The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-08
CREW FLEES
FOR LIVES AS
FIRE SPREADS
Whole Passenger Section
Cut Off by Growing
Wall of Fire.
BY JOSEPH S. WASNEY
United Press staff Correspondent

copyright. 1884. by United Press
SPRING LAKE, N. j., Sept. g.
Most of the 318 passengers aboard
the Moro Castle we're cut off from
rescue by the flames and were
burned to death, members of the
ships crew told the United Press
today.
Sailors described passengers with
their heads out of port holes pa
thetically begging for help as the
lifeboats pulled away from the
burning ship. There was no posi-
bility of saving them. They were
cut off completely by the flames.
The fire apparently started in the
writing room forward and had
gained much Roadway when dis
covered. The crew, quartered for
ward, was aroused by the bells
sounding a general alarm. BY the
time they reached the scene, the
flames were leaping many feet high.
1t was impossible to penetrate to
the corridors leading to passenger
quarters admidShips and aft, the
surviving Seamen said.
Few Passengers Survive
The port side of the ship was one
mass of flames from bow to stern
within few minutes. Only one
life boat got over on the port side.
Six, perhaps seven, were launched
from the starboard side. Approx
mately all the survivors who ap-
peared here were members of the
crew, and it was believed that few
of the passengers survived.
James York, an oiler, Brooklyn,
told the United Press this story:
Il was asleep in my bunk on c
deck. 1 heard a bell about $3.50
a. M which I thought was an alarm
clock. Just then a sailor busted me
one in my bunk and told me the
ship was on fire. I rushed up to
b deck and found the passenger
quarters in the amidships super
structure just. about surrounded by
fire.
II saw no passengers around at
all. I don't know where they were
except they must have been on the
other side of that terrible wall Of
fire. 1t would have been impossible
to get to them.
eve hooked up the hose lines and
poured water on the fire, but it
seemed to make it blaze higher.
Finally there was nothing to do but
break out the boats. We broke out
one on the starboard side and man.
aged to lower it"
Warned Into Silence
cat this point an official, appar-
emily of the Ward line, warned York
to talk no furtherD
Henry Harris, a sailor, Brooklyn,
said:
Il was too busy fighting the fire
to think of passengers. We were
ordered to the boats when the whole
ship seemed ablaze. God only knows
what happened to- the passengers. "
Some Of us tried to get the pas
sengers out, but it was virtually i'm
possible to get them out" said one
sailor. We heard two girls scream
ing. I used fire ak on the port
of their Stateroom and pulled them
out. There was one boat left on the
port side with flames all around
We put the two girls in it and sew
eral men passengers, I don't know
how many, but not many, and man.
aged to lower it.
Girls Are "SwelP
1.-THE flames were so bad I was
afraid they'd get to the boat ropes
before we were launched. One of
the ropes gave when we hit the
water and its end fell down and hit
the girl on the head. She didn't
cry. She was swell. Neither did
the other. NO, not once. They were
swell.
I'VE pulled away and we could see
passengers with their heads pro-
jecting out of the portfolios Of their
staterooms. We could see some on
deck, backed entirely by fire.
1--WE yelled for them to jump and
we'd pick them up. They wouldn't
jump, I don't know why. Maybe
some did. 1t was gray and rainy
and hard to see. We looked around
but didn't pick up anybody"