The Butler County Press

ROTTEN SAILORS
Terrified Coolies Won't Fight
Flames Menacing
Their Ship
San Francisco.-The coolie crew on
the steamship President Lincoln received additional notoriety when that
vessel was threatened with destruction by fire. The steamship is owned
by the United States shipping board
and is operated by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company.
The ability and trustworthiness of
coolie sailors is shown by this meaningful news item printed on the first
page of the San Francisco Daily
News, reproduced herewith for the enlightenment of American citizens who
are after all the owners of the gallant steamship.
"Coolie Crew in Panic as Flames Rage. U.S. Battleship Periled
When Blaze Breaks Out on Passenger Vessel.
"While Chinese
coolie sailors
screamed and tumbled about in wild
panic, a serious fire on the liner President Lincoln threatened the destruction of the steamer and menaced the
battleship Tennessee and the dry dock
at Hunter's Point, at which the two
vessels were lying.
"The fire, of undetermined origin,
spread rapidly as the few white officers attempted to quiet the panic-stricken Chinese.
"A frantic appeal for help was
made when the vessel was observed
to be almost obscured by the heavy
pall of smoke and flames could be
seen in the cabins and storerooms.
"City firemen and bluejackets
brushed the terrified Chinese aside
and extinguished the fire."