FIRE DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 7

FIRE DISASTER

SURVIVORS’ TRAGIC TALE burning of moirro castle PEOPLE CROWD THE COAST OFFICERS AWAIT INQUIRY APPALLING TOLL OF DEATH By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. M 5.5 p.m. New York, Sept. 9. Stories of fire, panic and death in the burning Morro Castle continued to be told to-day as survivors recovered from the exhaustion and shock of their experience. With the official inquiry to start tomorrow, most of the officers and members of the crew are reticent -regarding the details of the disaster, but surviving passengers gave harrowing details of their adventures. Only one, however, Miss Doris Wacker, whose father perished, could contribute information regarding what happened immediately prior to the alarm. Her story indicates that the officers were aware of the conflagration some time before the signal was given the passengers to stand by. “Some time in the early morning I was walking to my cabin from a late party and noticed a fire blazing in the library,” she said. “An officer—l do not know who he was—asked me not to spread, the alarm because I might create panic' among the passengers.” She added that she immediately returned to her cabin and awakened her parents, who had barely dressed before the alarm was given and the panic started. Throughout to-day the smouldering hylic of the Morro Castle, beached 200 feet off the Asbury Park boardwalk, constantly menaced a large recreation pier which was protected only by a rock jetty. Xi. Confusion still exists regarding the exact casualties. The Ward Line announced officially that 166 were dead and missing. However, the United Press reports that 186 bodies have been recovered and 27 are missing and undoubtedly dead. Three hundred and fourteen have been rescued. Of the latter a few are in a serious condition with burns ana exposure. With the aid of gas masks, underwriters and coastguard officials boarded the wreck this afternoon and viewed such parts as were accessible. They reported that they found two charred bodies, but made no comment regarding possible-dis-coveries of the origin, of the fire. Th® chief officer, Mr. Warms, curtly refused a statement to Press interviewers. “I will make an, official report,” he said. Thousands of curiosity seekers invaded the New Jersey coast to-day, creating a serious police problem. Some were relatives and friends sent to the sad task of identifying the dead in a temporary morgue. Most looked at the wrecked vessel and gazed seaward to watch for bodies.