New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-19
Massachusetts Forced to
Accept Help While in
East River.
FIREMEN BOARD HER
AFTER ODD RACE
No Call Sent for Aid. but
Heavy Smoke Acted as
Distress Signal.
DAMAGE TO INTERIOR
Boston Liners Crew BaffIed by
Big Blaze in HOld-Boat
Proceeds on Way.

With fire in the depth Of her hold and
with about 400 passengers unconscious
Of the danger which menaced her, the
steamship Massachusetts, of the Met
iopolitan Steamship Line. plying be-
tween New York and Boston, thrashed
her way from her pier in the North
River, at the foot of Murray ST., at 3
o'clock last night, and rounded the
Battery into the East River without
signalling for help.
The engineers and crew of the vessel
were battling with the flames. while
her commander, Captain n. L. Colbert,
refused TO give the order to sound the
fire signal and summon assistance. The
prompt action of Acting Captain
Charles J. Heed of the fire boat New
Yorker perhaps prevented n disaster.
Acting Captain Heed was in his Office
in the harbor fire station at the Bat
terry, with the New Yorker lying at her o.
pier. when he saw the Massachusetts
emerging from the North River Clouds
Of heavy, black smoke were pouring
ur about the after smokestack instead
of from the funnel. At glance he
realized there was something amiss.
He was Disconnected, however, by the
fact that the vessel was not blowing
her whistle or giving other evidence Of
distress. For a few minutes he hesI-
tated. and then decided to put out to
her assistance.
Fire Boats Calls Not Needed.
At his command the crew of the
New Yorker jumped TO their posts and
the fire boat shot out into the harbor,
heading for the Massachusetts,. The
big coast liner. however, continued on
her way at full speed and paid no al
tention TO the shrieks o. the New
Workers. whistle.
For a half mile the strange chase
continued Suddenly. in front Of Pier
Is. in the East River, the steamship
responded to the signals of the fire
DOdl anu DtEdH W Od'h bP ~ H''N
stream. The New Yorker speedily
overhauled the larger vessel and
promptly lay alongside and was made
fast. Then, with twelve men, Acting
Captain Heed boarded the imperilied
steamship and in a short time had laid
aboard two lines Of high pressure fire
hose.
He learned that the fire was down m
the very bottom OF the boat and that
the intense heat had driven back most
Of the crew, who had been summoned
TO fight il.
The Massachusetts burns oil as fuel
for her powerful turbine engines, and
the fire had started as she was leaving
her pier and drawing out into the
North River spark from the boiler
room had fallen into the bilge m the
bottom of the hold and the waste oil
which was floating upon the surface OF
the bilge water had become ignited.
In an incredibly short space Of time
the fire had fastened upon the paint Of
the stanchions and was eating into the
Dulkheads.
"The officers Of the vessel had eyl-
IDENTIFY discovered the fire Immediately
after il started" said Captain Heed.
"and were confident at first they would
be able to extinguish the flames with
out summoning outside assistance.
and this overconfdence almost caused
a second Slocum disaster
"In one respect it was fortunate that
the fire was so deep down. as IT pre-
vented a panic among the passengers.
All Of those on board were in total ig-
norancc Of the danger which menaced
them until the New Yorker laid along
side. The passengers were in the be
lief that the heavy smoke which had
driven them from the lower decks WAS
caused bv some slight imperfection IN
the draft of the tunnels.
There was only little excitement
when the truth became known. One
woman passenger. Mrs. Helen Root,
became hysterics and begged TO be
taken Off. hut she was finally resSsured
and consented to remain on board and
continue the trip"
Tie New Yorker remained tied up TO
the steamship for fully three-quarters
Of an hour, during which time Captain
Heed and his men were lighting the
ere in the hold Of the vessel
Shortly after the New Yorker had
laid alongside the ship. the tirehost
Seth Low put out from the foot OF
Beekman St and tied up on the star
board side Of the coast liner. The
Seth Low was in command Of Lieutcn-
amt George Farr. who. with ten men
and single line Of hose. boarded the
Massachusetts, and lent their assist
ance TO the men from the New Yorker.
The two fire boats continued with
the ship, which proceeded under half
steam as far as Goth 81. There the
last smouldering bulkhcad was extin-
guished, and the steamship WAS per
mitted TO proceed alone on her jour
ney.
During the progress OF the blaze,
the fire boat William L. Strong, OF