New-York tribune., 1921-08-25

Volunteers Help Save Bodies
Removal Of the soldier dead fur
nnshed an extraordinary spectacle
When il appeared that army ambu-
!ances would be unable to handle the
$500 bodies awaiting claimants on
the upper and lower decks of Pier 4
Major Garrison, of the 18th Infantry
called for volunteers. The response
was immediate. More than three hun
dred men who had been watching the
fire from behind fire lines, swept under
the ropes and formed themselves into
squads under leaders selected on the
spot. The volunteers carried coffins
out Of Pier 4 during the next two
hours, working with speed and eIfici
ency. The volunteers were led by
Henry Dendel, superintendent fo1
Tietjen & Lang.
For time there was confusion be-
cause Of failure to recognize the
emergency recessitatinc Immediate
removal Of soldier dead by Hoboken
officials. Men staggering through the
street carrying heavy casket contain.
ING the body of a soldier killed in
France, found themselves confronted
with police demands as to their dcsti
nation All they were able to say was
that they intended to convey their bur
den to a place Of safety. Orderly dis
posal was soon arranged for and con-
| troll of the fire shortly after 10 o'clock
rendered removals after That hour un-
necessary.
1000 Residents Forced to vacatc
The barracks Of the 18th Infantry
mess halls and dormitories were de-
stroyed. The clothing and effects OF
the men were lost More than 4,OOC
persons occupying houses and apart
ments over stores in the vicinity of the
fire were ordered out. Hundreds o.
women and children toled through the
crowded streets carrying bed clothes
and other household belongings.
The fire was discovered soon after
$3.50 p. m. Within a short time the
strong wind carried sheets Of fame di.
rectly across the bows Of the Leviathan
Inspector Hallock. Of the marine di.
vision of the New York Police Depart
ment, in command Of the police Boa
John +. Hylan and fleet Of tugs, a,
once rallied to save the big ship -Four
tugs hooked or to tow her to MD
stream while the fireboa5s poured hun.
dreds of tons Of water over her bows
At 7:45 the old Hamburg Ameri-
can Line Offices at the foot OF
Pier were ablsze Fire companies
from Newark and Edgewater worked tt
prevent the spread Of the fire on Pier:
a and 6, but the constant passage o.
ambulances removing the dead bodie:
hampercd the work. The efforts Of the
land department were crippled by Z
poor water supply. The large numbel
Of engines drew on the water pressure
to such an extent that the streams were
weakened and in some instances rem
dered ineffective.
New York Sends More Help
Assistant Fire Chief Martin Of thc
New York Fire Department received =
call urging him to send at once
additional freboats and crews. The
message gaid that the water sup
ply had failed badly. and thai
most effective work could bc done from
patched the ireboats New Yorker
Strong and Duane. They took up sta.
tions of Piers 4 and 6. Later The
Duane concentrated on .ae Lev:athar
when she was towcd out
Owing to the danger at Pier 4 Ma
rinc Inspector Hallock asked Captain
Lellwig Of the New York Police De
partmcnt by wireless to notify Rec
Cross officials and get all available Rec
Cross urits to Hobokcn to aid in re
moving the bodies Of the soldiers
At 8 O'Clock the flames we're still
spreading and many buildings in Rive
Street appeared TO be doomed Direct
or Of Public Safety McFcely Of Hobo
! ken tclcpboned the Now York Fire De
partmcnt headquarters to send fir.
apparatus on every fcrryboat lcavi NJ
! the Ncw York side.
Later word was received from
| Inspector HalIock that the fire o.
the J.eviathan had been cxtingushot
Nth the logs of all her starboar'
boats the destruction Of her for
wafd upper worka and breaking Of al
starboard portfolio glass. Paint tha
had just been put on the starboar'
side n the huge iper wnn pecod o.
! rom s.era to stern Dy The ntcnsc neat
tof