 The fire was started by spontaneous combustion of a bale of cotton.The Lloyd ships SS "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse", SS "Saale" and SS "Main" were also damaged in the fire, with the SS "Saale" sinking, whilst the "Bremen" ran aground.After the fire she was rebuilt by AG Vulcan Stettin, lengthened to 575 ft, and her tonnage was increased to .