"SAILORS TERROR"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

"SAILORS TERROR"

FIERCE FIRE AT SEA FULL CARGO OF OIL SANDGATE CASTLE'S FATE Graphic stories of the "Sailors' Terror"—fire at sea —were told when the crow,of the Union Castle steamer Sandgate Custle, which was destroyed by fire on June 26, arrived at Liverpool last month in the Cuiiard-White Star liner Antonia from Montreal. The Sandgate Castle, with a full cargo, including thousands of drums of oil, was bound from New York to Capetown .when the cry of "Fire!" was raised 700 miles out from New York. Jn less than an hour the vessel was a blazing inferno. After fighting two hours the crew of 40 were compelled to abandon her, and were adrift ten hours before being picked up by the United States liner President Pearce. The wireless operator, J. 1). Gallie, describing the scene, stated: "Immediately the fire was discovered 1 sent out messages of distress which were picked up by the President Pearce within half an hour. "The Haines were licking against my cabin when I sent out the last message that we were taking to the boats." Each member of the crew had" an exciting story to tell. "The fire seemed to break out between decks over No. 4 hold," one related. "I was sent down below with others to cut it off, but we were driven back by the terrific heat and smoke. We lost all our belongings when we dashed for the lifeboats. After being adrift for several hours, we rowed toward the burning ship, but several terrific explosions chased us away again. The blazing vessel was a wonderful but terrifying sight when darkness came. Flames were shooting up higher than the masts." The rescue of the ship's cat—Midge —which stowed away in New York, was described by the boatswain, Michael Castle. "The captain and the wireless operator were about to leave, when the donkeyman, George Weekcs, remembered the cat," he said. "Dashing back, he found her fast asleep in a cabin on top of the fire. , Ho wrapped her in his coat and carried her to the lifeboat." The passengers of the President Pearce provided the crew of the burnedout vessel with complete suits of clothing.