HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN PERIL. SENSATIONAL SCENES ON THE ATLANTIC.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 5

HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN PERIL. SENSATIONAL SCENES ON THE ATLANTIC.

OiV the arrival of tho Hamburg- American Company's mail steamship Rugia in Plymouth Sound on May 12th, from New York to Chorburg and Hamburg, Captain R. Karlowa reported that the ship had a narrow escape from being burned to the water's edgo. She left New York on May 2nd with 168 prssengers for England, France and Germany, and a large general carge for Hamburg consisting principally of cotton and lard. All were well and tho ship had made a fine passago till 8 p.m. on May Bbh, when, in latibud. 47deg. lOmin. north and longitude 31dogwest, without any previous warning whatever, flames issued from the ventilators of the after hold. Tho officers and crew werefor a moment dumbfounded, as no smell had been detected and there was no previous indication of the conflagration, which must have been smouldering before the ship left New York. The passengers became panicstricken, for it appeared certain that tho crew could not master the flames. Captain Karlowa, however, ordered all hands to the pumps. The hatches were taken off, when instantly a body of flame rose in the air, showing the exfcensivo character of the fire. Realising the danger of exposing the fire to the air, Captain Karlowa shouted, "Batten down the hatches," and the men at great risk performed the task, many of them being seriously scorched. It was impossible to ascertain the seat of the fire. Captain Karlowa, with a few experienced men, went on the main deck and opened the iron bulkhead doors. 'A volume of fire belched forth, scorching the face and hands of the captain and others, but bhey rushed forward and fastened the doors again, thus confining the conflagration to the after hold. They at once repaired to the upper deck, and holes having been cut in the hatches, the pumps were set to work and immense quantities of water poured into the burning hold. It was all to no)purpose, for in half an hour's time the fire seemed to be increasing in fury and the terrific heat could be felt through the iron deck. The cabins on tho main deck were flooded and the passengers had to fly to the upper decks. In the course of time tho ship had a nasty list to port, which of course increased the work of extinguishing the flamee. Captain Karlowa, anticipating the worst, ordered all the boats to be provisioned and got ready for launching. About an hour and a half after the outbreak the poib, starboaid and after lifeboats were provisioned and lowered. Thcro was a nasty beam sea running at the time. Two or three sailors attempted to jump into tho lifeboats, when Captain Karlowa drew a revolver and threatened to blow out the brains of the first man who did so without permission. The fire seemed to have gained the mastery, but Captain Karlowa decided to try the effect of steam on the flames, at the same time directing Chief Engineer J. Junge to put the engines at full speed ahead, wibh a view of making Plymouth, even it the fire could not be subdued Jets were fixed, and in place ot water sleam was pumped into the burning hold. For a time it seemed as if the fire was as fieicc as ever, but in two hours the steam had an appreciable effect. When this was observed a cheer went up from the passengerh and the work was continued. An hour later the fire was so subdued as to allow the hatches bo be removed. Finding bales of cotton still smouldering, Karlowa resolved on throwing them overboard, dangerous and difficult as this would be. Thcpiocess of hauling tho burning bales out by means of grappling irons was very slow, but after fuither pumping of steam and woiking of the hose some ot the sailors descended into tho hold and hooked the bales on to the steam winch. As the bales came into the open air it was seen that they were a mass of subdued fire. The flames were got under control shortly after midnight. Thepassengers have presented the captain wibh an address and the ciew with various gifts as evidences of gratitude and esteem tor their good work in the midst of the awful dangers that encomppssed them all.