TRAGIC LINER FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21909, 19 September 1934, Page 11

TRAGIC LINER FIRE

PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE MANY TRAPPED IN CABINS NEW YORK, Sept. 13 The outbreak of fire on the Ward liner Morro Castle was discovered by Joseph O'Connor, one of seven nightwatchmen, who smelt smoke as he made his rounds, and traced it to a reception room, slightly forward of amidships. The richly-furnished room wa» a mass of flames, and, in spite of the speed with which the crew tumbled out on the alarm being given, the blaze spread with incredible speed. Weakness, brought on by seasickness, and a lack of knowledge of the emergency instructions, undoubtedly added to the death-roll.

" A third of the passengers," said O'Connor, "never had a chance. They had been seasick, and were in bunks and could not get out. Many of the passengers apparently did not know what the alarm meant. There are notices posted in all the cabins about what to do in case of emergency, but I doubt whether 20 of those aboard read them." * *

The Morro Castle's fire alarm and fire extinguishing system had been the pride of officials, who always exhibited it to prospective passengers. It consisted of a control room, with a device resembling a telephone switchboard. Pipes extended all oyer the vessel, through which special gas could be sprayed to extinguish flames. An attendant was constantly on duty, and theoretically he could stifie a fire wherever it started. ■ The suddenness of the outbreak in the supposedly fifeproof vessel struck panic into the crew and passengers, most of whom aroused from deep sleep. Soon the decks were jammed wift. screaming people. Women shrieked and clung to their|§pusbands and children.

As clouds of choking smoke filled the ship from stem to stern the heads of men and women imprisoned in staterooms were thrust through portholes, accompanied by heartrending screams for help that .never came. Some of those on deck became hysterical and jumped overboard, while others, terrified, dashed downstairs, probably to their deaths.

The catastrophe caught several parties of the gayer passengers still celebrating the final night of the holiday cruise, drinking wine. When the smoke seeped into the saloons glasses were dropped in the rush for the exits, and soon men in dinner jackets and women in evening gowns were caught in tho mad swirl on the decks.