One hundred years ago
THAT a ship with 250 persons on board should be burned to the water's edge in mid-ocean, with a high sea running, without the loss of a single life, is one of the most extraordinary instances of what may be accomplished by calmness, resolution and courage in the face of the worst perils of the sea, that have ever been recorded. On August 10th, at 9 o'clock, the 'City of Montreal', of the Inman Line, was found to be on fire. During the whole night the officers and men made great efforts to extinguish the flames; but by 6 next morning it was found that the ship must be abandoned. Thanks to the great coolness and cour- age of the Captain and his officers, the boats were all lowered without loss of life. Just as the last boats were leaving the ship it was, however, discovered that about twenty of the passengers and crew had been left on the burning ship. The boats at once put back, and every one of the twenty was taken off in safety. One of the boats, in the confu- sion, not understanding the Captain's orders, drifted away, and was not found for four days. The other boats, howev- er, kept together, and were picked up in about ten hours by a German barque. It is said that if the ship had been carrying her full number of passengers, the boats would not have held them. If this is so, it is a very serious matter.
The Spectator, 27 August 1887
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