THE GEORGES PHILIPPAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21650, 21 May 1932, Page 11

THE GEORGES PHILIPPAR

MISSING REDUCED TO .FIFTY CAPTAIN’S STORY OF DISASTER NUMBER PERISH IN CABINS I (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) PARIS, May 19. Captain Yicq’s report, published by the Minister of Marine, states: — “ When the woman passenger gave the alarm I went to the spot and found the fire spreading rapidly. Although the firefighting apparatus was brought into play I ordered the ship to lid to and sent out the S.O.S. The wireless post and the subsidiary post on the captain’s bridge were aflame almost simultaneously, although far from the main seat of the outbreak. The passengers on the deck where the fire originated were unable to leave their cabins owing to the frightful rapidity with which the flames spread, and they perished, asphyxiated. A few ■who threw themselves into the sea were saved. “ The order of evacuation was women and children, then the other passengers, then the crew and the officers. The Sovietskaia, the Contractor and the Mahsud picked up those rescued. He could have saved everybody if the incredible rapidity of the fire had not caught the victims at the start. “ The passengers remained perfectly calm, and the officers and crew showed admirable devotion. I left the ship at 8. o’clock, when she was a huge burning mass, and was picked up by the. Sovietskaia, which transferred the survivors to the Andre le Bon at 10 o’clock.” The missing now are believed to total 50. Some who booked at‘Saigon did not travel. An English passenger asserts that the deaths were due to the failure to awaken the sleepers. THE MISSING PASSENGERS LITTLE HOPE OF DISCOVERY. ADEN, May 19. Little hope is entertained of the discovery of the missing. A Dutch doctor and his wife saw their two children burned to death. The Georges Philippar, still blazing, is drifting northwards. THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY SERIOUS DISCLOSURES EXPECTED. ADEN, May 10. Serious disclosures are expected at the inquiry. It is stated that there were no fire drills. Some passengers declare that the lifebelts were tom and the hoses rotten, which seems incredible on a maiden voyage. All agree that no alarm was given. Three sailors in a forward cabin were unaware of the fire until two hours after it had gained a hold. OVER SEVEN HUNDRED ON BOARD (Britlali Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 19. The London office of Messagerics Maritimes this evening stated that the total number of passengers and crew saved from the Philippar is now known as 717, leaving approximately 50 unaccounted for. PASSENGERS’ CRITICISM STATEMENT BY AN OFFICIAL. PARIS, May 20. (Received May 20, at 8.50 p.m.) When his attention was directed to the criticisms of passengers on the Georges Philippar an official of Messagerics Marltimes replied that he could only refer correspondents to Captain Vicq’s report detailing the measures taken to save life, emphasising the passage in the report relating to the rapidity of the spread of the flames. THE VESSEL FOUNDERS ADEN, May 20. ' (Received May 21, at 0.58 a.m.) The Georges Philippar foundered last night. (