LUXURY LINER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 5

LUXURY LINER

BURNED AT SEA

SEVERAL PERSONS MISSING.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright;

LONDON, January *5.

The owners s;ate that all of the lined' i’Atiautiqueo crew'' have .been saved, though a number of them were badiy burned. The French Ministry Marine’s latest official figures states that there were 229 .persons aboard, and that eighteen are missing.

The newspapers publish aerial pictures of the burning I’Atlantique, the vessel listing to port and belching out smoke for her whole length. Much of the superstructure had already been consumed.- There appeared an overturned lifeboat hanging • from the vessel’s side, stern downwards. The aerial pictures of the burning French liner 1 Atlahiique, published in the newspapers show the liner listing at, an angle of forty-five ..degrees and lielching up smoke from the bow to the stern. Tongues of flame aie to bo seen leaping skyward in a dozen places, while the vessel is drifting iu the direction of Cherbourg. The spectacle ,was ope recalled a monster brazier, whence there arose a vast smoko screen, stretching for miles across the English Channel.

THE iSIORY UK rHE CAPTAIN

PLUCKY FIGHT MADE BY MEN

LONDON, January 5

Captain Rena Schdifs, the Commander of the I’Atlantique, upon his arrival at Cherbourg, expressed it as his belief that from thirty to thirtyfive of the crew had been asphyxiated, or burned to death. He himself had been isolated by the flames on the bridge, but he had managed to get clear.

The Captain added that the fire began in one of the first class cabins. It spread owing to the inflammable nature of the fitments. The wireless room became quickly enveloped in flames, and it thus became impossible to send any “5.0.5.” messages.

The officers and crew of the liner made a plucky fight, but Captain Schoffs was ultimately forced to order the abandonment of tho vessel. Tugs were gathered round the I’Atlantique from all directions, and attempted to get the liner’s pumps to work, but the heat a,s so terrific that it was impossible for the tugs to remain alongside of her. There is an insurance of two mill lions sterling on the I’Atlantique. About one million and a quarter of this is held in the London Insurance market, but the risk is spread over a large, number of underwriters. .

PARTICULARS I'F . DISASTER

SEVENTEEN MEX AR.E MISSING

LONDON, January o,

Within fifteen hours of the nightiv a tollman's discovery that a first class cabin on the l’Atlantique was on fire, the liner was reduced to a smouldering hulk of twisted metal. At first it was hoped that there would be no loss of life, but the arrival of a rescue steamer revealed that between twenty and thirty, of the crew were missing.

Captain Schoffs stuck to the ship till the last possible moment. Then he jumped ’into the sea. He was rescued by the Achjlles. ■ Captain Schoffs stated that the alarm was sounded at 3.3 D o’clock in the morning. The officers then., thought that the flames could be extinguished .Calling for assistance), .but the fire spread rapidly, and in two or three hours it was out of control.

When they tried to call up help, however, the wireless cabin was full of smoke, and the wireless operator was half . asphyxiated, and lie .was unable to use the instruments. Only one faint mutilated signal was received ashore. The order to abandon ship was given at 6.30 a.m. - ■ ■■_-, . One of, the large lifeboats capsized while it was being lowered, and the occupants..were thrown into the water. Some of. them were rescued, while the rest were drowned. Captain Schoffs feared that the crew might be trapped by the flames or rendered un,conscious by the smoke Tne burning ship was still afloat at night, when it was burning internally and remained wrapped in smoke, rendering any approach to it- impossible. Cherbourg reports that seventeen are missing .from the l’Atlantique’s personnel of 5£J9. M. Leon Meyer, Minister of Merchant Marine, announces an immediate inquiry must be held.-.- . The engineers at the shipyard from which the l’Atlantfque .was launched a,re astonished at the rapidity of the spread of the flames. They stress the fact that every known precautionary device was installed in the liner.

FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED. HON'D ON, January o. As the alternative to- foul play as the cause- of the fire, it is conjectured that it may have beer caused by an electrical short circuit. French shipping circles are alarmed at the number of recent fires in French vd Ise’s. Deputy M. Rene- Richard, itf demanding that the Government

shall investigate the suceptibility to fire of the finest units of the French Mercantile Marine. The chief engineer of l’Atlanticjue has declared that the fire- precautions were >so complete that the fire was impassible unless it had been deliberately caused. Referring to the l’Atlantique. disaster, the paper “Intran-sigeant” says that an. inquiry i;s 'necessary since ideas of civil- intentions are unavoidable. Too many interests, it gays, were hampered by the existence of this magnificent vessel.

DRIFTING TOWARD ENGLAND

(Received January 6th. at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, January 5.

The burnt out shell of l’Atlantique is now’ drifting toward the English coast. The flames are reported to be abating, and five tugs are awaiting the opportunity to tow the hulk to Cherbourg

FIRES NOW ALMOST OUT

(Received Jan. 6th. at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, January 5.

Tugs are towing l’Atlantique to Portland. The fire is almost out but the decks are still red hot, and the smoke is confined to the stern. The survivors include nil three women aboard, a manicurist, a saleswoman, and a masseuse.

DOGGED BY DISASTER. (Received Jan. 6th. at 9.25 a.m.) PARTS, January 5. The whole of France is asking “What is the mysterious hand behind the black series of disasters to France’s proudest merchantman?” The Minister for Marine has ordered a 'stringent inquiry, and has personally bidden the crew to hirle nothing “In the interests of humanity.”