The Washington times., 1908-03-13
VESSEL AFIRE;;
800 PASSENGERS
ARE TAKEN OFF

NEW YORK, March 13-The lives Of
$50 passengers on the Fall River line
steamer Providence were imperiled to-
day when IRE broke out on the freight
deck OF the vessel as she was passing
Sands Point, inward bound. The blaze
ragged for fifteen minutes while the pas
sengers slept, but in fear Of their saIe-
ty, Captain Attleby ordered everyone
aboard awakened and the members OF
the crew to take positions pear me ne
boats.
Immediately there was great excite
ment among the men and women, many
of whom rushed 10 the decks without
all OF their clothing. The skipper OF
the vessel declared that the providence
was In no great danger, but lie lmmeul-
ately set the wireless telegraph ap
paratus 70 WS.s- and IN a Few min utes
a reply was 2 shed back from the
steamer RicI1rd peck, which vas on
her way TO Kew } ork from New ia ven.
Ia q little while she was alongside, and
the crews o. tn two vessels qutckiy
dashed them sogetner.
Passengers Taken on Boat.
Then, as the two steamers. tied Sc
curely to one another, continued toward
port under full steam, boards were
stretched across the gulf between the
decks ana the passengers were trans
ferred.
The officers continued TO fight the fire,
and as there was stlH some danger, the
lashings between the ships were cas-
OF and the Richard Peck backed away.
The nTe was discovered By tho night
Waterman IN box Of WOODEN goods
He quietly notified the captain who was
on the bridge at the time, ana after .s
Vestigate, the crew was quietly SUM
mOned for drill.
Arouse the SlsepeTs.
Five streams Of water were soon play
ing on the flames. but the men had great
trouble in getting to the blaze because
Of the dense smoke. For ten minutes
they directed their efforts IN an attempt
to extiEguish IL. When they had failed
CAPTAIN Attleby decided to notify the
passengers. and the entire crew was
hcers continued fighting the blaze. while
others went 10 the different staterooms
and advised the passengers 10 get on
their clothes
The wireless operator also began
sounding his instrument, and the pas
sengers iocked eXcitedly 10 the decks.
There was a great deal Of excitement,
but no panic Then the answer came
from tie Richard Peck. and out Of the
mist sne hove alongside
she at first took 10 the stern Of the
Providence, but finally, 10 -alm the
e lrs Of the passengers, CAPITA Attleby
asked that she come alongside. The
englHUs OF the Providence WerO brought
to a .tandstilI, and the Richard Peck
hove near. Some of the sailors threw
out their lines and the TWO vessels were
drawn together.
After gangplanks had connected the
two vessels the officers formed on
either side and permitted the passengers
10 go quietly across. The Richard Peck
fell into tie wake Of the Providence,
which announced to it by wireless that
the fire had been extinguished at
Pfckeris Island The Fall River boat
then proceeded TO her pteT at the foot
OF Canal street. and q rTw moments
later the Richard Peck discharged the
passengers Of both vessels at Chambers
street.
The damase by the Ere was slight,
and Will not interfere with the schedule
OF the Providence.
The passengers OF the ship paid a high
compliment 10 Captain Attleby. who,
they said, had not lost his head for a
moment.