Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-07-12
GREAT DANGERS OF
TRAVEL ON OCEAN
Fire Is the Chief Calamity to
Be Feared in Mid.
ocean.
TESTS COURAGE OF ALL
Thrilling Experiences Related Of Some
Of Those Who Have Gone
Down to the Sea
in Ships.
TESTS COURAGE OF ALL
From the New York Post.

patch from Seattle announced the ar
rival there of eleven members of the
crew of the ship Challenger, which
took fire at sea. and WAS scuttled on
the coast of Japan several months ago.
For almost Il month they fought the
flames on the wooden vessel. and AT
times h was kept aiioat only by the
most heroic work" That is all OF the
story as it is given to the world.
And yet. of ali the dangers which
bcset the sailorinan while he is doing
business in great waters, mono holds
terror for him save this possibility OF
fire in midoccan, perhaps far from
any of the ocean highways and beyond
all possibility of assistance. Iut the
record set forth in one or two lines
such as those quoted above grows
steadily larger AS the years go by.
Also. If the world does not learn all
the particulars, it learns more of them
from time to time.
The spring of 1897 was a bad season
for transatlantic travel. On March 3 OF
hat year the Rialto. of the Wilson
line. which had left Newcastle on Feb
ruary u for New York, with IA general
cargo, including n quantity of chem
1cals. found herself only about 500
miles from the Irish coast. with heavy
weather, becoming heavier as the hours
passed. AS night settled down the
blow became Il hurricane. Tremen-
u seas smashed the lifcboats to
splinters and tore away portions of
h superstructure. Daylight came.
showing only one small boat left and
no sign or moderating weather; Az the
neight OF the storm an explosion was
heard. and smoke began to pour out
of one of the matches.
james Coleman, the chief officer of
h vessel, rushed TO the spot, accom-
panied by the thlrd engineer. The two
dragged a hose between them and lost
no time IN pouring u stream or water
into the rising flames. Leaning over
as far as possible. the engineer pecrcd
down to see where the force of water
might DE directed TO the best advan-
tase. AS he did SO. feeling out with
stream from the nozzle which he
held In his hand. d second explosion,
YOUR times as powerful as the frSi,
shook the ship from stem to stern,
nnd threw her on her beam ends. From
n opening poured clouds of smok OF
peculiar density, heavily impfegnated
with the odor of chemicals. When IT
cleared. the chief officer was found
lying on the deck unconscious ana SER
iously injured. The engineer was not
found. but there were evidences that
Ae had been blown to pieces, that
the heavy seas had mercifuily removed
nearly all traces of his terrible death.
Fire in Mid-Ocean.
II was n had moment. but cantoin
Rinperth was canal TO the emergency.
Before manic could result. he was
among his men himself leading in the
work Of batteninc down all hatchways.
Ies,ito tho hir wavos which threat,
cned IN send him over the side 10
him came tho shin,s q rnenter who re-
ported that the forward mates had
heen Iooser,ed nv tho force ar the ey-
nlosion and that the shin was rnnidIv
Snakiur water in the hold
Erortnnntely the RiaIto was IN tbe
Her head was turned once more i'm the
direction of Queenstown and with sig
nails of .list,.ess disnlayed She startea
to linn back. part of the crew at the
pumps. the remainder lighting the
flames. Several hours later. at s O'Clock
IN the evening. the "Carthaginian OF the
A~llan-State line hove In sight and am
near the burning ship as the fearful
gale would permit. answering further
signals that she would remain near by
until morning.
All night II the battle continued,
men pouring water In. men pumping
water out. When morning broke the
e was still running too high for the
boats to be lowered. ana for the whole
of another day and night the struggle
was continued. while the C~arthaginiar
lay by II promised succor at the first
possible moment.
Then. when all aboard We're SO ex'
haIsted that they were ready for death
second officer determined to make us'
OF the n small boat remaining, ant
show those on the C~arthaginian tina
the rescue. which must be made o oi
II at all. was possible, He called TO
volunteers; and severa! sailors helpe
him 10 lower the cockiesheii over IN.
Y and to row her TO the other vessel
His story was told and immediatel!
men set out IN boats from the ALLAH
liner. Afte- three trips the entire GREY
OF fire fighters was rescued, and tn
C~nrthaginian resuined her voyage west
ward. leaving. the Rialto stu burning
o In several places AT once.
Bark Struck by Lightning.
One OF the most remarkable stories O
h sea. which has vet to be told Il
fittlng manner is the story OF the bar
Carrie T. Long, of Philadelphia. Th
IOng was one OF a fleet of oil carryin
vessels plying generally between Phila
delphia and Cuban ports. On May
19y5. she left PHILADELPHIA with IA; 10
gallons OF crude petroleum for Havana
No word of her arrival at he Cuba,
nort was received. and n sister shir
the Hayan which followed close be
hind her. was also posted as overdue