Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-01
STEAMER IN RACE.
AGA|NSTFLAMES
Lands Passengers on Chicago
Breakwater Before She
Partially Sinks.
MAJORITY ON VESSEL,
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Though in Peril ON Lake Michigan,
They Remain Cool After Be-
ing Aroused From Sleep.

CHICAGO. September with sew
eral hundred passengers. most of them
women and children. on board the City
of Chicago. an excursion steamer from
Benton Harbor. Mich. caught fire sew
eral miles of shore early today. Rae
ing against the flames. the steamer
made for the government breakwater,
just off the harbor, and all the pas
sengers were landed safely q moment
before the bow of the boat settled in
the water.
The passengers were huddIed on the
breakwater and later were taken
ashore on tugs and in other excursion
boats. The first of the passengers to
reach shore expressed the belief that
some of the occupants of the berths
had been drowned. One man. who was
taken from the water, said the pas
sengerS had not been awakened until
a few minutes before the boat sank.
said. and woke up only when the
smoke became almost overpowering.
In Service Since 1890.
The City of Chicago belonged to the
Graham and Morton Transportation
Company and had been in use since
1890 as an excursion boat She left
Benton Harbor late last night, bound
for Chicago. The fire. which is be-
lieved to have started in the galley.
was discovered when about three miles
off the Illinois shore
capt; Pork directed that the ship be
fushed Tor the shore, and finally was
driven full force into the government
pier. The boat struck the pier so hard
that much of the piling was torn down
and the plaster was knocked from a
dwelling on the structure
The City of Chicago was side
wheeler 254 feet long, with a gross
tonnage of 1,439.
Directs Rescue Work,
Capt. Charles Garland of the life
saving service took charge OF the res
cue work. He and Capt Pjork said
the passengers had acted with remark
able coolness. Women and children
were given the first opportunity to
reach the pier. Stationing himself at
the side of the boat, Capt. Pjork shout
ed that not man was to leave the
ship until the women and children
were safe
Most of the passengers rushed to the
upper decks when they learned of the
fire. and nearly all Of them were clad
| only in their night garments when
| they left the boat. No effort was made
to save personal effects.
Mrs. J. Rorik of Coloma Mich. and
her mother. Mrs. Inoia Pierce of De
halb, Ill, were assisted from their
stateroom by deck hands
The fire was discovered by c. Pete-s
of Berrien Springs. Mich, one of the
passengers. He notified the captain
and aided in arousing the sleeping
passengers.
Some of Those Saved.
Among the passengers rescued were
Mr.. and Mrs. H. Crary. Benton Har-
| Dor. Mich; Mrs. j. Rorick, Coloma.
| Mich: H. Teter. South Bend, Ind; An
| thony Broad. New York city; Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Forbes, Watervliet, Mich. i;
| Mrs. c. E. Knapp, two sons and daugh-
I ter. Bangor. Mich; Edward Corette,
Hartford. Forbes and his wife became
separated. and the former for a time
thought his wife had been drowned,
| but later they were reunited.
The wireless of the City of Chicago
| failed to work. Her bow was sus-
| tanned by the pier, but the stern set
! tied in the comparatively shallow wa
| ter. Fire tugs and other craft extfn-
| guished the flames in her~SabIns.
| Blankets. burlap bags and all sorts of
| covering were requisitioned at the wharf
| when the half-clad passengers were land
| ed from the tugs.
| his apparatus failed to 'oond to the
igenerator from which tn. current was
fderived and was put out of commission
1 ty the fire