The sun., 1919-05-25
BAY LINE STEAMER
VIRGINIA BURNED
Passengers Leap Into Chesa-
peake Bay to Escape
the Flames.
TWO LIFEBOATS CAPSIzE
Several, Including Captain,
Are Injured-Three Negroes
of the Crew Are Missing.

BALTIMORE, May 24.--Several of the
1855 passengers on the old Bay Line
steamer Virginia. burned at o'clock
this morning in Chesapeake Bay off the
mouth Of the Potomac River, were in
jured. but none lost their lives. Not a
few had narrow escapes.
Many thrilling rescues were made by
members of the crew Of the burning YES
eel and by officers and members OF the
crew Of the Chesapeake liner City OF
Norfolk, which was close to the Virginia
when the fire started and stood by her
until the last.
Mrs. Il. L. Newbery of Baltimore
and Capt W. g. Lane OF the Virginia
were the most seriously injured. Mrs.
Newberry was hurt when a lifeboat fell
and Capt. Lane Is suffering from severe
burns.
other injured ones are in the Baltt.
moro Hospital, as follows:
Miss Lillian Jones. back injured; Miss
Mary Riner, Newport News, Va, body
bruises; Arthur Whitney, Newberry, o
years old. severely shocked Mack Will
Jams, colored body bruises.
The Virginia was bound from B,lti-
more to Old Point Comfort and Nor
folk, Va. She carried. In addition to
1856 passengers, a crew Of eighty-two Of
hcers and men. All the crew have been
accounted for except three negro deck
hands.
Capt Walter Lane, master Of the
old Bay liner, stayed with his boat to
the last. 1t was due to him and others
on board who acted the part of heroes
that no passengers were lost.
Capt. Lane, Major c. J. Davidson of
Camp Mead. who was going to Newport
Sews to meet a brother officer coming in
.-f&t eta
iaborer were the last persons to quit
the steamship.
These three men, each OF whom had
done his part to save the lives of others,
stayed until the fire got so hot that their
hands and faces were blistered Then
they leaped into the water.
Major Davidson was picked I'D by a
Keboat and taken to the steamship Flor
IDA, sister ship Finding that the
Florida was bound for Baltimore, he got
into another liteboat and went over to
the City OF Norfolk.
Within fifteen minutes after the bla ne
burst forth on the Virginia the men on
the City of Norfolk, who were doing all
in their power to rescue those on the
burning vessel. could hear the cries for
help floating up to them from persons
IN the water. The boats OF the two
vessels, guided by the cries of those who,
with lifebelts around them, were bat
ting with the water. picked up all they
could find.
Those who witnessed the burning of
the steamer were impressed by the
ouickness with which II was consumed.
By / 80 o'clock the Virginia was a
blackened and smoking hulk, burned
right down to the waterlineg
The weather was clear and the seas
calm. otherwise the rescuers would have
been able to do but little toward saving
those vino had jumped INTO the water.
Two lfeboats filed with passengers cap
sized. one of tEc boats Turned over
Immediately after leaving the Virginia,
and another a shor: distance from the
Florida.
Being forced 20 leave the ship in such
hurry. passengers left their clothes.
teHelry money and other valuables be-
hind and all were lost.
The company's officials have as yet
been unable to learn tine cause OF the
Ere. They do not think negro ar
rested at Norfolk had anything to do
with II