Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-11

| to the bottom, some 20 miles from where
the fire broke out.
| An account of the fire is given by H. H
Fuller, who was manager OF the menagerie
| as follows:
immediately after the Royal Tar came
to anchor, fire was discovered around the
whole space occupied by the boiler below
| the deck. Those who first became aware
| OF the flames, fled to the boats. At this
time was sick in my berth. My atten-
tion was called to the fact that something
unusual had taken place, by observing
that every person but myself had left the
ca bin.
"When l reached the deck I saw the
long boat, full Of people, quarter of a
| mile or SO to the leeward. They were
| rowing hard and were soon out of sight.
The small boat, in which was Capt. Reed,
| who took possession OF it to prevent it
following the long boat to the leeward,
lay about fifty yards astern. Three per-
| sons swan off and were taken in her,
| though the wind was then blowing gale,
| and tremendous sea was running. He
| then bore away for the land to windward,
about two miles.
SAT this time great many people
jumped overheard and were drowned.
The screams Of women and children, the
| horrid yells of the men, the roaring of the
storm and the awful confusion battle de-
scription.
"The pilot, Capt. Atkins, Of Portland,
and the mate, Mr.. Black, of st. John,
with the assistance OF those who still had
their senses, after hosting a signal OF
| distress, slipped the cable and made sail.
The sails, however, caught fire, and were
soon burnt. The steamer then preached
to, and was shortly enveloped in flames
amidships. The fire interrupted all COM
munication between fore and aft, and
neither those in the bow nor those in the
stern could see or know the fate of each
other.
"AIl but myself fed from the quarter
deck. / sat on the stern rail till my coat
took fire. looked around and seeing not
| a soul around me in the boat, fastened a
rope to the tiller chain and dropped over
thC BUELL. WucTc L tOuHu dDOub utccu
others hanging in different places, mostly
in the water. In fact the water washed
over us almost every minute.
SAW SEVERAL DROWN.
"While holding on saw several drown.
Some we're beaten from their hold by the
waves and some fell into the sea for
| want of strength to sustain themselves
any longer. l had fastened my rope to the
| chain, which was again fastened by iron
bolts, which held out against the fire much
longer than the other parts to which many
were suspended. I wound the rope round
my neck and thigh and was ena bled to
bear up the additional weight of three men
and lady, who hung securely to me.
"Not far from me hung Capt. Atkins
the pilot. He held up lady with his
feet. Her arms failed her at last, but he
caught her with his feet and held her full
J five minutes, till a sea washed her off, and
she drifted by. Atkins wave threw heI
up against an lrishman, hanging on my
left, and she seized hold of him, and as
sisted perhaps by our encouraging and the
Irishman's also, she kept up. When the
, cutters boat passed under our stern, At.
! kins and l begged for Gods sake that SHE
| should take those two, even if they left us
as we thought we could weather it little
longer.
GIG DIDN'T HELP.
"The gig passed within six feet o
those two, whom we expected would b,
lost any minute. The officer of the gig wa
afraid and left them and us to our fate
We were all saved-that is the lady, tn,
Irishman, Atkins and those attached tt
my person, by Capt. Reed, in his small
boat, and conveyed to the cutter. Sh,
was not in sight when 1 went on deck.
had been in the water, beating abou
under the stern, two hours before 1 wal
/ taken off.
II cannot conclude this statement with
out expressing my deep conviction tina
the course pursued by Capt. Reed was thu
only one which could have saved thos'
who were saved, after the long boat pu
off to leeward. Capt. Reed saved by max
ing trips in his small boat, all who were
saved after that injudicious moment"