Evening star., 1938-10-26
Deutschland
Continued From First Page.)

three other ships built by the Ham
burg American for the transatlantic
service-the Hansa, the New York and
the Hamburg.
The southeasterly gale and rain
sweeping the Newfoundland banks in
creased the Deutschland's peril while
the fire was raging in the hold.
Fear was felt that the rescuers
would be unable to reach the liner in
time to take off passengers or that the
gale would whip the flames beyond
control should they leap out of the
hold.
The rough seas added also to the
danger of abandoning ship in life
boats and on RATS.
Cry of Fire Sweeps Ship.
Passengers were at dinner, dancing
or in the cocktail lounges when the
dread cry of "fire!" swept the ship.
First efforts to confine the blaze ap-
parently we're futile, but the flames
did not disable the radio.
Finally quelling the immediate dan
ger. Capt. Steincke and his radio
operator set to the task of turning
back all but three Of the ships racing
to help.
Some had been deemed too far away
to help in any case, but several large
and small craft kept bearing toward
the ship long after it was out OF i'm
mediate danger.
Vessels which proceeded to stand by
in case of further need were the
American Traveller, the S. S. Collamer
and the Norwegian ship Europe.
Besides the transatlantic ships.
those going to the rescue included
United States Coast Guard vessels from
Boston and New London. Conn.,
Canadian government salvage tug,
the Foundation Franklin, put out from
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia with
full seagoing fire-tighting equipment
aboard, but was turned back by the
captains reiterated insistence' that the
situation was in hand.
Many times while the terrific race
was on ships advised their bases that
the Deutschland did not say any,
thing about the fire being under con-
troll yet"
Messages Radioed.
The alarm-dispelling radio to the
Associated Press, received at 8:29
O'Clock, was followed at 1885 pm. by
message intercepted by the New York
Coast Guard.
Directed to the fire-flghting Can
adian tug Foundation Franklin which
had advised it was rushing to the
rescue, this later message from the
Deutschland said:
Thanks. Coming unnecessary. Fire
under control"
A similar message was directed from
the Deutschland shortly afterward to
the Coast Guard cutter Cayuga, which
was speeding from its base at Boston.
At the height of the alarm the
Coast Guard here warmed up a large
amphibian plane, planning to fly it to
the scene to aid in directing surface
ships to the Deutschland.
Among the ships which put about
at the first call were the Manhattan.
Minerva, Laconia. American Farmer,
Collamer, American Traveller and Eu-
rope, but all except the last three later
returned to their regular courses.
SOS Cleared From Air.
The Deutschland permitted resump-
ton of normal ship radio service at
9:15 pm. (E. S. To-. ending the quiet
period" that held through the emer.
gency.
Shortly afterward the SOS" was
cleared from the air." indicating the
state of emergency had ended, but
owing to overloaded or relayed COM
munications this was not generally
known until some time later.
Records here indicated the ship was
loaded almost to its passenger capac-
ity. It was designed to carry rs in
cabin class. 169 in tourist and 345 in
third.
American passengers aboard the YES
sci included Thomas G. Smith, at
tached to the American Legation at
Copenhagen; Edward A. Gardner and
family of Bryn Mawr, Pa; Mr.. and
Mrs. Karl Schaefer Of San Francisco,
Sarah Elizabeth Pepper, "a, daughter
Of Philadelphia attorney, and Eliza.
beth A. Cavanna, art director Of the
Presbyterian Publications in Philadel.
phia.
Also aboard were Frederick Roessler
and William D. Hallermann. said to be
executives of the Hamburg American
Offices in New York.
Midway Of the race to the rescue,
with the three closest ships cutting the
huge waves at top speed Of IL to is
knots, several vessels reported plans
were under way for the eventual tax
ing of of passengers"
In its previous accidents the
Oeutschland in November, 1898,