Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-29
DruehI g. Franken and
the Smith Drug co.
THE CAPTAINS ACCOUNT.


Cant. Cousins gave the following ac-
count OF the Disaster
AT 1850 o'clock Saturday morning,
when we were 80 miles 10 the westward
of Tillamook Light on the coaN Of
Oregon on our way TO this port sec
ond Oflcer Reese reported TO me that
the shin was on fire, Reese was on the
bridge. ] fastened from my stateroom,
not taking time even TO dress and rang
the fire alarm. Getting all hands on
deck we started TO fight the FIRE, which
was located IN the after saloon on the
saloon deck. When | came on deck,
less than half q minute after being
notified, attlrcd In my pajamas and
barefooted, the flames were shooting 30
feet high out Of the saloon gkylight.
We got met with hose playing the
water on the fire, but which continued
10 gather Roadway until the whole aft
erpart OF the ship was In flames. When
II looked impossible 10 keen the fire
under control ! gave orders 20 clear
away the boats. 20 swing them out and
lower them to the rails The boats
on the weather, or port side, | had
lowered into the water, There were
three men In each and | ordered them
to take the boats around to the lee side
and await orders. Then ! began TO MI
up the boats on the starboard side with
women and children. At this time II
looked impossible to save the ship. The
vessel was In flames and the fire gain
ing Roadway on US despite our efforts.
Finally the starboard boats We're
lowered into the water One OF them,
the last lowered. ] believe got under
the guard and was stove In and later
upset. II was I'm charge Of Second
Steward Savage. Tho npment the boat
oapslzed the boats on the lee side went
10 their rescue.
~ do not know Just how many people
there were In the various boats low
cred though possibly 60. The boats were
out In the open until $3.50 O'Clock when,
believing we had the fire under con-
troll blow three whistles signalling the
boats to gather around the ship and by
$3.50 all save those lost were on board
again,
"The men In the glory hole when
called with the discovery Of the Are
came up through flames and binding
smoke, Three Of these lost their way
and rushed into the cockpit. where
they were sufiocatcd or burned TO
death.
AT the time the FIRE was discovered
the wind was blowing from the south
west probably Is miles an hour There
was a nasty choppy sea running.
II have no idea az 20 tho cause or
origin OF the flre-not enough 10 base
an opinion even. Roth the saloon
watchmen and deck Waterman report
ed everything O. X. at 4 o'clock. Fourth
officer Never went down into the ga
loon at 4O5 and he neither saw nor
scented fire or smoke, II appears TO
have burst forth into full nedged fire
very suddenly. II was vicious, angry
fire and but for the heroic work OF the
crew and Messengers in lighting Il the
ship and all ABOARD would have burned.
My crew behaved admirably. They
could not have done better. And too
much cannot be said IN praise Of the
splendid service Of the passengers"
BATTLED WITH WAVES
Astoria, Or, Feb, 2s--Capt. Reed OF
the bar tug Walula today braved the
unusually rough bar at the mouth OF
the Columbia river and saved the
steam schooner Grace Dollar and the
lives OF the seventeen men aboard her.
The Grace Dollar was the steamer
spoken by the Thlstlebank yesterday
and thought to be the Rival,
When the Wallula returned to port
tonight with her tow her smokestaCk
was snow white with salt from the
waves which had swept clear over her, |
away a solid iron door, smash |
ing her skylghts and at times almost |
hiding her from sight.