The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-05-23
Mr.. and Mrs. C. E sanborn Have
Narrow Escape From Death on
Burning Steamer Naomi
TELL GRAPHIC STORY OF FIRE.
Were Among the Last to Leave Their
Berths in the Ill Fated Ship and
Were Taken to Safety in
the Life Boats

tnelT nome IN this city last mig ut after
having had a most narrow escape
from death in a terrible form. Mr.
and Mrs. Sanborn we're among the
passengers on board the Inflated
steamer Naomi of the Crosby line
which was burned in mid lake early
tuesday morning and in the fire Ave
people lost their lives. Mr.. Sanborn
escaped unframed, but Mrs. Sanborn
was badly bruised by falling from the
steamer into life boat. The full ac-
count of the burning of the big
steamer is published in another col
umn Of today's paper.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sanborn had the ex-
perience of their lives and at her
home on Market street this morning
Mrs. Sanborn told graphic story Of
the awful catastrophe and Of the
escape of her husband and herself.
Mr.. Sanborn, who is a commercial
traveller, had been at work at Muske-
gon and Mrs Sanborn went TO Muske-
gon last Friday evening to join him
IN order that they might make the re-
turn trip on the lake together They
left Muskegon on the Naomi Monday
afternoon and after short stop at
Grand Haven they started on the ship
for Milwaukee. 1T was a perfect
night on the lake. said Mrs. SAM
born, land my husband and sat on
the deck until after ten o'clock when
we retired to the berth. 1t was at
half past one that we had the first
mixing that there was anything
wrong on board the boat. We were
awakened by the rapping on the door
and received orders to get out of the
berths and up on the upper deck as
soon as possible. We hustled into
our clothes believing that the boat
was sinking. There was not cry Of
fire and there seemed to be little COM
motion among the passengers. Just
as we were aroused we heard the
breaking of glass IN the adjoining
berth and as soon as possible we hur-
ried out into the saloon. We found
the place crowded with people and
filled with smoke. People. partially
clothed we're running about the decks
and be it said to the honor of the wo-
men on board that they we're less ex-
cited than the men. It was trying
situation and all the time the flames
were getting closer to the main decks
of the steamer but the women re-
NAMED reasonably calm while half
clothed men as the fire approach ed
jumped into the lake.
'sAs soon as possible we secured
life belts and went to the upper deck.
Just as we reached the deck we saw
the lights of the steamship Kansas,
but it seemed an eternity before the
boat got close enough to rescue us.
Mr.. Sanborn, seeing that there was
no immediate danger, returned to the
berth and got our heavy coats and we
we're pretty well protected. We were
ready to leap into the lake and wait
to be rescued when the life boats were
finally lowered. The life boats were
for the women first and many of the
X
without their husbands, but when the
big coal boat came up and it was evil
dent that the men we're to be saved
we went to the boats. | was injured
when being handed into the life
boat. The men up above believing
that the men in charge of the life
boat would catch me, dropped me and
| struck on my spine on one of the
oars of the boat. l do not think, how
ever, that my injury is of a serious
nature and feel a great deal better
this morning. The men on board the
Kansas were most accommodating to
the women who had been taken from
the Naomi and as soon as / reached
the Kansas the captain of the vessel
took off his big heavy coat and gave
1t to me. Later went to the engine
room where the women gathered to
get warm and the members of the
crew served coffee. AS soon as posi-
bic the men who had been taken off
by the coal boat joined us on the Kan
sas and we were taken to Grand
Haven where we took the train for
Chicago"
Mrs. Sanborn stated that the scene
on the Naomi was something terrible
and that the men who were burned to
death we're caught like rats in a trap.
Just before the steamer was deserted
to ner fate the men were seen push
ing their heads out Of the coal holes
in the boat crying for aid, but it was
impossible to reach them, and finally
they shouted out their names that
their friends and relatives might be
notified of their fate.
One of the passengers on the boat
was a man by the name of Paradise
who was formerly in business ia Ke-
nosha. Paradise was among the in
jured. AS soon as the alarm was
given he attempted to get out Of his
berth by breaking the window and his
arms were badly cut by broken glass.
Henry Christensen and Miss Anna
Larsen. both of Kenosha zee sl:-