Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1916 — BIG LINER BURNS; 428 ARE RESCUED [ARTICLE]

BIG LINER BURNS; 428 ARE RESCUED

Steamer Congress Destroyed by Fire Off Marshfield, Ore. WINS LONG RACE FOR SHORE Vessel Is Mass of Flames When Rescue Boat Arrives—Aid Summoned by Wireless—Ship Valued at $1,250,000. Marshfield, Ore., Sept. 15. —En route from San Francisco with 253 passengers and a crew of 175, the Pacific Coast Steamship company’s steel steamer Congress caught fire 30 miles off this port late Thursday. Captain Wins Race For Shore. A terrific race to save the steamer’s human freight at once began. The Congress dashed for shore. In deep water off the harbor entrance she cast anchor, the flames creeping forward meanwhle from the after hold to a point amidships. Boats were swung out and lowered and the work of taking off the passengers began. Among the rescued was Miss Emma Schafer of Chicago. Passengers Are Rescued. As fast as a boat became loaded It proceeded to the government bar dredge, Colonel P. S. Michie, to which the passengers were transferred. When the work began the forward jjecks of the Congress were black with terrified men, women and children. As the work proceeded the passengers became calmer. The sea was smooth and the weather fine and there was little delay. Ship Wrapped in Flames. By dark all were off the Congress, and the Michie and the Tillamook headed for the harbor. The Congress by this time was Completely wrapped In flames from stem to stern.

Fire Starts in Steerage. The fire was first discovered about three o'clock in the afternoon. It broke out in the second hold in the steerage, from a cause unknown. The Congress was then well out to sea, but the captain set her head toward shore. The flames at first were confined to the compartment where they originated and it was hoped they might be controlled. However, all efforts of the crew, first to smother the flames and then to flood them out, proved vain. No Panic on Board. The passengers for the most part behaved well and there was no panic. The ship’s officers repeatedly assured those on board that port would be

made in ample time for all to be saved. Wireless calls were sent out urging all vessels to come to the rescue, and these were repeated at frequent intervals until the wireless power plant became disabled and useless. First the main wireless plant became useless and then the auxiliary went down, but not until the Coos bay station had received the S. O. S. transmitted weakly by the auxiliary. As a result of this message having been caught ashore life savers from the government station and an army of volunteers were on the beach when the burning Congress hove in sight. When first seen smoke was pouring from the vessel and the volume increased rapidly. The vessel is a total loss. Ship Is a Crack Liner. Shn Francisco, Sept. 15.—The Congress, which was builf for the Pacific Coast Steamship company at a cost of $1,250,000, is a steel steamer of 7,985 tons, 424 feet long and 55 feet broad. It is the finest vessel on the run between San Francisco and Seattle. The ship was bound for Seattle when the fire was discovered.