Fire on a Steamer.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 124, 23 November 1895, Page 2

Fire on a Steamer.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN BURNT i TO DEATH. I TERKIBLE SCENES. A terrible fire, which caused the loss of seven lives, broke out at an early hour on ths morning of September 16th on board the London and Edinburgh Steamship Company's lona, from Leith I to London, with passengers and general i cargo. At half-past one, when the ship was off Clactoo, smoke was perceived issuing from the hatch way leading down to the second-class cabin, and almost immediately the berths occupied by the lady passengers became enveloped in thick smoke and flames. The alarm was given instantaneously, and the crew, under the command of the captain, were quickly at their stations, and playing with the steamer's hose on the burning compartment. The alarm had been quickly given, and the gentlemen passengers in the adjoining compartment were able to leave their berths, which were iv danger, and join the crew in their efforts to rescue the women and children. Unfortunately, the compartment iv which the ladies were sleeping was the first to become ignited, and, despite all the efforts of the crew, it was impossible to rescue all the inmates. Six of these, with two little children, succeeded in making good their escape ; but five others, with one child and the stewardess, were CUT OFF BY THE FLAMES, which destroyed the hatchway and were burned to death. The stewardess, a young woman of about 23 years, named Edith Ledenham, was seen by several passengers after the fire commenced assisting the passengers to escape, and would have been saved bad she not returned to the burning cabin to rescue a little child who had been placed in her charge. When her remains were fonnd her hand held that of a little child. Meanwhile great excitement prevailed on deck, where the men, women, and children were huddled together in the after part of the ship, the majority of them being but partly dressed, while others had rushed on deck in only their sleeping attire, and had to wrap themselves in the bags and sacks at hand to preserve themselves from the cold. The lona, by command of Captain Thompson, was now hove to, lifebelts and other life saving apparatus were handed to the passengers, and the boats got ready for lowering. A number of soldiers belonging to the Highland Light Infantry were on their way South, and several of these gavo valuable assistance to the crew. It was past three o'clock when the fire was got under, but another hour elapsed before the cabin had become sufficiently cool to allow of entry being made, and when this was permitted A TE3RIBE SIGHT. was presented. The cabin was almost completely burned out, and blackened and terribly charred bodies could be discerned in heaps of smoking debris. The work of removing them bad to be delayed still longer owing to the heat, but ultimately seven bodies were got out, and it was found that these represented all who were missing. In most cases they were so terribly burned that identification was impossible. By five o'clock the vessel was able to proceed on her way, and she entered the Thames shortly after eight o'clock. All the passengers speak in the highest praise of the efforts of Captain Thompson and his officers and crew.