Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-09
CAPTAIN BEACHES HIS SHIP
Wireless Operator Stays by Post and
Summons Aid.
WOMEN PROVE THEIR COURAGE
Ten Persons Riding in Steerage
Cause Only Trouble,
LIVES ARE NEVER ENDANGERED
Accident which Results In Excfte-
ment and Opportunity for Studies
of Human Nature Turns
Out Fortunately.

BOSTON, Mass, April s-A group Of
tired hungry passengers Of the Mer-
chants and Miners steamer Ontario,
which was driven ashore hu:ning on
Montauk Point, l.. J., arrived here late
today from New London, Conn, where
they we're landed by a tug.
Most of them were without baggage.
some had dressed so hurriedly In tha "
clement that they had scarcely sufficient
clothing.
When the Ontario was run ashore 1t
carried thirty-two passengers, twenty
two first and second cabin, and ten Ital-
fans in the steerage. All but two Of the
passengers were brought to Boston.
DESPITE their trying experieace, they
took the situation phllosophicaiy.
1T was an unavoidable misfortune" I"
said one. while others declared they be-
lieyed no one was to blame. There was
no panic except among the steeraSa pas
sengers, who, not understanding English,
could OF be calmed ad dircct,1, They
were forced by the ships crew into the
saloon. Some Of them insisted On run
ming on deck and a few tried to climb the
masts. thinking the ship would sink.
Women Braver Than Men.
The women" said II. W. Sanborn Of
Dover. N, H., behaved better than the
men, in my opinion, and they are deserv-
ing of much praise. OF course We all got
q little excited, but who would not? 1
was sleeping In the stateroom next to that
of the wireless operator, Herbert ingalls,
OF Lynn, Mass. and right on the other
side the rife was raging. About o'clock
this morning l awoke and looked out at
the weather and saw people running out
on deck crying The ship is afire.' /
thought II was fire drill, but the next
minute smoke enveloped us,
If there were any heroes on that
boat they were Ingalls,. the plucky wire
less operator, and Chief Engineer Disney.
oBth Of them stuck to their posts until
their duty was done, and they were
nlostls-responsibie for our safety.
zone Of the busiest men on the boat
was Purser James. lie assisted In awsk-
ening passengers. He also aided in calm
ing the Italians, who were bordering on
hysteria."
That the fire started before the ship
left Baltimore was the opinion expressed
by ID. c. Cannon. one Of the passengers.
Cannon says he saw stevedorcs who were
storing the cotton smoking and II is his
theory that a smouldering match or
cigarette started blaze before the
saeamer left port.
DITCH PLAIN LlFEsAVING STA
TIoN, Long Island, April s.-The steamer
Ontario, ZOO tons burden, Baltimore to
Boston, with fifteen passengers and q
crew Of forty was run on the rocks off
Montauk Point BY its captain early
today when fire was discovered in the
hold.
Tbs passengers were transferred In
llfebosts TO the tug Tasco, from New
London, Conn. which rushed to the scene
In response to the ontsrio's s. o. S.
wireless signals, and after six hours the
fire was brought under control.
The vessel is hard aground with a
light sea running and but little wind. and
there is little danger. apparently, Of its
going to pieces.