Atlanta Georgian., 1913-10-19
Liner Merton Is AbIaze When
Appeal for Aid Comes From
Other Vessel.
CREWS WORK IS PRAISED
Blaze Is Fought So Effectively
Few Passengers Knew Of
Their Peril.

A thrilling story of the mingling
OF the Inflated Volturno's IS. o. S"
call Of distress with the crackle of
flames on the steamship Merton,
aboard which they were passengers,
was confided to friends Saturday by
Mrs. A D. Adair and Mrs. Frank
r. Logan, two OF the best-known wo-
men in Atlanta. The Merton was
more fortunate than the ship which
called to 1t for help. the fire being
conquered after a quiet but desperate
fight without any casualties.
So skillfully and quietly did the
ships crew work that but few of
the passengers on the ship realized
there had been fire until long after
1t had been extinguished. A mile
away the mighty Lusitania was
standing by to lend hand II neces-
sary.
The fire on the Merton occurred
in the same locality Of the ship as
that in the Volturno. 1t was caused
by spontaneous combustion in a COM
partment below the steerage and just
in front of the boilers. Almost in
stantly It was discovered and the
steam lets OF the fire fighting equip
ment were opened, completely food
ing the compartment and smothering
the flames.
Ships Progress Halted.
VERY few of the passengers knew
the ship was afire until after It was
all over" said Mrs. Logan Some
one in our group noticed that the
ship was not making any progress
and inquired the reason why. We
then learned that the heavy amount
of steam being forced into the blazing
compartment had reduced the pres
sure on the engines and the ship
was making practically no headway.
Really, the fire was of no conse-
quence, and If there had been trou-
BILE the Lusitania was so close by
that no one was really in danger.
But it was mighty good to be able to
breathe a sigh Of relief when we
learned the danger mark had been
passed"
Mrs. Adair greatly prefers dry
land to burning ship on the high
seas. The remarkable feat of the
captain of the Merton fighting the
fire in such a manner that practical
ly none OF the passengers were
aware of the danger in which they
were in, brought words of admira-
ton from her
Crews Efficiency Praised.
so quietly was the fire handled
that none of us had the slightest idea
Of the danger we were in until the
danger mark had been passed" said
Mrs. Adair 1.-The sea was awfully
rough and fighting OF the fire must
have been unusually difficult for the
crew. There was a raging sea at
the time.
But for the fact that the fire was
discovered practically the moment
it broke out the same disaster that
befell the Volturno probably would
have been threatened to the Merton.
1 was told that 1t was in the same
spot on the Merton that fire broke
out in the Volturno, and that the con-
ditions were about the same. There
was a slight explosion, but on ac-
count of the storm it was not heard
except by very few. No one was
at all excited. due tothe fact that the
fire was all over when the passengers
learned Of 1t.
I'VE were all very thankful, indeed,
when safety was fully assured. On
land one knows there is a chance Of
escape. but from a burning ship on
a rough sea, well. hopelessness is
hardly the word to describe ones
feelings"