hartlepool history logo

Stockholm City - a general histroy

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Wednesday, February 2nd, 1898:
FIRE ON A HARTLEPOOL STEAMER. A TERRIBLE VOYAGE. A most thrilling story of the sea is told by Captain Richardson, of the West Hartlepool steamer Stockholm City, which arrived at Newport News (U.S.A.) on January 21 from Manchester. For three days the ship was a fiery furnace, and the captain and crew, after a fierce fight with the flames, were worn out, hungry, and in rags. The fire was discovered in the coal bunkers two days after sailing.
Officers and men set to work to extinguish the flames, and after five hours of hard fighting it seemed, said the captain, that we had succeeded. Soon after daybreak on Monday morning, December 27, however, the fire broke out afresh, and this time our efforts were utterly futile. The men struggled with desperation until they were completely exhausted. The compass and charts were consumed, and the steam steering gear disabled. All the effects of the crew, with the exception of the clothes they wore, were destroyed, together with most of our provisions. A small supply of potatoes and pork was saved, and we lived on this until we reached port. I lost £40 in money, and the engineer about £340. I knew the latitude we were in, and by the aid of the North Star on Monday night kept the ship on her course. The vessel belongs to the Furness Line.

Related items :