Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-28
Immigrants in Panic
as Blaze Breaks Out
in Worlds Largest
Ship at Pier.
HOBOKEN DEPARTMENT
AIDS VESSELS CREW
Second Officer Smothered to
Death and Sailor Seriouslp
Injured in Smoke-Filied Hold
While Trying to Stifle Flames


HOBOKEN, N. j., Aug. 2S.-Flames
swept the Hamburg American steam
snip Imperator, the largest liner
afioat, as she lay at here dock today.
While the crew of 1900 made vain
effort to conquer the rapidly spread
ing fire. the 1,131 steerage passengers.
who had been held on board over
night, stampeded in panic for the
pier.
Second officer Carl Gobrecht, braves
ly seeking the heart of the fire, was
killed through the cowardice of tYz<
of the crew. who deserted the air
pump that supplied his helmet.
Gets Message of Fire.
1t was during his watch that the
fire was discovered. Shortly before
a. m. this message was telephoned
to him:
Smoke is coming from deck J.
Looks like a bad fire, probably in pros
visions ROOM"
Gobrecht had the alarm sounded,
aroused the other officers, called for
an air helmet and fire suit picked
Two members of the crew to man the
air pump and started down to find
the blaze
BY that time the smoke was rolling
in stiffiing billows through the hatch.
The men at the pump, frightened by
the raging inferno below them, appa-
rently abandoned Gobrecht TO his
fate.
Firemen Dufv a,d snanoar - A.,
r1ieneh Duhy ana spencer Oh tha
New YORK hrepoat Wiliett, later
volunteered to hunt for the missing
officer. Duffy was overcome and had
I 10 be carried out by his associate
Finally Fireman O'Learv. of the
lIoboken force. followed the air
j pump hose and found Csohrecht.s
body. The convolutions of the hose
!. aaxe mute Testimony as to thAk'
officers prolonged. but unavai1ine
effort to find his way out of the
smoke-hlled compartment where he
had been left without air
| 1000 900 Gallons of water.
rho a,a 49,, -. .,,.,,..,u,,s.,
oon ooa Was on.lts uisleu @ LII
,,o,,,,,,d hs,, wa'ei 1au pesn
@ arehoet e 70 nv W,,intt AID vainx no ~ inc
,lsoohts iiaI.o.' a. "nlell anu seioH, SIX ho-
eoa =, ~, i'lsn, no.nla VI 'usS
When the haze was fipailv 1. drow,ss
| the water stood thirtv-tive feat daos.
| in the Hooded con,ilartments The
vessel listed more than 20 degrees In
starboard. making il difficuIt 10 walk
! on her decks
Seaman Otto Stumpf at first re.
ported missing. was found badlv in
| jured. He was sent to a hosnitaIs
| Fireman Fitzpatriek of this nIaca
was oyersome and had IN ha takar ~
a hospital. but he later ret,,rned ~
work.
! II was Acting Fire fshias rrh1..
F. DAWN az tba HobnLan aarn't +
ment who rescued Fitznatricl. s,.,s,,
the smoke-filIed hold Eitvna atrsci<
was unconscious when the CHIEF founs1
him and carried him ont thro,,oh IT,
stifiine fumes 80
The gigantic vassal dasni+a -.
laneth and basn, low MIR, ~. 70
| 96 dagrees afta, 49, e,a i'S' "
The Gauss is n,,,,,atvr, ub4,
! there was any oonnant,r,e ,,.,.,p,.l, A.esie1 ,s
- , soi'.ioo',oii pet"eeh IL
aiiu sne ioiis saorellleli l' strike is
,,ot ~. ,,,o,,,d ols ~. on Tue hhe couia
M Tha " moaiu ,oss 4. no ,.,,.ast nismsr' -
SEa non ioa9 asa e. ezr ri1a.ea noo Iet at petWeen
SDV'oJJ III "i1u P'1'ovV' puel ne snip Wiii
80 sa'i o'i SATURDAY as scneo-
oieu
es ''a'eeh..
shorty pefore noon j. F. Meyers
Tor the onlcials OF the line, made pubs
lie the following statement:
A fire broke out in the pro-
| vision room ut is 100x50 feet and
contains thirty-five compartmentsl
of the steamship Imperator at about
4 o'clock this morning The fire was
confined absolutely to the compart-
ments where the provision room ia
situated and was under control after
a few hours No damage was done
TO the passenger accommodation, ex-
| cept in some of the companionwayH
of the second and third class through
which the hose lines We're laid but
this damage was of no consequences
and can be repaired in a very short
time. The Imperator is expected to
sail on time on Saturday, August 30.
and in the event OF unforeseen diff
dispatched not later than Monday