The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-30
FROM BURNING SHIP
DAYS and nights In DANGER
WITHOUT SLEEP
EVERYBODY WAS SAVED
The Terrible Experience OF Passen-
gers and Crew on e Steamship
From Savannah to New York That
Caught Fire While Ont on the
High Sea.

High Sea.
A Norfolk dispatch says just when
the life savers and her crew thought
they had the flames under control
the fire which had been raging in the
forward hold Of the Merchant and
Miners steamer Berkshire broke out
anew late Monday and there was
panic among the passengers and crew
OF the burning vessel.
TO add to the terror OF those on
board there was an explosion in the
hold where the fire was confined and
the big ship was shaken from stem
to stern by the conclusion. The
steamer appeared to list slightly al
ter the explosion, but no one 7entur-
ca near the forward part Of the ship
to ascertain the nature or what was
the cause.
The revenue cutter Seminole, which
reached the burning vessel late Sun
day night, was within 100 yards OF
the Berkshire when the explosion
occurred, and she signalled those on
beard the big ship that she would
send lifeboats and take OF the pas
sengers, crew and lifesaVers.
The transfer Of those on the Berk-
shire to the Seminole is said to have
been thrilling. 4 northeast gale has
been sweeping the coast since Sun
day morning and Monday fine, cold
rain added gloom to the already per-
llous position Of the disheartened
passengers.
When told that they had better
take to the boats the passengers,
many Of whom wanted to leave the
ship Sunday night, expressed delight:
With the wind blowing a gale around
them and the rain beating in sheets
they were lowered into the lifeboats
of both the Seminole and the Berk-
shire. The motor boat OF the life
savers was also was also brought into
use.
The life savers and crew from the
Berkshire, almost completely ex-
hausted by their long fight against
the flames, were almost helpless ana
were taken of the steamer by the
crew of the revenue cutter Seminole.
The passengers came first, then
the crew and the life savers. TWO
members of the crew OF the Berk-
shire, with badly burned hands and
arms, were given medical treatment
by the surgeon on the Seminole. Sew.
eral other members Of the crew ana
life savers are reported to be suner-
ing from slight burns and sore eyes
as a result of the hours OF ceaseless
battle with the fire.
While the passengers were oelng
lowered into lifeboats from the Sem.
mole that vessel kept streams OF
a.a,er directly on the fre OF the
Berkshire, snG IN this way probably
lesseuaa TIE Gau;Ar OF a second eX-
plossion and partially d1spelied the
Tears Of the passengers.
Despite the FAC: that the Berkshire
while ancuoced IL side Lockout Cove
is partly protecte: from the raging
storm sweeping the coast, high seas
heat against the vessel all day long
ard she rolled and pitched consider
ably.
The passengers, without sleep for
.wo days ana nights, were tired
n.t grateful 70: whea told to prepare
:, take to TIE bclts. Even Win a
:.icl s.a tossing the lifeboats around
::::.a SO mary corks, the passengers
arparently felt they would be sa1er
il. these little craft than they would
on board the Berkshire with ohno-
ing, almost impenetrable columns
of black smoke pouring from her
hatches and in constant fear that an
explosion would tear the ship 10
pieces.
4 considerable portion OF the cargo
vas removed from the forward fo!d
Monday. The hold was practically
flooded, and the ship, under the
weight of the tons Of water, showed "a
= sight list. The officers were be-
Ginning to think that the fre was
octically conquered and were pre-
n7r'ng to give orders to pump the
ho,d clear of water when the ex-
Mission came and the black smoke
g, =. ont or the matches.