Evening star., 1915-03-09
FIRE ON TOURA|NE
IS UNDER INQUIRY
Rigid Investigation Begun
When Liner Docks at
Havre, Her Home Port.
ALL HER PASSENGERS
ARE LANDED IN SAFETY
Steamers Captain Tells Story of
Peril at Sea-H0w Blaze
Was Mastered.

! HAERE, March "a rigid inquiry
! already has been begun into all phases
| of the fire at sea aboard the French
/ line steamer La Touraine, which docked
| here at o'clock yesterday afternoon
and landed safely all her passengers.
Admiral Charlier of the ministry OF
marine and Director Duorot of the
Compagnie Generate Transatlantique
| boarded the vessel on her arrival and
started the Investigation at once. The
report of Admiral Charlier will be sub
mitted to the government.
The passengers apparently were none
the worse for their thrilling expert
ence The fire. which was confined to
one of the holds, was extinguished at
midnight Sunday. and the last stage OF
| the voyage was completed without in
cident.
Life belts were distributed among the
passengers and the boats we're pre-
pared Tor instant use as soon as the
flames were discovered, but at no time
was there any real danger, according
to d statement made by Capt Caussin.
who declared the o 5 call FOR assist
ance was sent out merely as measure
of precaution. There was no disorder
and no panic, lie said the passengers
accepting the situation calmly In the
belief thdt the TTe "Oulu pe
and that other steamers would reply
promptly to the wireless summons.
The steamer Rotterdam. one of the
vessels which answered La Touralne s
call and stood by until the fire was eX-
tinguished left the French liner at
Prawle Point. England. The French
cruisers Guichen and Dupetit Thouars,
which also went to La Touraine's as
sistance, escorted her, however. as Tar
as Cherbourg and then continued on
~ hi. nm
swered Capt Caussin's call were in
formed there was no need for their
services and continued their trips after
receiving the thanks of the liners
commander.
Capt. Caussin's Story.
Capt. Caussin told the story of the
fire after he had taken his vessel safe
ly to her dock.
The fire was discovered at 2 am.
Saturday, March s, when we were In
north latitude 4S.14 and west longi-
tude 21.06," he said. '1t was in the
base of one of the ventilators in the
boiler room. Heavy smoke found it's
way to the bridge. While the men in
the boiler room sought to extinguish
the blaze, which was not serious in it
self, / turned my attention to other
parts of the ship.
AT this moment one OF the night
watch reported hearing the cracking
of flames forward | ordered all the
crew to their stations. and as the ship
was in mist ! gave directions to stop
the vessel in order that ! might leave
the bridge for the scene of the blaze.
We discovered flames eating their way
toward the post office and beginning to
attack neighboring cabins. We dis
covered that the flames were spreading g
to the partitions and floor of compart-
ment No. so as to involve "A large
amount of freight. Believing that sc
large a part of the cargo might take
fire, and finding we were not able to
deal with it easily, l decided to send
out a call for aid. Meanwhile. through
holes made in the partitions, we OBJ
tained a view of the fire. which then
was attacked with Jets of water and
steam. Sunday morning, the 18th. we
had mastered the blaze and the danger
was past.
Praises Officers and Crew.
Capt. Caussin paid tribute to the
coolness of his officers and crew.
Owing to the early arrival of La
Touraine at Havre, nearly all the pas
sengers were able to proceed to Paris
on the train leaving at 5 am.
The ship shows no external sign OF
the fire. 1t was admitted that military