Passenger's Account of the Gal-
Jant Attempt to Save the Fontainebleau at Djibouti We have received the following! comnuunications from the local agent of the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, on the subject of tae destruction by fire of the str. Fontainebleau at Djibouti:— having appeared ina local newspaper "sone most misleading. Information Poattacicay en July 12" at Dilouti the fre. which' destroyed our str.
Fetes addressed to mon Bevel wil ish the. cneldsed. translation should fect very obliged if you could
Steamer which. give. a, clteumatantiated {nd accurate account of the disaster."
The Passenger's Account Consequent upon our conversations respecting the destruction by fire of the str. Fontainebleau I consider it an agreeable duty, in view of the misleading reports of the Singapore Press with which you acquainted me, to confirm hereunder in writing tae account of the disaster rendered to you verbally and of which you may make such use as you thinic be After a voyage, which proceeded until then very normally, we began to experience two days after having left Suez, ie. when we were half way through the Red Sea, a tempe-nature which was exceptionally trying and from which we suffered unt reaching Djibouti.
On July 12, about 1 p.m. or about two hours before arriving at the above port, an intense heat was re-Ported from the No. 2 spar-deck in which were accommodated passeng-of the French army and navy. Soon after, it was found that a fire had broken out in the No, 2 hold.
Immediately measures were taken to combat the fire with steam.
About 8 pin. when the steamer was anchored inthe port of Djibouti and when the Company's agent came! fon board things looked only like a small hold fire, At that time nobody could ianagino the future developments of the accident.—However, the passengers were informed by the captain of the Fontainebleat that he could not fix the date of her departure and that she would have to remain in port for at least five! or six days, The Majority Leave Upon receipt of such advice and in view of the fact that under the circumstances the sojourn on board did not offer much comfort, practical. ly all passengers hurried on shove order to secure rooms in the few] hotels existing in that port. The majority took their cabin luggage] with them. T noticed on that. oc~ cession, and I insist on this point in order 't> refute the allegations referred to above, that the removal of the luggage was carried out in the! usual way by the hotel coolies sisted by the stewards of thi The fighting of the fire proceeded meanwhile normally under the supervision of the captain and the ship's officers and with the assistance of the French soldiers and sailors who hag volunteered to help the crew. All the fire hoses were directed upon the fire, the men taking turns with. the greatest order and calmness. dense smoke was coming out of the hold which was carried aft by a very strong wind.
At 7 p.m. dinner was served as usual to the few passengers still remaining on board; after dinner still less people remained on board (only five first class passengers).
The situation seemed to improve towards 10 pam. and it looked as the fire hag been brought under control. The inundating of the hold continued with the result of a heavy ist towards the starboard side.
About 10,80 p.m. the steamer righted itself a little: but, only to. incline soon after more and more towards the right.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.