LINER BURNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 5

LINER BURNED.

ARSON SUSPECTED.

PASSENGERS IN WATER. SKIPPER LAST TO JUMP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAX FRAXCISCO, August 3. Possibility of arson as a cause of the burning of the steamer City of Baltimore in Chesapeake Bay was advanced by Captain Charles 0. Brooks, veteran skipper of the Atlantic Coast-

Admitting he knew of no reason for anyone firing the ship, Brooks said the thought of arson persisted with him owing to the manner in which the ship burned. "It went up 1n flames so rapidly," he said, "that the natural thought is that the fire would have had to start burning in several places at once." Captain Brooks enlarged upon the arson possibility at the resultant inquiry. "Wβ were bound down the bay on our regular run with 7.5 passengers and a crew of .13. It was getting dark. "I was standing on the bridge when I heard cries of 'fire!' "I started aft to sound the alarm, but flames burst from the etern- and enveloped the whole vessel. Some of the crew rushed to their fire stations, while others raced to lifeboats. "I gave orders to launch the boats and they soon were in the water loaded with passengers.

'"There was a eerie* of explosions, but I believe these blasts came from a number of autos we were carrying and did not cause the fire. Smoke Dense. "The flames forced me back to the bridge, where I was joined by my steward, James C. Carter. "We frantically signalled a number of boats which were speeding to the scene trying to attract attention to the [feboats. "However, the smoke .from.the blazing steamer was so dense the lifeboat* soon disappeared from sight. "Then a number of passengers, some with clothing afire, climbed rails and jumped into the water. I pleaded for them to hold on as long ae possible. [ felt reecue boats would soon arrive, but most of them could not stand the intense heat. "Suddenly a young girl ran screaming upon the bridge yelling for her father. When she saw he wasn't with us «he started back into the flames. Carter grabbed her. but I bad to help him before she could be stopped. Fire Close to Feet. "The three of us made our way to the lee side and held on to the hot railing waiting for a chance to jump into tile water. The lire was close to our feet. "Suddenly a speed boat loomed just ahead, and I gave the order for the two to jump. "I held on a while longer and when I saw I wee the last one left I let go. As soon as I hit the water I was pulled into the boat. The steward and girl already were there. "Large and small boats began to arrive and they played searchlight* all i over. They edared over to the City of j Baltimore, "which drifted eground offj Bodkin Point. "TM like to Rβ y every member of tb<«| crew of my vessel stood at bis post until j ordered to leave. Everyone waa eurprisingly calm." Rescue Vessel Hit Ship. Swathed in bandages covering severe I burns. Elizabeth Ramsay (32), of Baltimore, declared a ship resembling a liner crashed into the City of Baltimore eoon after fire broke out on the latter vessel. Miss Ramsay's reference was believed to be to the freighter Arkansas, which, .ftftcr hitting the doomed craft while

attempting rescue -work, picked up fiTe survivors and proceeded to Norfolk. She said: '"Suddenly, while we were huddled in the bow. a ship loomed in front of us. It bore down on us and-struck almcv-t where we were standing. It looked like a liner. "The blow.knocked us down. Then the ship backed off and we didn't see any more of ■ it." Miss Ramsay plunged into the water when flame* licked around the deck rail she was holding. "There were twenty of ue in the bow of the boat when it got too hot to remain on deck," she said. "Everyone started to jump overboard. I was holding to the rail when fire seared my arm. "I let go and fell into the water. Everywhere people were swimming 'around and a number of boats were picking them up. Someone pulled me into a boat. "I wae coming from the dining room when I heard the alarm bell and someone cry "Fire! , I ran to the deck, where the crew were passing out lifebelts and showing how to adjust them. "A man in our group had a raincoat, which we stretched out as wide as we , could and made a shield against the heat. Had it not been for that coat , we would all have been more badly . burned."