Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-17
Wireless Gall
 Brought Help.
CUNARD LINER RESCUEs 1o3
 PASSENGERS
COTTON CARGO ABLAZE
Passengers. Transferred and Burning Steamer Conveyed to Hamilton, Der
 muda. Where Fire Was Drowned Out

Hamilton, Bermuda, Nov 16.-The spanish steamer Balmes, with her cot ton cargo on fire, was towed into St. CTeorges harbor this morning by the tugs Gladisfen and Powerful conveyed Dy the Cunard liner Pannonia. The Cunarder had on board 103 passengers or the BalmeS, taken off the burning ship Friday morning in mid-ocean, while heavy seas were running, after a forced draught race to the rescue in answer to wireless calls for help.
 Rescued Passengers Cheer.
 When the Balmes came to anchor in the harbor her hatches were lifted. Great clouds of smoke beIched forth but powerful pumps soon sent tons of water into her hold and drowned out the fire. The steamer is in good con ditlon except for the damage done by the water and the fire in <her cargo.
 The Pannonian, when she had fin ished her task of conveying the Balmes, pointed her prov toward New York and steamed away at 10 o'clock this morning, the passengers of the Balmes lining her decks and cheering lustiIy.
 Valiant Work by Crew.
 The fire on the Balmes was discov- cred Wednesday night at II o'clock while the steamer was blowing east ward on her trip to CadiZ, Spain, from Galveston and Havana.
 IN O. z spread rapidly, the smoke penetrating to the engine room and the stoke hold. The second engineer and several mem bers of the crew were partially Suffo- cated. but stuck Yaliantly to their posts
 Wireless Gall for Help.
 The wireless operator, by direction of Captain Ruiz, then began sending out calls for assistance. The call reached the PaTmonia, some 180 miles to the north, bound for New York, and Captain Robert Capper answered that he would come to the Spaniards aid. The British cruiser Suffolk also an- sWered the Balmes' plea, but the mes- sage she sent was fndistinct.
 Turning south, the PannOnia, under forced draught, raced at top speed toward the spot where the Balmes had said she was in distress. All of We'd nesday night and through Thursday Captain Capper pressed the Pannonia Thursday night the Spaniard hove in sight of the Cunarder, which was soon to lepWard alongside the burning ves- sel.
 Crew Stands by Ship.
 Captain Capper stood by the Balmes until mornino and then took off her passengers, the captain and crew elect ing to remain or board their ship to navigate her and fight the fire. When the transfer of passengers had taken place the PannOnla and BalmeS headed for Bermuda.
 The crew of the Balmes fought the fire throughout Friday, but all the time were unable to gain headway. Satur- day night the flames had reached such proportions that 1t was thought they might spread to the rum in the hold and that the vessel might have to be abandoned. The crew, however. never let Up in their endeaVOrs to Subdue the fire. and when the tugs picked up the Balmes and tow ed her into St Georges this morning the powerful pumps put aboard soon quenched it,
 No Sign of Fire Above Decks.
 At no time until the matches were lifted here were there any signs of the fire above the decks except the pres ence of the heavy smoke.