New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-15
THEY FOUGHT FIRE AT SEA.
oooD WORK BY THE CAPTAIN AND CREW
OF LA NORMANDIE.
MANA COMPARTMENT FLOODED TO Ex-
rrNGuIsH FLAMES DUE TO sPoNTA-
xEous coMBUsrIoN-No PANIC
ON BOARD.

ON BOARD.
c,v,v decorated with flags and bunting In
s,ror OF the great French holiday. the French
,r.r La Normandie came safely into port yes
..-aav after an exciting experience with that
--latest Of all dangers to ships-s fire at sea.
rortunately the fire was quickly overcome and
~. danger averted. La Normande left Havre
~ July g. with fifty frst-class passengers.
...ntv.nye second-class and 2o5 in the steerage.
and a general cargo. On the first day out fire.
-, FRANCOIS Lefiem was told to open one Of
Tho coal bhnkers. He attempted to do so while
..rrv,ne a naked light. AS soon as the hatch
~.. opened there was a rush Of gas. which g-
,,,ed at the fame and exploded with great force.
tuune the fireman and damaging the bunker
s.,,ngs I>ehen1. who was nineteen years old and
native OF Brittany. was buried at sea.
IN the evening Of July Q. about o'clock. when
r.. Normand e was nearly in midocean. latitude
40 Al. ,ongitu ie 1916 fire was discovered In the
.,arboa rd compartment amidships, which Is nine
nv esaty-rour feet in size. Word was passed to
ranta,n D,loncle and he Immediately ordered
nine lines of hose, throwing hot water and steam,
,o he turned on the fire. Three lines were also
mrned on the adjoining staterooms and corri-
Aors. In a short time the compartment. whicn
vas immediate below the saloon. and was niieo
nth case goods and hides. was flooded. Inc
men acted with perfect discipline and coolness
and by their example calmed the nervous among
the passengers
When the compartment. had been flooded all
hands were called On deck and volunteers caiIed
for to 60 into the place and make an investiea-
finn All volunteered with equal unanimity, put
ten were selected and. headed by second zap
tsin Dunont they went through the manhole
and completed the work OF stamping Out 'ie
fire 49,, ,.u.
The heat IN the neignboring rooms anu ~, nan, ~,
wavs was intense These were kept cool oy
constant streams OF water. The sailors WORKED
until early morning in the compartment. anu
when all danger was past the water was pumped
out The Of the fire was tnough' 10 nave
been spontaneous combustloh
pAssENGERs NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER.
The passengers with a few exceptions. did
not know Of the extent OF the danger until II
was all over. and then they were loud In their
praises Of officers and men. Resolutions were
adopted expressing admiration for the conduct
~ the officers and crew and giving thanks 10
Captain Deloncle and his men for saving tne
ship from destruction. The resolutions were
signed by the following committee: Monsighor
O;Connell chairman; James Campbell, Mrs Hen
ry NJ Sanders and j. Bussat r..
Mr. Campbell, who Is a relative OF Inn
Campbell, was Of the few who knew OF IN tne
danger He said: I'VE were all seated at din
ner when we noticed smoke, and as IL became
thicker some began to- get anxious, anu tn1n
an officer came in ana said tnat tue eieesi'o
light wires had become crossed and burned
little woodwork but 1t was small matter ana
had been extinsushed When we hearo tne
working of the pumps we knew the trouble was
etrIous and at one time we thought La Nor
mandie was doomed. Only few. Aonsignor
O'Conneli, myself and one or two more. knew
the extent of the danger until II was al over,
and SO the excitement among the passengers
was kept down. The conduct OF ofncers ana
crew was admirable fol coolness and discipline.
Captain Deloncle has only neen WIN htn ers, .ne
VOYAGE on La Normandie He was an omcer IN
the French Navy and is now In the reserve. ne
IA forty years old, and member OF tne legion
man-of-war Richelieu which was burned IN 1850.
CAPTAIN Delonce was proud man wnen seen
Yesterday on board his vessel. He described the
accident as given here. and when he tod OF tne
conduct Of his officers and crew ne couid hot com,
ceai his good feeling He could assign no reason
for the fire except that of spontaneous compus-
ton He also declared that at no time was la
Normandie in danger OF being ourneo, AS 'ns
fire was confined 10 a flooded compartment anu
twelve lines OF hose were directed against the
are His men are perfectly drilled In fighting nre
and each man knew just what he was expecteo
10 do The damaEe Is not yet ascertained' Du'
Il IL not thought that II will be large
Among the passengers on board were
M sna Mn Eugene ASadle & & # hesiessh GefsR,er
g' = A. sns Bernard % Mr. and Mr. Meuredas.
M Mr. .ns and Mrs M5. 4 PSsips Mrs Marie Mason
Mr. ana Mrs Rod Mrs Frederick Pearson.
j J. Patchen Miss Pearson.
Miss de- Chavanne Mr. and Mrs Traoer.
Mr. and Mrs Jas. Campbell. Mrs. r. F. Ward.
Monsisnor o'Conne. y b. ,. Wt,gh''
= W rriese Miss Leonore Muse.
pi.rre Feyret Mrs. Colin.
rur nrvrp TsS cOVERED FIFTH FLAMES.