The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-09-06
600 Barrels Oil Afire

200 Barrels Oil Afire
The Colthraps was moored on the
east side of Tarragona street DOCK
yesterday to receive a part cargo of
lumber. Yesterday afternoon about
six o'clock fire broke out near The en-
gine room-amidship. Engines from
the Louisville and Nashville yards and
the entire city fire department, in
charge of chief Walter Biclser. re-
sponded to the fire call and all hands
fought Naliantly until O'Clock last
night trying to check the flames.
Their efforts were unrewarded and
an explosion Of the oil tanks which
shortly after nine the L. & n. feared
would have meant that the docks
would have probably been destroyed.
The hull of the burning steamer was
beginning 10 bulge when she was
towed away from the dock and the
heat so intense that the firefighters
were at great disadvantage
Will MOI Sink Her
Tt was reported once that aretyIene
torches were being hurried cut to the
Colthraps after she had anchored in
comparatively shallow water AID that
holes would he burned in The hull so
she would sink. This idea. however II
entertained, was abandoned for al two
o'clock The tugs Richmond and NeIl:e
Of Pensacola, and the fire tug from
the Naval Air Station were alonqs!da
pumping waller into the hoIH
Operated BY Page & Jonas.
The Colthra2s Is q shipping fn4rd yes
sci but is operated by Pages s. Jeae4 #
Mobile. She arrived in Pensacola Au~.
"a from that city consigned to John A.
Merritt z ComnanE. to undareD rApai-,s
and later load partial cargo linz
seems to have been following he" cioseI,.
for it is said that she went aground st
Sullivans old rock pile shorty aft.
coming off the dry dock and 'as n
other little troubles. The create t Of al.
however, came upon her last night.
Five hundred barrels Of roqir. an1r7xi-
mately 100000 superficial feet Of lumber
and the 500 barrels of fuel oil co7vtit1ted
her cargo, it was reported. Whether the
rosjn or lumber is o" will he burned is
not yet known. If is estimated that it
will take more than a week for the oil to
burn completely up unless the blaze liz
extinguished Water alone, it Is said.
viii not put it out.
Steps Through Hatchway.
1t was while directing his crew in their
efforts to check the fire that Capt OIL
sen, partly dazed and overcome by the
fumes and smoke. stepped into an open
hatchway and fell into the hold below.
Nothing but an Immediate rescue would
save his life even If he survived the faiI.
Foy
The third engineer, greasy and dirty from
the engine room below, and haggard from
exertion. volunteered to go down and
get Capt. Olsen E
Tying a rope around his waist and pIac-
ing a grimy handkerchief about his face
his companions lowered him through the
hatchway. A steady stream Of water
from hose partly protected him from
the intense heat and the flames He
cIasped his arms around the hody Of his
captain. and at a signal his shiDmatss
above tugsed at the rope. Jrst as both
cleared the open hatchway and were bacl.
on the upper deck. the engineer calIaps-
ed. Both wore brought 70 the dock ard
Pou's ambulance rushed them 10 ths hos
pital. ... .e
The engineer was soon sufficiently. re-
covered TO return 20 the ship. Csps.
Olsen. however. II Ia serious condition.
DR. ". D. Mobiles, who was Immediately
summoned. could not state just how bad
he Was injured but IL r. known that biz
right leg is broken In three piNcos. jaw
bone twice and he also has an ugly and
serious cash in his neck. The shock Or
the fail was All that DR.. Mobiles could
work on last night. stinula1ts bsing ad-
ministered in sn effcrt 20 oTiag him
through.
what caused the fire las rot been d.