A PILGRIM SHIP FIRE. RESCUE OF PASSENGERS. A BLAZING FURNACE.

PORT SOUDAN, THURSDAY.

The fire in the British steamer Frangestan, with several British passengers and 1,200 pilgrims for Jeddah on board and a cargo of cotton, was discovered at three o’clock yesterday morning, when the vessel was about 200 miles south of here. The weather was calm, and as the captain felt that there was no immediate danger, he set the course for Port Soudan, in order to land the passengers and pilgrims and at the same time despatched a message asking that the steamer Tangistan, belonging to the same owners, might leave here immediately and meet him at Masamarhu Island.

The Tangistan left port at eleven a.m. At that time the Frangestan was using steam and carbonic acid gas in an endeavour to control the fire. Half an hour later the position was most serious, and the flames were spreading to the pilgrims’ baggage and threatening to destroy the wooden decks. The Tangistan was meanwhile in wireless communication with the burning vessel, as were the steamers Clan Maciver, Scindia, and Hartfield.

The captain of the Frangestan at one o’clock decided to transfer his passengers to the Clan Maciver, and asked her to close in for the purpose. The Scindia and the Hartfield were also asked to close in and to have their boats ready. At six o’clock the transfer of all the passengers and pilgrims to the Clan Maciver had been completed in a splendid manner, and the Scindia and the Hartfield proceeded on their way southwards. The captain of the Frangestan advised the Clan Maciver to proceed to Port Soudan, and said that he would himself endeavour to make port with his ship.

At seven o’clock, when the Tangistan was thirty-three miles off, she received a message from the Frangestan asking her to hasten with all possible speed to the latter’s help, as the forward end of the vessel was blazing like a furnace. At this juncture the Frangestan’s crew were ordered to abandon ship, the captain deciding to stay on board till the last, and if possible until the arrival of the Tangistan.

At nine o’clock, when the Tangistan was fifteen miles off, the captain of the Frangestan was obliged to abandon his ship. An hour later the Tangistan reported to the Clan Maciver that the Frangestan was sinking rapidly, and there was no hope of saving her.

The Clan Maciver is due at Port Soudan at eleven o’clock this morning with the passengers and crew of the Frangestan. No lives were lost. – Reuter’s Special Service.