FIRE IN SUBMARINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1938, Page 2

FIRE IN SUBMARINE

OFFICER STRIVES TO SAVE MEN

PARIS, August 1

A sailor was burnt to" deatli and another seaman and a workman of Toulon naval yard were seriously injured to-day in a fire aboard the submarine I’Espoir, which is undergoing repairs.

The seamen were painting the interior of the accumulator room with an insulating compound and the workman was soldering metal outside the compartment when the fire broke out. The accumulator room was filled with fiames within a few seconds.

Although the alarm was given and answered immediately, the naval tiremen were unable to approach the trapped seamen. The second officer of I’Espoir made repeated efforts to save b.is men, burning his hands badly, and was almost, overcome by fumes. He was dragged away by force by Ute firemen.

Wearing gasmasks and using special apparatus, the firemen finally succeeded in drawing the two seamen by their feet out of the manhole. Oua was dead. The other was revived by artificial respiration. The workman near the accumulator room was in a grave condition and was. taken to Toulon naval homjknL The* fire was put out shortly afterwards and the damage is; believed to he compa rat ively slight.