The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-08
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
RESCUED FROM BURNING
SHIP OFF, MONTAUEpO|N1
Steamer Ontario Is Beached on
Reef of Rocks. and Sends
Frantic Distress Signals
CREW FIGHTS THE FLAMES
Victims Are Taken From Vessel
on Brooches Buoy Over
Turbulent Waters
CREW FIGHTS THE FLAMES

MoNTAUK, l.. l.. April s.-Twenfy-
nine women and children were
taken from the burning steam
er Ontario. or the Merchant
and Miners line, on Mon
faux Point. by the tug Tasco. from
New London, Conn, early today. The
captain and crew decided 10 remain
with the vessel. beached five miles
from here, and fight the flames In her
hold. The remainder OF the pag.
sengers also elected TO remain. al
though the tug was standing by
awaiting the moment when the pas.
sengers and crew still on board would
be forced TO leave the vessel.
mere were ninety passengers
aboard when the fire broke out.
me Ontario was beached ON Reef
Oh Rocks before dawn. and frantic
signals or distress from the vessel
brought out the lifesaving crew from
the nearby station. A rocket carried
line to the ship, and breeches buoy.
was hurriedly rugged to carry the
passengers and crew over the waters
that pound on the rocky shore OF the
northern point The life-savers could
not launch small boat to go 10 the
vessel because of the heavy sea.
When the breeches buoy was first
hauled into shore. II contained a note
from Capt. Bond, OF the Ontario.
which read:
We Will stick to the ship. But
stand by as near as possible In case
the fire gets beyond control"
A little knot or townspeople and
scafarihg folk had gathered In the
gray dawn to watch the vessel, and
they found themselves helpless be-
cause OF the angry stretch or water
between the reef where Capt. Bond
had beached lbs vessel, and the shore.
But the terse note from the ship con-
WINGED them that the crew was In q
fair way to control the flames in the
hold, and that the crew and pas
sengers were comparatively safe.
A Ashort time later the tug Tasco
from New London steamed into the
shallow awters about the stranded
vessel. Capt. Bond took lire from
the tug and put aboard her about =
score OF women and children pas
/. ssngers, who were stricken with Tear
following the discovery OF the blaze
in the early morning. The remain
der OF the passengers and crew
stayed with the ship, however, con-
WINGED that the fire would be extin-
guished without danger to those ON
board.
With the vessel safely beached In
shallow water, Capt. Bond despite the
heavy sea, decided 10 flood the biaz-
ing hold. The vessel lay high In the
water and in order TO let In the sea,
hole was torn in the hull The
Tasco stod by to await the outcome or
the battle with the flames, and the
line, rocketed TO the ship early In the
morning by the life-savers, rigsed
with the breeches buoy, still stretched
TO the shore TO take OF the crew ana
the remaining passengers II II De-
came necessary.
BALTIMORE, Nd, April S.-Wnen
]. c. Whitney. president Of the Mer-
chants and Miners Transportation
Co. was informed today that the pas
sengers OF the Inflated Ontario naa
been saved, he exclaimed:
THANK God for that. The boat -
minor consideration compared WIN
the safety OF the passengers.
The Ontario sailed from Baitfmore
for Boston, Friday, with passengers
and a general cargo. The boat ~
one of the largest in the service OF
the company She was built In Cam
den, N. j., In 1906.