Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-15
BIG Liner IS
(centinued from rsge one.)

In MarSntlelur ana North Bend 9Zo
passengers and crew, many clad in odds
and ends, penniless and in some cases
suffering from nervous shock, were dis
tributed among the towns people, await
ing the arrival of special trains TO car
ry them ON to Seattle.
So far as is known now, not single
life was lost. Fire was discovered in
the second steerage of the Congress at
p. m. yesterday. Captain Cousins
decided to make 80 mile run for shore
The race with death was won by a
hair IS breadth. When the burning liner
cast anchor off Coos Bay, fire was roar
ing forward, herding terrified passen.
gers toward the bow.
"It was women and children first"
said Chief Steward Damrden. 'Captain
Cousins ordered lifeboats lowered after
the deck began to get hot under our
feet. Before that thick volumes Of
smoke had driven us from the lower
decks and we were all packed forward
GAS heat from the flames became
more intense, some passengers began
sobbing. Most of them kept their heads
and those who broke down were COM
forted by others.
Crew Was Heroic.
"The real wrench came began when
we began lowering lifeboats and the
order women and children first was
given out. Many women refused to
leave their husbands. The men urged
them to go but they would not BY this
time the smoke and hot fumes were so
dense and suffocating on the port side
l.
were abandoned and the passengers
marched to starboard.
"In spite of the steadily gaining fire,
there was no panic. We lowered sew
en- boats as smoothly as if in practice.
The sea was calm and passengers were
carried Immediately to the dredge
Michie
CATER all passengers were saved we
tried to rescue some of their clothing
and other effects. Some had run from
their staterooms at the first alarm half
dressed, and failed to return for more
clothes. But we had barely started this
work when fire came cracking up
through the woodwork and terrific heat
began warping the deck"
Weary deck hands, their eyes red
with slight burns, were hailed as heroes
today by the rescued passengers. These
sailors fought the flames to the last.
When nothing more could be done they
tumbled into lifeboats as they were,
many wearing only canvas pants, and
streaked from head to foot with SCOT
and grease. One oiler was overcome
by smoke. There were several others
injured.
Mrs. Margaret Reig, of st. Louis, was
i'll in bed when the order came to aban-
don ship. Fellow passengers carried
her to boat, and she was landed safe
ly.
Fought Fire Until Unconscious.
Not so much as foot wetting was ex-
perienced by any seamen or passengers
during the transfer, with one exception
The ships baker, survivor Of the Tt
tanic disaster, tumbled into the water.
He was hauled out Immediately.
Chief Engineer MARYLAND, Assistant
Higgins and Steward Tyson fought the
blaze until they fell unconscious. Ty-
son is in Mercy hospital, still uncon-
scious. Captain Cousins was standing on
deck, still hoping to save his ship when
MARYLAND, gasping and choking, was
carried up The order "to the life
boats' was given at once.
Purser Holzer made several attempts
to reach the ships safe, but fire cut
him off and he had to run for his life.
This safe contained the ships papers,
$4,000 in company money and about
$4,000 worth of passengers valuables.
In the rush on deck, the crowding
from port and starboard when pursued
by pillows of smoke, and the excitement
of climbing into lifeboats, many famil-
les were torn apart. Some did not meet
again until all had landed at North
Bend. There were hysterical scenes of
Joy at the wharf.
Dredge Niche Picked Them Up.
Flashing his as. o. 50 over the
sea. the wireless operator stuck to his
key until heat put the main apparatus
out of commission. He then connected
up his auxiliary plant and continued
calling help until it collapsed and he
was driven from his post by the scorch-
ing heat.
His call was heard at the Coos Bay
station. Many boats hurried to meet the
Congress. The schooner Tillamook and
the dredge Niche were first to reach
her and began receiving passengers.
Officers of the Congress remained
aboard of the schooner A. Nj. Simpson,
close beside the burning liner so they
will be first to board it after the Flames
subdued.
Five thousand barrels Of oil in the
/ Congress fuel tanks were blazing today,
vomiting huge pillar of inky smoke
skyward. The Congress was the big
gest of the Pacific Coast Steamship
company fleet and one of the best liners
on the Seattle-San Diego run. 1t was
worth 100000.
Wreck Is Roaring Furnace.
j. A. Smith, San Francisco silk dealer
declared the Congress crew worked
without a hitch from the time fire was
Ill