New-York tribune., 1907-07-29
SHIP RACES WITH FIRE.
HOLD AB4NKED FURNACE.
Passengers on old Dominion Liner
Ignorant of Peril.

With a fire. which afterwa-d developed into a
obstinate blaze. smoulderng in her hold the
steamship Hamilton, OF the Old Dominion Line
raced up the bay yesterday afternoon the freboats
Van Wyck and Mcclellan keeping abreast Of her,
ready for action.
Although the two hundred and fifty passengers
crowded TO the rails to look at the freboats, they
had no idea that their presence was occasioned by
any fire on board their vessel. Not until the
vessel reached her pier at Beach street, and the
matches were removed from the hold. did the smoke
and flames appear 10 cause alarm.
Captain James Leyand, superintendent and com
rnodore Of the Old Dominion Line was among those
overcome by the vapor. He had been working
among the fremen. and was dragged out AFTER
the fresh air had revived him somewhat he went on
with his work Of directing the men,
He had been at work only moment when he
again fell and YVES dragged out OF the way in
precarious condition. DR.. Beeuwkes' OF the hud-
son Street Hospital. cared for him.
Captain Mccarthy. in command Of the fireboat
Mcclellan. was overcome and had TO be carried TO
the pilot house Of the freboat New Yorker, which
had come to the scene Captain Murray, in charge
~ tho fire division TO which the New Yorker and
Mcclellan are attached, had succumbed 10 the ef-
fects Of the poisonous vapor a few seconds before
II was lust as the Hamilton rounded the Sandy
Hook Lightship that the explosion Of therrno-
stat in hold No. and the violent ringing OF the
alarm in the engine room proclaimed the presence
of fire In that hold Without excitement the hatches
,erA ba+tencd down and heavy tarpeulins were
added them.
Then steam from, the boilers was turned into the
commandment and a wireless message was sent to
the Offices Of the company. When an opening was
made in the battened matches the smoke began
nourtng out In the hold there were quantities OF
rosir cotton tobacco and peanuts. When Captain
Roxburv in command OF Engine Company 20. found
that the matches could not be moved away from the
hatch combing round the opening leading 10 the
hold he ordered his men to lower him by rope
into the smoke filled compartment below. He was
dragged out by the anxious men before his work
Was finished and he ordered them TO lower him
down once more.
The second time he succeeded IN releasing the
catch which held the platform. and was dragged
out more dead than alive. Nheh ne "ds ie'4'eu
he returned to work.
.,o C,b;cf Pinns fresh from his struggle with
.ha Eve az Coney Island rushed to the spot as soon
as the alarm sent In and TOOK cha[Se re oi ~ ,lo
eght He also descended into the smoke 'lIed com
partment. -Four engines and TWO tFucNS were @ sem
To +he scene OF the blaze, as were Two aHlDuih'ces
from the Hudson Street Hospital.
ono NJ the most seriously affected among the iTe-
mon vas John Heenan. OF fire company "a the
nreboat Mcclellan. who was overcome a'Ieilprli.H ,
"a nerform the same action that Captain Ro1Dury
later succeeded in accomplishing
II WAS not until the lremen succeeded IN lower
,,g 70 the hold what IS known as sub-celar
Dipe which throws large volumes OF water III @ eiLe
faet,on Of a huge garden sprinkler that the hre
80 a. Jaet extinRufshed. Chief Binns and the
oelcfais of the company announce that the total
damage will not exceed $1,000 ,
Commodore Leyland was carried to the Hudsol
+reet HOSPITAL but before he left the scene or te
6re he had orders sent to the jamestown, OF inc
company's feet which Is expected IN NorIoit ss ai
morning. 10 return at once to take care OF Talhc
here