SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 11

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

FIRE OX THE IMPERATOR. (By Cable.—Pre** Association.— Copyright.) NEW YORK. August 28Tho liner Inipcratnr, with a thousand stoerngo passengers on board, was tho scene of a terrific iirc near II oboken docks. Tho second officer and a scamnii were cut off while lighting tho ilames and perished. Tho llobolccn Firo Department pourod tons of water into the holds, gradually overcoming, tho Ilames, but tho vessel had a dangerous list before tho outbreak was subdued. Tho passengers, who wero awakened by tho smoke, dashed torror-strickeu ashoro, bub tho officers managed to keep order and all escaped. Tho steamer's interior was greatly damaged by tho fire, which originated" in tho steerago quarters. DAMAGE NOT EXCESSIVE. (Received August 29th, 9.30 p.m.) Tho damage to tho Imperator is less than anticipated. Her regular sailings will not bo interrupted. Tho Imperator is tho largest steamer in tho world. She lias a tonnage of 50,000 tons, and can accommodate 2500 passengers. She is propelled by turbine engines, driving four screws, designed to givo a speed of "2*2 knots. From tho very first singular ill-luck seems to have attended the vcesel. In April she grounded on the German coast, and a little later a boiler-room explosion killed several men, while u> cablo message received at tho beginning of June told of mysterious rumours that the fittings and furniture had bcon hacked about, and tho water system rendered useless by liquid cement poured down the pipes, apparently as ! the result of a deliberate plot to retard her completion.