Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-07-15
FRENCH LINER ON FIRE
Fought Flames on the Norman.
die For Many Hours.
PASSENGERS FEARS WE'RE QUIETEI


Were In While the Brave Members OF the |
Crew Were Fighting the Flames Below |
Deck-One Fatal Accident.
NEW York, July l5--Thc French line
steamship Normnndie from Havre, which
arrived in port Sunday, had a fire on
board during the passage. IL 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 stnrboard alley about
nmidships. IL pcrmoatcd the staterooms
and saloons, and was soon noticed by the
cabin passengers while thcy sat at dinner
Tho stewards who were the first 20 dis.
cover it passed the word aft, and Captain
Deloncle was notified. Search was made
for the source of the fire. IL was found tc
be in a compartment in the lower hold
about amdships. There were stored case
goods, hides and skins. IL is supposed tc
have resulted from spontaneous combus.
ton among the oily hides.
The fire apparatus was at once brought
into use, and through i2 holes hot water
was poured into the compartment. There
was danger of the water rising too high
In the compartments, I'm which event the
ship would have been flooded.
Meanwhile all hands had been ordered
ON duty Volunteers were asked for to 20
TO the seat of the fire and learn the exact
condition Of affairs. The whole crew vol.
untcorod to a man. Ten were selected.
They were led by Chief Officer Dupont.
Tho men who followed him were Jacques
Salon, Gulnoir Charponticr, Caro-,
Calves, Colour Carmel, Jeffrey, Ruffel,
Guervnrco and Rcnard.
The compartment which had 20 be food.
ed was about "a by 7a feet and about 10
feet high. The water had nearly reached
the ceiling when the ten brave volunteers
reached there, They reported the condl-
tion Of affairs TO Captain Dclonclo, who
ordered the water flow stopped.
Tho Passengers Were Ignorant.
During this time few Of the passengers
knew what was occurring There wa.
nothing i'm the faces OF the crew to indi
cate Il. They walked about the deck a.
though nothing unusual was occurring
Two frightened ladies went to the cap
tain's statoroom TO inquire the trouble
Captain Deloncle assured them that moth
ing was the matter and said they cOult
occupy his own statcroom II they thought
they were not safe below. They did, whill
the captain paced the bridge all night.
When the ship arrived Agent Forge
was at once notified. He reached the shil
about the time she docSod-l o'clock yes
terdny afternoon. He went TO Captain Dc
lonclc's statoroom and was told the stor.
Of the blaze. Tho captain assured hin
that it amounted TO almost nothing. IN
fire was ont at noon ON July 10.
donce in their captain the following tcstl
moninl was drawn up signed and present
ed by committee of passongors
Whereas, We the passengers on th
steamship la Normandie in view OF tn
accident by fire on the 9th inst, deem !
our duty and privilege 60 acknowledg
and express publicly our admiration OF tn
able manner in which the danger was me
by the captain, officers and crew; there
fore, be it
Resolved. That we tender our thank
TO Captain Deloncle and his men for th
mastcrly manner in which they So persist
entity fought for and rescued our lives an
the ship from destruction; that we expires
our admiration for the order. dlsciplin
and efficiency shown on the occasion; tina
we heartily thank the captain for his fore
sight, courtesy and gcntlemanly bcarin
toward the passengers and beg 70 assur
him of our lifelong gratitudo that a cop
OF these resolutions be sent to the Office q
the Compagnio Generate Transatlan
tique."
A Fireman killed.
Captain Deloncle Is as years old II
has served 15 years as commander. Thl
IS his first trip in Ia Normandie. He wa
| four years in the French navy and cnsig
| on the French cruiser Richcliou when sh
/ | was burned OF Toulon i'm 1880. 10 wa
necessary to sink her to put out the flames
/ | She was subsequently fioatod and now
3 one of the French naval fleet
/ Captain Deloncle wears the decoratio
q of the Legion Of Honor, earned for bra,
/ ! cry at Madagascar during tho Frenc
Z troubles there. He has been "a years q
, sea, and has filed every post from oabi
boy to captain. He is medium size
man, with short cropped side whisker
d promaturely gray hair and dark, quic
moving eyes.
L The cargo win be iettisoncd and an e
q innate made of the damage as soon q
possible. Agent Forget had no time
make an estimate. The amount of dan
age is believed to be slight. The unde
writer's will probably make an cstimai
. Of the damage today.
Is The Normandic reported thet on II
day she sailed from Havre an cxplosio
= occurred in the coal bunkcrs, resulting
10 the death Of Francois Iseteur, a fireman
o who entered thCTt 8 gwith make
II light. Gas had accumulated in the bun
n kers. Lollour was so sevarely burned thi
l. he died in a few hours. He was 20 yea
!, Of age and a native Of Brittany. The bod
10 was buried at sea.
y John II. IssIin Dead.
II POUGHKEEPsIE, ~ Y, July 15.-Appl
IS cation was to have been made to the 81