The San Francisco call., 1904-06-08

The Pacific Cast Steamship Com
pany will to-day celebrate the return
into active service of the steamer
Queen by decorating with gold and
silver medals Captain n. E. Cousins
and the other brave men that risked
their lives three months ago to save
vessel and passengers from destruc-
ton. The story of that gallant fight
out on the cold. dark. storm-tossed
Pacific on the morning of February
27, when flames and waves conspired
to overwhelm the gallant ship and
more than two hundred souls, fills, in
the marine history of the Pacific
Coast, one of its noblest chapters.
From captain to cook, from the
most seasoned traveller to the frailest
woman and tiniest baby aboard, that
awful test revealed no sign of craven
heart. Each did his duty as it came
TO hand The fight was won. The
worlo when it learned, said we'll done.
The company is now going to show
that even corporations have souls, and
this morning will give material recog-
milton to the bravery of the men that
saved the Queen.
In the annals of the sea are the rec
ords of many brave deeds done by
sailormen in the line of their duty
and in some lands the government
makes official recognition of such
valor. The American merchant SER
vice is second to none in the quality
and number of it's heroes, but in
stances of public recognition are con-
spicuous by their rarity. 1t is seldom
that a crisis brings out such general
intrepidity as was exhibited on the
Queen and still less frequently do the
rank and file participate in the dis
tribution of the laurels.
FOUND NOT WANTING.
The people of the Queen were
weighed in the balance. They were
not found wanting, and as soon as
the tangle caused by the disaster had
been Strengthened out Vice President
Pearce set himself the task Of finding
some appropriate way for the com>
pany to say thank you.
The insurance companies interested
will probably do something of like ma
ture, but the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company, not willing to let the mat
ter drag longer, decided to do its share
to-day and allow the underwriters to
take such action as they decide upon
independently.
Fire was discovered in the after
cabin of the Queen at 4:30 a. m, Feb
ruary 27, when the vessel, bound
north with Els souls aboard, was
about thirty miles west of Tillamook
A gale was blowing at the time. 1t
will be remembered how Captain
Cousins first put the women and chill
dren and all other passengers not able
bodied and able to assist in fighting
the fire into a lifeboats, which were
launched in charge of experienced
men. These boats remained with their
precious burdens under the lee of the
blazing steamship until those on board
had conquered the flames. On board
the coaster the engineers crew, with
flames raging above and behind them,
kept up steam and enabled those on
deck to pump water on the hell of fire.
ONLY FOURTEEN LOST.
In spite Of the awful odds, of the
21s on board only fourteen lost their
lives. One of these. a woman, died as
the result of exposure; another woman
and two other passengers were
of a boat; three members of
the crew were burned to death and
seven were drowned.
When the alarm of fire was sounded
Captain Cousins, clad only in pajamas.
took charge of affairs and the victory
over the angry elements was largely
due to his good judgment and cool,
unselfish bravery.
The presentations will be made by
Vice President Pearce at 10 o'clock
this morning on board the steamship
Queen, at Broadway wharf. In addi-
ton to a gold medal, Captain Cousins
will receive a gold. diamond studded
locket, suitably inscribed. There will
be gold medals for First officer