The San Francisco call., 1904-03-23

Among the passengers that arrived
here yesterday on the steamship City of
Sydney were three sailor men that were
driven from their floating home by
flames during Il December gale and
with their shiDmates reached a storm
swept South Atlantic island after
thrilling twelve-hour ride in small
boats. The fire-bIasted ship was the
Clarence s. Bement, and those of her
company that reached here yesterday
were Captain G.. G. Grant, First Mate
R. r. Grindley and Carpenter j. Z.
Truby
The Clarence S. Bement was owned
by George w. Hume of this city but
Captain Grant is a New Yorker and is
now on his way home. The Bement
left Philadelphia August Is and New
port News September %. bound for this
port and loaded to her full capacity
with a cargo of Baltimore coal 1t was
at noon of December %, while the yes
sci was in the clutches of a fierce
northwester. that Captain Grant dis
covered his ship on fire. Daily tests had
been made of the temperature of the
cargo, but the thermometer, even after
the flames had eaten a way through
the decks, told no tale of unusual heat.
The tests had been made near the
matches, where coal usually heats first.
Tn the case of the Bement. however,
conditions were reversed. Before the
warning smoke appeared the flames
had eaten their way through a wooden
bulkhead and crept upward to the deck.
n hffsn oil III
utes after the first smoke was seen.
Fighting the fire with water was out
Of the question. The vessel already had
oil the weight she could carry, and
Captain Grant decided that the only
hope OF saving the lives under his care
was to run for the nearest land, which |
was Cane St. John of the Falkland |
Islands and about eighty miles south
Of the Dement'S position. Sail was
crowded on, and while the ship tore her
way through the angry waters those on
board did their best to hold the flames /
in check by smothering.
By 4 O'Clock, however, the blaze shot
through the ventiator hatch in the
rnidship house, and the flames took full
charge of the ship. The boats were pro-
visioned supplies sufficient to last for
some weeks being put aboard The
sails were cut adrift. and when the yes I
sci rounded to both anchors were let
go, finding holding bottom in twentr /
five fathoms of water. The boats were
launched and Captain Grand and his
"A officers and men pulled away from /
their blazing home. AS they pulled |
away from the ships side the flames /
shot aloft, lighting the ocean for miles |
around. Closely reefed sail was hoisted
on the boats. but before they lost sight (;
of the Clement her stout steel masts |
had melted at the base and toppIed into /
the seething furnace, which now
glowed in the iron shell.
The boats reached Fox Island twelve
hours later. A high surf made landing
difficult. The second mates boat was
smashed to atoms but the whole com
pany got safely ashore and were cared |
for by hospitable Scot, who had |
chosen that remote end of the earth |
for sheep ranch. A mail schooner
took all but the Captains Japanese
steward to Port Stanley. The steward |
remained on the sheep ranch to cook
for the Scot. From Port Stanley the ,
shipless sailors were carried TO Monte
video, where the United States Consul
took charge of the sailors. Before leav !
ing Port Stanley Captain Grant climbed |
a mountain and through his binoculars
took a farewell glance at his ship. |
Without spar standing and with
smoke rising from her hold the hull of |
the Clarence s. Bement was still riding |
at her anchors, and will probably ride
there until some well-equipped hurri- !
cane comes along and wipes her out.
From Montevideo Captain Grant |
with his mate and carpenter. took
steamer for Valparaiso. From there !
they went to Panama, where they
joined the City of Sydney.
The City of Sydney brought up HOG |
tons of cargo, treasure valued at $3.50
and thirty-one passengers. Among the
latter were the following named:
James Yocom, Miss Alice NJ Brooks Dr |
Charles A Stephens, Charles ZavaIa M a. |
David Bender. Miss Frances Bender, L. A. |
Berteling. Mrs. L. A. Berteling, Mrs. Alice |
NJ de Ulloa, Miss Ida de Ulloa Miss Eva de |
ulloa, w. c. Hamburger, ]. f. Farrell Rafael
Pill Choy Sim. Heinrich Lulmann Freder- |
ick Plep Mrs Bridget Green Miss Kate |
orern. Mrs. NJ. A. Hall. Miss Margaret Hall,