Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-15
FRENCH LINER ON FIRE.
Fought Flames on the Norman
 die For Many Hours.
PASSENGERS FEARS WERE QUIETED

PASSENGERS FEARS WERE QUIETED They Were In Ignorance of the Peril They
 Were in While the Brave Members of the
 Crew Were Fighting the Flames Below
 Deck-One Fatal Accident.
 NEW YORK, July 15.-The French line steamship Normandie, from Havre, which arrived in port Sunday, had a fire on board during the passage. It was o'clock at night on July 9. The passengers were at dinner, and little was known until the next day of the terrible trial through which they had passed.
 Shortly after ' o'clock smoke was seen issuing from the starboard alley about amidships. It perlneated the staterooms and saloons, and was soon noticed by tho cabin passengers while they sat at dinner: Tho stewards, who were the first to dis cover it, passed the word aft and Captain Deloncle was notified. Search was made for the source of the fire. It was found to be in compartment in the lower hold about amidships. There were stored case goods hides and skins. It is supposed to have resulted from spontaneous combus- tion among the oily hides.
 The fire apparatus was at once brought into use, and through 12 holes hot water was poured into the compartment. There was danger of the water rising too high in the compartments, in which event the ship would have been flooded.
 Meanwhile all hands had been ordered on duty. Volunteers were asked for to go to the seat of the fire and learn the exact condition of affairs. The whole crew vol untccred to man. Ten were selected.
 They were led by Chief Officer Dupont. Tho men who followed him were Jacques Salion, Guinoir Charpentier Carro, Calves, Colour, Carmel, Jeffrey, Ruffel, Gucrvarcc and Renard.
 The compartment which had to be food ed was about 24 by 72 feet and about 10 feet high. The water had nearly reached the ceiling when the ten brave volunteers reached there. They reported the condi- tion of affairs to Captain DclOncle, who ordered the water flow stopped.
 The Passengers Were Ignorant.
 During this time few of the passengers knew what was occurring. There was nothing in tho faces of the crew to indi- cate it. They walked about the deck as though nothing unusual was occurring. Two frightened ladies went to the cap- tain's statrroom to inquire the trouble. Captain Dcloncle assured them that noth- ing was the matter and said they could occupy his own statcroom if they thought they were not safe below. They did, while the captain paced the bridge all night.
 When the ship arrived, Agent Forget was at once notified. He reached the ship about the time she docked-1 o'clock yes tCrtlay afternoon. He went to Captain De- lOnclc's statcrOom and was told the story of the blaze. The captain assured him that it amounted to almost nothing. The fire was out at noon on ,Tuly 10.
 As evidence of the passengers confi- l dcncc in their captain the following testi- monial was drawn up, signed and present. cd by committee of passengers: 'Whcrcas, We, the passengers on the steamship La Normandic, in view of the accident by fire on the 9th inst. deem it our duty and privilege to acknowledge and express publicly our admiration of the able manner in which the danp"" '''" met by the captain, officers and e7ot ""s 1- fore, be it crew; thefe- Resolved, That we tender our thanks to Captain DelOncle and his men for the | 1nastcrly manner in which they so persist ently fought for and rescued our lives and tho ship from dcstruction; that we express our admiration for the order. discipline and efficiency shown on the occasion; that we heartily thank the captain for his fore sight, courtesy and gentlemanly bearing | toward the passengers and beg to assure | him of our lifelong gratitude; that copy | of these resolutions be sent to the office of | the COmpagnic Gcnerale Transatlan- l tique.'
 Fireman Killed.
 Captain Dclonclc is 4S years old. He | has served , years as commander. This | is his first trip in La Normandic. He was | four years in the French navy and ensign | on tho French cruiser Richclicu when she was burned off Toulon ill 1880. It was necessary to sink her to put out the flames. | She was subsequently, fioatcd and now is one of the French naval fleet.
 Captain Dclonclc wears the decoration of the Legion of Honor, earned for bray | cry at Madagascar during the French troubles there He has been 34 years at sea, and has filled every post from cabin | boy to captain. He is a medium sized man, with short cropped side whskcrs, prcmaturcly gray hair and dark, quick | moving eyes.
 | The cargo will be jcttisoncd and an cs- timatc made of the damage as soon as possible. Agent Forget had no time to make an estimate. The amount of danl age is believed to be slight. The under writers will probably mako an estimate of the damage today.
 The Normandic reported that on the day she sailed from Havre an explosion occurred in the coal bunkers, resulting in the death of Francois Lefieur, a fireman, l who entered the bunkers with a naked light. Gas had accumulated in the bun kers. Lcheur was so severely burned that | he died in a few hours. He was 20 years of age and a native of Brittany. The body | was buried at sea.
 l John H. Ise1in Dead.
 | PoUGHKEEPs1E, N. Y., July 15.-Appli