Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1917 — DIES FIGHTING BLAZE ON SHIP [ARTICLE]

DIES FIGHTING BLAZE ON SHIP

Capt. John Mathias Homeward Bound After Two Years Away From Family. AN EFFORT AT RESCUE FATAL Chief Officer Led His Men Into Hold of Burning Vessel to Save’ tmprisoned Stokers of the New York.—A stirring romance of the sea was told recently when details of the death of Capt. John Mathias, commander of the auxiliary cruiser Laurentic, reached relatives Ahere by mail. The Laurentic is a White Star liner, taken over by the British admiralty. . , Only two days from his wife and babies, and on his way home after two years continuous patrolling in the Far East, Captain Manias died attempting to rescue men trapped in the blazing hold of his ship near the powder magazine. Flying the homeward bound pennant at the peak, the Laurentic steamed at full speed for port. From coal passers in the stoke hole to office rs -on th e bridge, every man was bent on pushing the cruiser to reach port'in time for the holidays. Tn ahamtet in Yorkshire-Captain-Mathias’ wife and two young children heard the Laurentic had been ordered to return to her home station. Mrs. Mathias, with her two lltpe girls, aged ten and twelve years, made the trip to Liverpool. They Discover Fire. On December 15, within two days run from port, a serious fire was discovered in hold No. 2. With the chief officer at their head a squad of men plunged into the hold to fight the fire. The fire had gained such headway that it was sweeping toward the powder magazines, cutting off their escape. .. ■■■■ ■■ —■ ---■ ■ ’■■ T Signalling frantically to thelr comrades on the deck, the trapped men succeeded in getting word of their desperate plight to Captain Mathias on the bridge. Captain Mathias ordered some of Ills crew to follow him and plunged to the rescue in the smoke filled compartment. The rescue squad succeeded in dragging out some of the imprisoned men and then went back for the rest. __ —When Captain Mathias was entering the furnacelike hold to rescue the last of his crew an iron beam warped out of place by the Intense heat of the blaze, fell on him and his squad of rescuers.' Captain Mathias was instantly killed and several of his men were injured. Another squad of seamen removed the Injured sailors and succeeded inrecovering* the body of the captain. The fire was got under control and the cruiser put into Liverpool.