The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-16
SION,
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE.

The Fire on the Steamer Normandie-Tn-
domitabIe Energy and the Best of Disci-
pline.
Quite number of New Haven peo-
pie who have been across on the ocean
on the steamer Normandie will be spe-
cially interested in the following tele-
graphic account sent last evening from
New York Of the recent fire on the
steamer:
New York, July 1.-THE steamer La
Normandie which arrived here from
Havre Sunday, with fifty passengers In
the first cabin, twenty-five In the sec
ond cabin, and 205 in the steerage, re-
ports that just after her departure from
Havre on July 6, one of the flremen,
Francois Leflm, was instructed to keep
| open one Of the coal bunkers. He did
so, using naked light. When the
hatch was opened there was a rush Of
gas, which Instantly ignited at the
lamp flame and exploded with tremen-
dous force, instantly killing Lefim and
! doing more or less damage to the bunk
er fittings.
| Just after the passengers had seated
thems elves at dinner on July 8, fire was
discovered In the forehold and a fire
alarm was instantly sounded. The
crew ran to fire stations, and lines of
\ hose were stretched along the decks.
i For fifteen hours the battle ragged be-
tween the crew and the flames, and II
was not Until well along toward noon
of Wednesday that the vessels safety
4 was assured.
| Strange as 1t may seem, throughout
this scene of fog, storm and cracking
flames there was not a shade Of panic
among the endangered passengers. Del
icate women acted like veterans, and
until the last fame in the charred and
inundated hold spurted out under the
rush of well directed streams they never
ceased to encourage the fire fighters
with brave smiles and words OF praise
When the fire was out the passenger
drew up a. set OF resolutions thanking
Captain Deloncle, his officers and crew
for their bravery and energy.
Chief Clerk Wright Of the Hote
Netherland, one of the passengers, spokt
for the rest as follows:
''The passengers of the Normandi,
have escaped as by a miracle. Nothing
saved us but the courage and tndom
liable energy of Captain Deloncle ant
his officers, Dupont Mourand, Partie
and Durand. These five men are heroe
in the eyes of every passenger in TIL
vessel From the first alarm of fire oil
Tuesday evening until the end, at 1
O'Clock on Wednesday morning, Captain
Delonce worked at the head of hi
men, without rest or food Twice
crept to him through the smoke ant
pleaded with him to eat.
No, Mr.. Wright he answered.
must decline. My men have not eaten
neither shall T.
f"The danger throughout Tuesda,
night was great-greater even than w
then imagined, as the captain since ad
mitted in conference, but never at an
time were the discipline and temper O
that sturdy crew other than perfect
| The behavior of the passengers wa
equally commendable. There was n
loss of self-control although every on
realized the terribleness of the situa
ton We were in mid-ocean, burie
in fog, tossed about In rough water
blinded with smoke and on fire.
1.-THE women seemed to realize tina
nothing could save us but the exertion
of the crew, and they sat about i
silent groups throughout the night feal
ing to risk a cry, and possibly bree
panic. It was a terrible experience
and the closest call in my experience"