco, drawned.
j. NELSON.
b. FREITAS.
ENGINEER S DEPARTMENT.
PETER NUHN, coal passer, drowned.
M FLYNN, coal passer, drowned.
The Queen was enroute from San Fran
cisco to Seattle, having on board l4O pass
engers, of whom 81 were in the first cabin
and 78 in the second cabin and steerage
Second Officer Reice was on the bridge
when he noticed flames in the after saloon
on the saloon deck. He went quickly to
Captain Cousins room and notified the
captain, who did not stop to dress, but in
his pajamas ran to the fire bell and sound
ed the alarm.
Passengers and crew poured out of their
hunks in response, but some of the heavy
sleepers had to be aroused by personal
visitations
The flames spread with great rapidity
and it looked as though the ship was
doomed, despite the heroic efforts of Cap
tain Cousins and the crew and passengers,
who played streams of water upon the
seething cauldron without appreciate eff
feet. The entire stern of the ship was
mass of flames. During this exciting period
four men were burned to death, getting
lost in the cockpit. They were Raymond,
Donnelly, Somers and Douglas.
Down in the engine room the fremen
and stokers stood bravely by the engin-
GERS, who worked their pumps amidst
sitting heat and suffocating smoke, clear
ing the hold of the water which poured in
from the streams playing on the fire above
The captain believing that the ship
was lost, ordered the boats to be lowered
and women and children were sent away
in them, each being manned by three
experienced seamen.
One of the starboard boats was stove in
by the guard and later upset. 1t was in
charge of Second Steward Savage The
moment the boat capsized the other boats
already afoat went to the rescue. All
of the passengers were rescued except Miss
Steiner. The boats crew were drowned.
A second boat was capsized while being
lowered. 1t contained four seamen, who
were all drowned. No passengers were
lost in this boat.
The boats which succeeded in leaving
the Queen encountered an angry sea and
one of them filed about half a mile from
the ship, but its passengers and crew
were all saved by the other boats.
Captain Cousins and the male passen-
gers and members of the crew on board
the Queen continued to fight the flames
with great vigor and finally obtained the
mastery. The captain then sounded three
blasts of the whistle and recalled the
boats. which were all taken safely aboard
by $50 p. m. One woman, Mrs. Adams,
then collapsed and died from the fright
md exposure.
The origin of the fire was mystery. 1t
seemed to break from either stateroom
50 on 81 Possibly crossed wires started
t. Both staterooms are on the port side
Of the saloon deck aft. Neither was CO.
cupied
The Queen tried to enter the Columbia
river, but found the bar too rough to
cross. She then started for Puget Sound
and off Cape Flattery encountered fierce
storm. but weathered it safely and finally
reached Port Townsend Sunday morning
coming on to Seattle later in the day.
Upon arriving at Port Townsend Cap
tain Cousins was presented with testi-
monial, signed by every passenger aboard
the Queen, thanking him, the officers and
crew for their heroic work in saving the
ship and the lives of those aboard
Captain Cousins was visbly affected or
being presented with the testimonial, and
treasures the paper very highly. The ties
timonial reads:
'"To Captain Cousins Officers and Crew o.
Steamship Queen:
1--WE, the undersigned, passengers and
crew of the steamer Queen, desire to ex
press to Captain Cousins and the crew o.
the steamer our heartfelt appreciation of
and gratitude for, the splendid courage
shown and perfect discipline maintained
during the perious experience We have
just passed through and it is our Gnani
nous opinion that but for the GOODNESS
and bravery shown by the captain, officer
and crew. most OF us would undoubtedly
have been lost and the ship destroyed.
And we want 70 further testify to thu
cliyalry shown in placing all the womer