The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-07
No News Vet From Boat Load Of Men
Who Left ship Columbian
When Il Took
Fire.

Toledo. was burned to the ,f't
edge just OF shore at Ripley, Y.
this morning. The steamer was light
having discharged a cargo Of oats q,
Buffalo, after trip from Chicago
The steamer was in charge OF Cap
tain VIM. Dunn, of Cleveland, who has
been sailing the craft for two years
John Mcnamara, of Cleveland, was
first mate, and Thomas j. Cunning
ham. OF Milwaukee, chief engineer
The fire was discovered in the hold
shortly after midnight when the crew
were aroused from their slumbers by
the calls OF Mate Mcnamara who dis
covered flames leaping in the forward
hold and between decks. When dis.
covered, the flames had gained srea.
headway and all efforts on the part OF
the crew to extinguish them were
futile. After SPENDING two hours
fighting the flames, Captain Dunn
gave orders to run at high speed for
the beach, .he craft landing within a
few feet OF shore at Ripley, where
she burned to the waters edge. All
of the crew OF sixteen men escaped,
but their belongings were lost. In
his efforts to fight the blaze, Mate Nc
Namara was burned severely. None
Of the o.her members OF the crew was
injured. -, s::.sSss
The City OF Rome cleared Buffalo
harbor at 600 o'clock last night,
bound for Toledo to take on a load
of coal for Milwaukee. She was a
boat Of 1000 tons capacity and owned
by Jas. Mitchell Of Cleveland. The
crew arrived in Erie and left at once.
for Cleveland to report to the owner.
In describing :he fight with the
flames, Captain Dunn said:
we stayed with the craft until
there was not a chance left and we
were forced to beach her. She was
light, of course, and we had little diff
ficulty in running close in shore.
When we discovered the blaze we
were about ten miles from shore. T..
was after midnight when we discover
ed the fire and set the apparatus to
work. We thought at first we could
control it but after Two hours Of fight
ing in sitting smoke we gave 1t up
and ordered full steam ahead for the
shore. We just got away with our
lives. all Of the crews belongings be-
ing destroyed. cannot say what
caused the fire.
Survivors Of Columbian.
BOSTON, Mass, May THE Gun
ard liner Franconta, bearing thirteen
survivors and the body Of Chief Stew
ard Mathewson, Of the ill-fated Ley
land liner Columbian, burned at sea
off Cape Race, docked at the Cunard
piers in East Boston at dawn today.
Most Of those rescued were in
serious condition from burns and ex-
posure and have been under the care
of the Franconia's hospital staff since
been heard from the third boat, con-
the first and second officers of
the Columbian and seventeen men,
which was the first put over board.
Search continues for the frafl Graf.
by several steamers. but the weather
of Cape Race and Sable Island is
foggy and thick and the fate Of the
men is problematical.
Wireless Operator James Drohan
and Thomas Connor declared the fire
burst upon them suddenly just at
midnigh. Sunday night. In their
opinion the fire resulted from spon-
.aneous combustion, originating in
the cargo OF rags and junk in the
hold. According to their belief the
fire started within few days after
the Columbian sailed from Antwerp.
All matches were ba.tened down and
the fire had no outlet until the gases
gained such pressure that an explos- |
on followed. They did not think the
explosion came from the ships boil. !
ers.
Scientists Honor Langley.
WASHINGTON. May scientists |