Show STEAMER PRETORIA ON FIRE Passengers on Steamer Transferred Pnssegrs on Steae fe1cd at Sea to the Northland and Both Vessels Proceed t New York New York March 30The steamer Pretoria of the Quebec line returned to this port tonight with fire in her forward for-ward hold Her passengers came In a short time previously on the steamer Noordland of Cue American lime hayIng hay-ing been transferred at sea The Pretoria left this port Saturday afternoon bound for Hamilton Bermuda Ber-muda with Capt McKenzie In command com-mand At midnight smoke ln seen coming out of the forward hold The Ore could not exactly be located The engines were stopped and Capt Mc Kenzle got ready for any emergency The lifeboats were put In condition for hasty lowering and werj stocked with provisions At this time the vessel was 100 miles south of Sandy Hook At 9 oclock this morning tho steamer Noordland hound from Philadelphia to Liverpool hove In sight The Pretoria signaled her and she was soon along While the Noordland lay close by Capt McKenzie began n thorough search of tho hold to ascertain Just how bad the lIre s On thfe hatches being opened he found that a shipment of hay In the front compartment was blazing quite fiercely The next com partirtent was stored with petroleum which fact accentuated the danger Capt McKenalc then decided to remove his passengers They had remained quiet and soon wore transferred in lifeboatn Then both vessels came onto on-to New York Tho passengers of the Pretoria spoke highly of the treatment accorded them by the captain and crew of t Noord land A ejection was taken up among the passengers of the Pretoria for the officers and men who manned the lifeboats |