The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-02-01
FATAL FIRE
ON MEADE
BRAVE rtRumEN. OFFICERS
AND SOLDIERS SAVE LIVES
and ARMY TREAsuRE-MANY
MARROW ESCAPES

BAN FRANCISCO. Feb Fire
which broke out In the hold OF the
transport Meade. lying at the Fol
som ~. dock. shortly before mid
night caused the death Of three
men from uuffotation aud injury to
a score OF others. mostly firomen.
The dead are.
Captain Charles Dakin. OF fire
engine No 4
Hosoman Thomas Hennessey. u
engine No
Third officer O. Wallace. Of ths
Meade.
All we're auffoeatod while fight
lns the fire In the hold
Tho fire started IN the forward
hold and spread rapidly 20 the
cargo. which consisted OF 5000 tons
Of uommlAsarY and quaftermaster
supplies consigned 90 the Philip
pines The Meade Was scheduled
10 sail for Manila today with 1000
soldiers.
The city fifemen responded 10
the alarm aud aided the crew In
lighting the flames. which threat
ened 20 destroy the ship Only
heroic efforts succeeded Ia keeping
the fire from the coal bunk~rs and
ammunition stores amldHhips.
In quick succession the forms OF
The suffocated fremen we're carried
from the hold. where they had
gone az the fiak % their lives. Oniy
the prompt action % their comrades
saved many from death
Captain nakin was found Al the
foot OF a ladder leading 10 the
smoke filled hold Ia his efforts 70
rescue Captain Daklu. Fireman Mc.
Claakoy fell unconscious upon his
body. and was carried out with Ia
Tin.
Tho loss has not yet been ascer.
tanned
Fourth officer Dahl. who was
overcome al the same time has lost
bis mind temporarily. as the result
VI his own tsfrible experience aud
the horror of seeing hla fellow off.
Ger fail. a. he supposed. lifeleas at
his feet,
The forepart 81 the ship. where
the fire broke out. contained the
personal effects u the officers OF
the Second Infantry aud two baital.
Ions 81 light artillery.
Many thrilling and heroic rescues
marked tha fire. Sailing Captain
George Wilson. 81 the Meade. fell
down an orep haichwaY and lay
Unconscious within reach OF the
flames. Chief Officer I.Asaek and
others ~ the crew Immediately
rushed lnto the hold and hronght
back the limp form Of Wilson.
tasaek was himself oyet6bma BY
the fumes and was rescued BY Fire
mAn Cook.
Gold 10 The amount Of $50 600.
military treasure destined - Manila.
wns carried By the soldiers 10
place % safety On the dock Captain
GllEirt ~ the fire department was
overcome thrwa times BY smoke. re-.
turning time and again 10 bis work
until finally carried away uncnn-
nclnus
Those ovsreofnr BY smoke and r..
moved 90 hospitals wrre flfrmsn
John gilbert. Gabriel Ounce. Lieu.
tenant A. Nneleck. !. Cook. J Nc
elaaky. Captain sullivan. battalion
chief F'crnan5es. Lieutenant Canian
and Captain TIaean. Bnatswain Lock.
of Meade. Fourth officer Dahl.
THIRD Ofncsr tAaach and Captain
George Wilson Several ftrsmen re-
ported missing were later located.
The bodies Of Fireman pakln and
Hsnuezsey we're found IA The hold
after the smoke cleared away. Hen.
na#asy Was eth alive. rut Sled a few
minutes later lie gave hla life "a
an effort 10 save pakin. II the after
hold t.oo9 pounds Of ammunition
aere stored and had this iEuitet the
ship and all tfH occupants would
have been blown to pieces
The nre IL believed % have been
caused BY lime IN the cargo.
WASHINGTON. u. C.. Feb. Il
The quartermaater general this
morning was Informed hy supcrln
tandent nevni ~ the transport aoFv-
Ice at San Francisco that he cx.
perfa the Meade will BE- ready TO sail