The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-13
PASSENGERS ON
PROVIDENCE IN
imminent PERIL
The Richard Peck Answers Call,
and ALI Are Safely
Transferred. -
HYSTERICAL WOMEN RUN
WILDLY ABOUT DECK
Steamers LaShed to Each Others
Side-SearchIight Rays
Thrown on Scene.
Lspeelal e lhe nvonlng star.l

NEW YORK, March ia fearful
catastrophe of the sea was averted
early today by the use of the wireless
telegraph, combined with the presence
OF mind of Captain Appleby Of the Fall
River line steamer Providence, en- route
between Providence and this city.
six hundred panic passengers,
many OF them clad only in their night
robes. were transferred from the decks
of the Providence, which was afirc. to
the decks OF the steamer Richard w.
Peck, of the New Haven line.
Fire broke out on the freight deck Of
the Providence in a box of wool hats,
and is supposed TO have been due to
spontaneous combustion. Smoke from
the burning material swept up into the
upper decks, where the 800 passengers
we're asleep in two tiers of cabins.
starts wireless Going.
Captain Appleby was the first to dis
cover the blaze, which had already
gained great headway, and threatened
to evolve into fire that might destroy
the ship. He at once ordered a fire
drlll, but decided to keep news of the
fire from MS passengers.
At the same time The captain started
his wireless in operation and sent a
rush fire call across the stretches of
the night.
Back across the seas came an an-
swering spark from the Richard w,
Peck Appleby asked Captain Hardy
of that steamer to come at once to his
assistance.
"Will respond at once" came the an
swer.
Appleby then learned that the Rich
ard w. Peck was within a few miles
of his vessel bound in the same direc-
tion for New York.
At that time the Providence was off
Sands Point, which is just above
Throgg's Neck. on the Sound, thirty
miles from New York The steamer
was then in real danger. as the fire
was gaining headway.
Matters might have then gone
smoothly until the arrival of the rescue
steamer had it not been for Mrs. Mii-
dred Holland. of Boston She was
awakened by the smoke fumes.
Aroused by WOmnu's Scrcams.
Mrs Holland instantly found her way
into the corridor and began screaming.
Her cries were heard by other passeu~
big salons. There they were met by
Captain Appleby and his officers and
men, who shouted that the fire was
under control and that there was no
danger.
THE Richard w. Peck will be here
within few minutes shouted Cap
tain Appleby. "and you win all be
safely removed to that steamer. Keep
your courage and all will be Welt"
Many women tainted in the nerve-
racking half hour that finally ended
In the arrival OF the Peck. At that
time the big fog whistle of the Provl
dence was blowing distress signals al
minute intervals, distress rockets were
being sent upward into the sky and
her searchlights were sweeping the
seas for the appearance of the rescuing
vessel
Then to the immense relief of the
terrorized passengers, there came the
answering flashes Of light from the
Peck, the welcome sound of her whis'
tie and more communications by the
wireless.
Stand by to take on passengers
was the request made by the wireless
of the Providence to the other ship.
I've are ready" sputtered back the
receiver on the Providence with its aa~
swer from the Peck.
Captains Use Megaphoncs.
AS the Peck drew near Captain APP
pleby talked to Captain Hardy through
his megaphone standing on the bridge
Ii was agreed between them that bee
cause of the progress of the fire. It was
best to transfer tho frightened pas.
.sengers at once.
Lines we're then made fast and, with
the searchhghts playing on the strange
and weird scene, the six hundred pas
isengers rushed safely across TWO gang
planks from one vessel to the other.
The sea was. fortunately, calm. ana