The New York herald., 1921-07-26
MAURITANIA BADLY
DAMAGED BY FIRE
Lighted Cigarette Believed to
Have Caused Disastrous
Blaze at Southampton.
NEARLY UPSET BY FLOOD
Fastest Liner on the Atlantic
Probably Will Be Out of
Commission for Months.
NEARLY UPSET BY FLOOD

Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD
Copyright, 1921, by THE New York HERALD
SOUTHAMPTON. England, July 25.--
Fire which was discovered aboard the
steamship Mauretania of the Cunard
Line in port here to-day was still
burning at IL o'clock tonight, but was
under control. The vessel has suffered
extensive damage, and it will take
months to make the necessary repairs
before she can reenter the transat-
lantic service. sc" and ID" decks
were destroyed for 200 feet and the
lounge, library and reading room are
practically ruined by flames and water.
Half of the principal salon and many
staterooms are greatly damaged and
two stairways were completely burned
out.
The fire broke out in a stateroom
on "E" deck adjoining the main salon.
One report said 1t was caused by "a
lighted cigarette carelessly thrown
down while the carpet in the state
room was being cleaned with petrol.
1t was said that an employee of an
upholstery concern was in the state
room while the carpet was being
cleaned with petrol and that fire from
his cigarette started the blaze. When
the crew Of the big steamship re-
sponded and the hose was connected
1t was found that there was no water
for the pumps on the ship. it was de-
clared.
When the dock fire brigade reached
the side of the Mauretania It was soon
discovered that II was unable to cope
with the flames and general alarm
was sent out.
Staging was placed on the ships side
and streams Of water were played
through the port holes while the crew
helped. FIremen with smoke helmets
tried to reach the lower deck but were
forced back by the intense heat Sew
eral fircmen we're reported injured. Tugs
OF the fire brigade quickly Joined In the
fight and sent great streams OF water
into the steamship from the water side.
So great was the volume of water thrown
into the steamship that once the Maure-
tania listed dangerously to starboard.
The pumps were started at once, how
ever. and the ship righted herself.
The damage to the Mauretania Is esti-
mated at many thousands OF pounds. The
fire is still burning and II Is believed
II will not be completely extinguished
before tomorrow morning.
Several hundred passengers who were
booked to leave here aboard the Maure-
tania Saturday will be transferred to,
other ships.
The Mauretania. at the time OF her
launching, in September. 1906, was the
largest vessel In the world. Her ton
mage Is $4,000 and her length 1872 feet.
During the world war che served as a
British hospital ship for a time. and she
brought American troops back TO the
United States In 1918 and the follow
ing year. Latterly she was returned to
the New ork-Southampton passenger
service
The Mauretania left this port on July
15 and reached Southampton on July
e. She was scheduled 10 leave South
ampton next Saturday.
The vessels fastest trip, westward
bound. was made In four days. 10 hours
and II minutes. about an hour faster
than her sister ship. the Lusitania, sunk
by the Germans during the war. She
once sustained for a whole day a speed
OF 27 knots.
The great liners now range as follows
Majestic, White Star formerly Bis
marck). $4,000 tons: Lcviathan. u. 8.
Shipping Board (formeriy vaterland).
54,2s2 tons: Berengaria. Cunard
(formcrly Imperator) 52.022 tons !:
Olympic, white star. 1880 tons Aaui-
tania, Cunard. 45.647 tons Columbus
White Star (new German llner). 10000
tons: Paris. French line, s2.20o tons and
Tho Mourafanfa