The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-28
SHIPS OFFICER MEETS DEATH
Flames Spread Very Rapidly and
Threatened Destruction
COSTLY FURNISHINGS RUINED

New York. Aug. 2S.--The steamship
mper,tor. the largest vessel ailoat,
was swept by fire early today as she
lay at her dock at Hoboken, with her
crew and l,i3l stccago pass, ngers
aboard
Second officer cobricht who led the
GROW into the hold to fight the DANES,
was cut off from his men, cnvclopcd
in a cloud of smoke, and suirocatcd.
His body was found an hour after
ward untouched by fire. and brought
ashore
seaman one of the party who
went down with Cobricht into the
bowels of the vessel was seriously in
jured.
a fleet of Hrc lighting craft, aug
mertcd BY apparatus an shore, sur
rounded the ship and poured tons Of
water into the mold. When the fire
was checked at s o'clock the great vcs-
sci had listed fifteen degrees.
Stecragc passengers. aroused by the
cracking of the flames. rushed panic
stricken for the pier. Most Of them
spent the remainder of the night hud-
died in discomfort ut tie shore end Of
the pier. None Of the stccragc pas
sengcrs had been inspected by the
customs or health authorities. Because
of this armed guards surrounded
them. Later they were rushed to Ellis
Island.
Fire Gains Hcadwsy Rapidly.
The great ship was dark as all
aboard were asleep. save the officers
ON watch, when smoke ascending from
the provisions room was discovered.
Almost at the same moment the crack
ling of flames was heard in the steer
age quarters A quiet alarm was
sounded.
Commodore RpSScr. cUinniandcr-in-
chief Of the vessel, was among the
first to respond. The crew of 1,lS0
were i'm their places within a minute.
The complex fire fighting apparatus of
tho vessel was set i'm motion Every
compartment was ordered closed cX-
,cpt those necessary to leave open Tor
the steerage passengers to get ashore.
NV SIIlD Oiil't'o hhh Ih'i''''o VI WV
crew lined up in two columns along
the route To safety and guided the
terror stricken men and women To the
pier.
with the ship clear the entire force
turned their hands to lighting the
lanes Three quarters of an hour
they fought the tire. with only the Inn
perators own apparatus Then. des-
pairing OF success, the Hobokcn depart
mcni was notified and a general alarm
sounded.
Second officer Cobricht, aud Seaman
Strunts, caught in tho withcrlng
breath OF "A bcich Of flames, were cut
Oft from the door they Lad entered
When the fire was checked the body of
Cobricht was found Strunts was
brought 20 hospital and revived lie
is badly hurt.
Second Cabin Badly Damaged.
The dining saloon of the second
cabin suffered the greatest damage
from smoke and fire. and the hand
some appointments of the salon are a
wreck
Despite the reinforcement Of iircmen
the flames gained Roadway. Fire boats
from New York and ~ fleet of tugs
and another battery Of fire engines
IRON nobolten we're rushed to the pier.
"A dozen tugs were ready tn tow the
vessel to mid,stream Az the flames
threatened momentarily at their height
To destroy her. With nifty streams
nlaying on the fire the ilames were
finally extinguished.
The walls and gilded fittings OF the
second cabin were smudged and dark
costly rugs and carpets sodden, anu
furniture Scared and broken
thousand longshorcmen. employed
hy the Hamburg American line, the
lmperator's owners, went on strike
AZ hours before the vessels arrival.
Their places were filled by men from
BROOKLYN and the men were told they