The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-21
Fifty Passengers SaTed by the
Kansas and the StratfOrd.
THE LOSS is S225, 900.
Crew Is Saved With Exception
OF Four Coal Passers.
The Burning Hulk Is Being
TOWed Into Port.

Grand RadipS, Mich May 21--FoUr
coal passers we're burned to death and
one passenger, J. NJ Rhoades. Of De-
truft, was fatally burned when the
Crosby line steamer Naomi, formerly
the Wisconsin, was burned to the wat-
er's edge early today In the middle of
Lake Michigan Fifty passengers and
and all Of the crew except four coal
passers were taken off in small boats
by the steamer Stratford and the Ma
ornfs sister ship. the Kansas, which
was enroute from Milwaukee to Grant
Haven The loss on the Naomi WHICH
was in command Of Captain ThoS-
TrafII is estimated at s225,000- After
the passengers and crew were rescued.
a barge which had been attracted to
the scene by the fire put a line on the
burning hulk and is now towing her
to Grand Haven
The fire started in the vicinity Of the
kitchen. between decks. and spread so
rapidly that the whole ship was 4 fur
apparatus working. Fire swept the
whole length Of the ship and the upper
works burned like tinder-
1t is regarded as miraculous that the
passengers all esca ped Many Of them
were taken of in their night clothes
while scarcely any one was more than
partly clad
The fire was not originally discover
| was first seen by the lookout on the
steamer Kansas. which was proceed
ing the the opposite direction from
Milwaukee to Grand Haven The Kan
saS made for the Naomi and in the
meanwhile, the passengers OF the H.
fated boat were being awakened
Captain Thomas Traiu was the last
man to leave the steamer alive and his
! clothing was almost burned OF him
The four coal passers who perfshed
were below in their hunks and are be-
lfeved to have been penned down there
by the flames. They are believed to
have shipped from Milwaukee
It is said by the passengers that the
screams of the dying men in the hold
were heard. but that it was impossible
ta reach them
A Survivors, Story
Grand Rapids. Mich May al
Many Of the passengers of the steamer
Naomi returned today TO this city
They told graphic and thrilling tales Of
their dangers and unanimously praised
| the coeiness and bravery of the crew
Arthur Jones. Detroit attorney,
said:
/ What We suffered a. We stood there
on the stern of the boat watching tEe
fire creeping towards Us in spite of the
heroic efforts OF the crew to beat it
back no body can tell Through it all
no Drawer men ever walked than the
steward, Philip Rcsbach and Purser
william Hanahan OF the Naomi
Brave and cool as Il IN port, they
worked like beavers, caring for the
I passengers It was these men who
went down to the lower deck with
smoke and flames all around them
and handed up the body OF Rhoades
whose picture still haunts me-
Sol Waterman of New York said.
Never will I forget the picture Of
/ those poor fellows in the forecastIe
who we're burned The Naomi was a
mass of flames Suddenly the four
men who had been asleep IN the fore
castle thrust rhenr heads from the
port holes and called for help The
captain of the freighter We were on
ordered a life boat to go to their aid
/ The boat went but the men were un-
I able TO squeeze their bodies through
( the port holes We could hear them
I calling pitifuIIy for help and see them
through the flames. but the life boat
[ crew came back and reported it could
, not reach them The captain ordered
the boat to return and get the names
of the men Then we could hear the
questions and answers as the men told
their names and the names and resi-
{ deuces of thier families and friends
Finally. one man called out, 'Goodby,
I'm gone and fell back into the