Still the situation did not seem to warrant any grave apprehensions until 1 a.m. when the wind became more violent and the fire became more intense, The fight against} the elements proceeded without weakening. However at 3 a.m. the Captain considering the situation as having become critical decided upon the evacuation of the last remaining, passengers, -In order to avoid any, possible panic he advised: the passeners t> put their luggage on the big lighter which was lying alongside the ship and on which the heavy' trunks and a certain number of mail bags had already been discharged. The passengers hastened to follow this advice. 20 minutes later the situation became still more critical: the fire had invaded the second class smoking room whereas the wind grew stronger every moment, thereby endangering the accommodation of the first and second class passen gers. Then the Captain gave the official order to evacuate the steamer and instructed the chief steward 0 inspect every cabin so as to make sure that all passengers had left. He also gave the order to blow the whistle, as ig customary when a ship has to be abandoned (several lenz When the chief steward had reported that no more passengers wer? remaining on board, the order to evacuate was given to the personnel of the restaurant, then to the men in the engine room and soon after an order for general evacuation was given, as the superhuman efforts of the crew and of the French soldiers and sailors could be of no further Only the Captain and the Officers remained still on Very soon later, however, seeing that any further' effort would be useless the officers and then thei icuated the Fontainebleau! but remained in the vicinity of the steamer on board of a tug boat hoping that the wind would calm down and permit them to resume their efforts, At 6.80 a.m, the fire seemed actually to weaken and the Captaia and the officers returned on board to make a last attempt; _however their Lopes were vain and 15 minutes! Inter the fire redoubled in violence compelling the Captain and_ the officers to leave the ship. All hope to save the steamer was now definitely lost.
I deem it my duty emphatically to refute the allegations respecting' a dispute said to have taken place between the members of the crew, also regarding a fight accom: panied by revolver shots and the wilful and prolonged extinction of the electric lights.
Practically all passengers, includ. ing even those who lost part of their luggage or personal effect are unanimous with me in recognise. ing, that on thiy tragic seeasion everything went as well as. could have been hoped and even beyond their own expectations. Discipline, calmness and order never ceaseg to ign and my impression (which is nota purely personal one) is that tae French marine, has, once more, been up to its reputation and worthy of the traditions of its nast.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.