The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-02
TRANSPORT ON
FIRE AT WHARF
Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1.
rescued as the next hatch led into the
heavily-laden coal bunkers.
Captain Gilbert OF The fire department
was overcome three times by the smoke,
returning time and again ito his work,
until ar last he was carried away un-
Fireman j. McCloskey of engine No 4
was overcome by smoke and carried out,
but revived and made heroic attempt
osave his chief Captain Dakin, whom
ne knew TO be in a perilous position AL
most losing his own life in the unsue-
Cessful effort.
Brave Firemen.
While Hosernen Clunie, Matlock and
Brown were fighting the flames in the
| third hold. the former, standing nearly
at the top Of the cOmpani0nway and
passing those down, was overcome and
fell. He was caught by Matlock, who
while endeaYoring to support, Clunie, was
also overcome, and the pair fell uncon-
scious at the feet of Brown. The latter,
iantiy fought his way up the ladder
first with the form of Clunie in his
arms, and then returned for Matlock
Brown had scarcely passed the latter up
the ladder to outstretched arms, when
he staggered and would have fallen but
for the quick work of Hosemen Curtin
and Regain, who clutched the Keeling man
and drew him to safety.
D. Hennessey. hneman of engine No. f.
at work in the hold fell into the water
at 2:20 this morning and was taken to
the receiving hospital, where he died
Had Been Burning for Hours.
Immediately after the alarm of fire
was given, Captain Wilson, Third Of
fiCer Wallace and Fourth Officer Dahl
were notified and proceeded to investi-
gate. They descended to the first hold
where they found the cargo en- the star
board side of the vessel burning under a
slow fire, which gave evidence of having
been at work for hours The hold was
choked with smoke and the officers were
unable to do effective work. They had
scarcely gotten to the second floor when
the captain staggered and fell limp at
the feet of his two companions. Wallace
and Dahl picked him up and carried him
TO his cabin, where the ships surgeon
with great difficulty revived him.
Went Down to Death.
Undaunted by the terrible experience
of q moment before, Wallace and Dahl
| again descended to the second hold, after
directing that an alarm of fire be sent
in from the wharf. Dahl went first
He had scarcely touched the deck before
| Wallace, overcome, gasping for breath
tumbled from the middle of the ladder
upon Dahl. The latter shouted for as
sistance, endeavOTing at the same time
to lift his fellow officer up bodily. He
lad proceeded half way up the ladder
with the all but lifeless form of Wallace
If his arms, when he too, was overcome
and the would-be rescuer tOppled back
ward with his burden. Both men were
carried to the deck by firemen, but Wal
lace soon died.
Chief Fell Unconscious.
Battalion Chief I. N. Ferr andez, with
his men of the fire department, were the
first to reach the scene. Fernandez was
overcome, and Captain Seweli took COM
mand. He saw TO it that Lieutenant A
Matlock and Lieutenant John Gilbert
were gotten up, and then, feeling himself
getting helpless, struggled in the smoke
until he tied a rope around the waise of
| Gabriel Cuneo of engine H. and then
managed to climb to the deck and tell
| the men to pull up Ounce. Captain Sew
ell then fell unconscious to the deck, but
soon revived.
It required the united efforts of many
| engine companies, aided by the fire tugs
On the bay, to subdue the fire.
Property Loss Small.
The surprising fact developed today
go This was the estimate made by Ma
JOr DeVOl. When the water had been
pumped from the hold and the debris re-
moved 1t was aScertained that the fire
had been confined to a space about six
feet square There was very little flame
the fire being Of a smothering variety
There were fears that some of the Off
GERS effects had been destroyed, but in
vestigation showed these goods to be
safe
It is believed by some Of the officials
that the fire was due to spontaneous
combustion of gun oil and cotton. Ri
files were in the vicinity of the fire and
it is thought that after cleaning the
weapons the men had carelessly tossed
the oil soaked waste into a heap. A
board of inquiry has been appointed to
make an investigation. 1t consists of
Captain w. L. Simpson, quartermaster
a
Second infantry, and Lieutenant Camp
bell, Fourth infantry
The Meade will sail Saturday for the
Orient.