Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1893 — ON FIRE IN A CYCLONE. [ARTICLE]

ON FIRE IN A CYCLONE.

The Frightful Peru of a Steamer During a Recent Transatlantic Trip. One of the most exciting and eventful voyages of the present exciting season at sea was concluded the other dhy when the steamship Cresswell reached her dock at Philadelphia, and Boatswain George Doeman was lifted into an ambulance and taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Capt. Ralston told a Times man the story of the voyage thus: “We left Hamburg March 16 and stopped at Dartmouth, England, and after taking on some World’s Fair goods started for Philadelphia. On March 28 a heavy gale sprung up and at noon the next day a terrific sea swept on board, carrying away the starboard lifeboat and captain's gig, and breaking in the engine-room skylight. On March 30 theatorm, which had lulled, .suddenly increased to a regular cyclone. In spitsfof the most clever steering one of the big seas toppled on board, stove; .wheelhouse and chartroom in, carried over four cases of goods for the Chicago fair and smashed in the after skylight. At the time all hands thought the Steamer must founder, as she had fallen off into the trough of theses She was rolling her lee the water pouring in through the broken skylights and threatening to put out the enginerdoto. sites. ’‘While in this precarious condition dtensp tolnmes or smoke were seen rolling up through the broken skylight and that cry which is far more appalling on board ship than on shore rang out amidst the tui moil of the elements, ‘Fire! Fire!’ I had good officers and a well-disciplined crewi I immediately ordered the boatswain to pipe all hands to fire drill. The men took their stations, md ip spite of the terrible peril from uhe elements the most perfect discipline was maintained and the fire was fougit with heroism. Those on shore can have but a faint Idea of our situation. A furious hurricane blowIngfthe steamer tossed to and fro like a toy boat in a whirlpool, huge cliffs of angry water upreariDg themselves all around us, and a raging fire in the coal bunkers. While fighting

the fire a furious blast ffom the southwest blew away our last remaining storm trysail with which we were trying to keep her head to the sea. After eight hours’ hard work the fire was put out, and then the exhausted crew sought to get some rest. “However, the storm, which had lulled, broke out with redoubled fury. On April 2 a sea came on hoard which resembled a tidal wave. It literally overwhelmed the steamer. All hands thought the vessel was gone. I was washed off the bridge, cabins were gutted and the forecastle skylight smashed. The starboard lighthouse was knocked into kindling wood and all remaining boats smashed. Boatswain George Doeman was found lying on the deck jammed in between the main funnel and some of the wreckage. He was lifted out and said, ‘I think my back’s broken,’ but, suddently recollecting a duty he was on when knocked over, he exclaimed: ‘Look to that mizzen stay; it’s nearly chafed though!’ Doeman’s thigh was broken. Several times other waves swept on board before the storm broke on the 3d. Thick fogs were encountered op the Bth and 9th inst., and twice-the vessel was nearly run down.”