Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-09-04
liner LMpERATOR
SWEPT BY FLAMES
Giant neutrality-suspicious. Steam
e., Biggest Passenger Boat
Affoat, Near Destruction.
THOSE On BOARD IN PANIC
Men and Women of steerage Madly
Riot as Fire Sweeps Gigantic Yes
seI-secoad Officer Gerhracht
LOSES Life.

New York, Aug. 29.-The Hamburg
American liner Imperator, the biggest
passenger carrying ship afoat, which
arrived in port with $500 passengers
on board, was swept by fire as she lay
at her pier in Hoboken, n. j.
Second Officer Herman GerbTacht
lost his life while trying TO close the
fire doors ana confine the flames to
the fifth deck, or provision room. It
was reported that two seamen had
been burned TO death and for a long
time they were missing, but subse-
Que1tly were found
Panic broke cut among the 1900
steerage passengers and many were
hurt. The damage is estimated at
$3.50. 900.
Fire Starts in Provision Room.
The fire was discovered in the
provision room on the ship about 5
o'clock. Fed by the oils and fats of
the food stuffs, it spread rapidly and
at 1870 some expressed fears that the
luxurious $500 900 liner was doomed
At that hour the crew was assisted by
the trained fire fighters from Hoboken,
Jersey City and New York. and Cap
tain Ruser, commander of the giant
vessel. said that the loss would not
be complete. but would be very seri-
Gus.
The provision room is in the after
part Of the vessel So swiftly did the
flames eat their way that it had been
communicated Co the second cabin be-
fore the alarm became general. Steer
age passengers hearing the cracking
Of the walls and stays set up cry of
fright which echoed over the entire
ship
Smoke rolled upward from the liner,
giving the impression on shore that
the American pier was on
fire. Police reserves were rushed to
the scene.
Captain Directs Fire Fight.
Captain Ruser. chief of the five com,
manders OF the leviathan, was one Of
the first to reach the provision room.
He personally took command and di-
rected the fight against the flames.
The room was seething hot and filed
with smoke, but the men dashed in
with lines Of hose and soon thousands
Of gallons of water we're being poured
upon the blaze.
So f1ercely did the fire rage in one
quarter Of the compartment that the
fight had to be abandoned for while
and the fire fighters retreated. 1t was
found that three Of these, a second
officer and two seamen, were missing.
Search was made for them, but their
bodies could not be found; they were
given up for dead.
Soon the entire fire-fighting appa-
ratus Of the ship was in action and
tons of water were being hurled upon
the burning portion Of the vessel.
When the woodwork OF the second
cabin ignited word was sent to the
pier TO summon the land flremen and
a general alarm was turned into the
Hoboken fire department.
Flames Finally Controlled.
Ey dint OF terrific labors the flames
were kept from spreading to the first
cabin and the super-structure, and
within four hours the flames were IN
der control They had licked their
way into the coal bunkers, however,
and the flremen settled themselves
down to carry on patient battle.
The danger, however, to the balance
OF the ship was entirely over. Captain
Ruser said.