MADMAN ABOARD SHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 December 1936, Page 9

MADMAN ABOARD SHIP

SETS FIRE TO DINING ROOM MID-ATLANTIC DRAMA (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, 19th December. “The Telegraph’s” Gothenburg correspondent reports a madman’s attempt to set fire to the Swedish liner Gripsholm during a stormy in midAtlantic, which was revealed on arrival at Gothenburg. The madman was a former ship’s mate, travelling as a third class passenger from San Francisco to Sweden. He set fire to the third class dining room during the night. The Christmas decorations blazed up and the whole room was soon a mass of flames. The passengers, numbering nearly a thousand, were aroused, lifebelts were issued and the lifeboats were swung out. The crew worked furiously but it was more than an hour before the flames were subdued. Several passengers and members of the crew were overcome by fumes. The man who started the blaze was taken to the sick bay. He was certified on arrival as insane and was sent to a lunatic asylum.