New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-03
TANK STEAMER, ABLAN,
RACES BACK TO PORT
The Sioux, Bound for Mexico,
Takes Fire Off Barnegat,
New Jersey.
WIRELESS BRINGS AID
Chief Kenlon Sends the New
Yorker Down the Bay at
Full speed-Loaded
with Refined Oil.

The German tank steamer Sioux ladeh
with refined oil and bound for Iuxpah'
Mexico. was reported on fire of Barnegat'
n J.. early Yesterday evening by wireless
via the Morgan Line steamer Comus. The
Sioux was said TO be racing back to Ne"
York. With small chances OF making
landing, but later wireless message from
the Santa Marta, Of the United Fruit Line,
reported the fire as under control and said
the captain OF the Sioux said he needed
no help.
The tank steamer arrived at Bayonne'
n. j., early in the week with a cargo Vi
crude oil and after taking on large
quantity OF the refined product. cleared
that port Tuesday evening and left Quar-
antine early yesterday. She is OF 3o49
tons and is under the command Of Captain
Lotze.
II was shortly before 7 o'clock last
night that the Con1us, bound from TINS
port 10 New Orleans flashed wireless
TO the office OF the Morgan Line. saying
the Sioux. with thousands of gallons OF
oil in her cargo. was ablaze OF the hlgh-
lands Of Navesink According to the
message the captain OF the Sioux said MS
boat was racing back 10 port, but that
he did not believe the tank steamer
would be able TO make landing In time
to prevent total loss Of the vessel
As soon as news OF the fire was re-
ported TO the Fire Department Chief
Kenlon ordered the freboat New Yorker
TO make all speed down the bay from her
station at Pier A. at the Battery ana
proceed 10 Scotland Lightship, where the
Sioux would probably meet her. WITHIN
few minutes after receiving the COM
mand the New Yorker started down the
bay under full steam.
The Patrol Of the Police Department
also left her pier and went TO meet the
incoming Sioux. Repeated efforts were
made early I'm the evening TO get into
further wireless communication with the
Comus. in the hope Of learning additional
details. but the atmospheric conditions
were so unfavorable that only the most
powerful wireless stations were able 70
catch the original message from the
Comus.
4 wait Of two hours followed the re-
ceiving OF the hrst message from the
Morgan liner. and in the ensuing interval
anxiety ran high as 10 the ultimate fate
Of the tank steamer. No word regarding
the burning boat could be gained from
other vessels in the usual southern
bound lane where the Sioux was first
reported TO be in distress.
The United Fruit Company received a
message about p. m. from the Santa
Marta. nearing this port from Colon.
saying she had been in wireless COM
munication with the Sioux, and that the
tank steamer reported the fire in her
cargo as under control.
The New Yorker made the run down TO
Scotland Lightship. a distance Of ap-
proximately twenty-one miles. in a little
more than an hour and then stood by
of the lightship, where the Sioux, under
forced draught, could be dmly seen under
full head OF steam. returning 10 port.
The New Yorker was prepared TO go be-
yond the ightship. had the circumstances
warranted II. and pour tons OF water into
the hold OF the tank steamer. but when
the Sioux signalled that the burning oil
was being kept under control and that
no help was needed, the fireboat awaited
her coming. preparatory to escorting her
up the bay.
The first wireless received from the Co
mus said that vessel was putting back TO
port, ostensibly for the purpose Of keep
inc ai,ppsida tho Sioux IN rend,r aid IN
her crew in case they had TO take to the
small boats. Later advices. however. re-
ported the Morgan liner as proceeding on
her way to New orleans.
1t is not expected the Sioux will make
this port before early this morning.