Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-25
BELIEVE SCORE DIE
WHEN OLD BAY SHIP
GOES UP IN FLAMES
Many Passengers Escape
From virginia" but
Think Others Victims.
LOSS OF BOAT AND CARGO
ESTIMATED AT $1.5OO.OOO
Woman and Child With Three
Negro Fircmen Reported
as Missing.
OTHER VESSELS STAND BY
Pick Up Floundcring Men and Women
When Life Boats Arc
Turned Over.
LOSS OF BOAT AND CARGO
ESTIMATED AT S1.5OO.OOO
OTHER VESSELS STAND BY
P1ck Up Floundcring Men and Women
When Life Boats Arc
Turned Over.
tBy Associated p-...1

NORFOLK. VA. May 24.-Wh!le some
passengers. rescued from the Old Bay
Line steamer Virginia, which was
burned to a total loss several miles
above Smiths Point carly this morn
ing. express the belief tonight that
between twenty and twenty-five per-
Ions lost their lives in the fire or were
drowned officials OF the company at
ne same time declared they believed
an OF tho l5G passengers listed at
baltimore We're saved
VIVA, !s considered as nrst-hand
knowledge that . woman and child
we're drowned ana that three negro
Bremen persisted in the flames was
IeN c!op"d In the statements Of tonight.
End third passenger, Il citizen OF
Norfolk, Nho WAS one OF the last 70
leave the stricken ship. stated he be-
lisved 1t least twenty persons were
i'app.d IN their staterooms b. smoke
and flames,
NInrt.-Two nj Norfolk.
Sinety-tao OF The rescued were
bought here on the Chesapeake Line
r,a aa1n, ,.y OF %orfol. , ana the re-
s,esmers CITY Of baltimore. H'iorils
and city or Annapolis.
Tho loss % the, virginia. with her
carsc Z ss6 ma Py 9hiGiaias at be
,arso. which consisted OF mercha nd Sc.
otton prgducts and other freight, be-
\ rcpor, that negro. believed TO
have Sc; IRE TO tho ship. was. chained
IN IRONS on tho City OF Norfolk. dc
lelopcd tho fact that the negro was
chained there for fc-keeping because
o: creating disturbance and being
intoxicated.
Captain Is Injured.
CAPTAIN W . Lane. OF the stricken
vessel. Mo was the last ma TO leave
hes Ahip, Vas cut of from his sub
,rdinales b me fsmes which swept
por,ion or the vessel the frse is be-
;-eFca to have originated. He waws
THROWN into the water after being
burned q bout the face ana hands fol-
loving loud explosion. and was
rescued by the steamer Florida. which
carried him 10 Baltimore.
The FIRE. which is said 10 have been
discovered b: night Waterman. made
VGlck hcadway. and 1t is estimated the
rvSsc! burned 10 the water line wwiihin
AZ an hour after the h.st alarm was
;oIuL,d It was but a few minutes
Hitcr All the passengers were said 10
h.Nc nccn removed from the Virginia
licked tho tunnels and superstructure.
'rh- cOnilaGraticn served as a beacon
- he seen ~ the night for miles dis
taut aud II was this great light that
brought the assistance OF four Bay Line
steamers 10 the burning ship.
Believe Three Sunocnted.
u. II. Lewis. former pufser Of the
Virginia. declared Il his belief that
Ginc-room from sunoca,ioa. Mrs. Car
rio Shrivcr. o! Baltimore. who was
on her way 20 this city with a small
nephew. expressed the belief that a
woman and child, who fell in the
water near her. were drowned. IL.
Nndrus Of Norfolk. connected with
jne Crancy Island quarantine station.
one o: ;hc last passengers TO the Vi--
-iUia. asserted that he believes at
Icpnt twcnt! or twenty i've persons
ne-Ishcd IN their s,atcrooms He does
not soc. he said, how they could have
cscapcd. because Of tho dense smoke.
Among those injured were Mrs.
Irsy Bowling. who suffered AN injured
lcE and shock taken 10 a local hos
pitsl, and Mrs l.. ". TaEGdrd. Of Oak
land. "a, suffering from shock, now
=: 4 local hospital.