Evening star., 1938-10-29
DEUTSCHLANDF| FIRE
BLAMED ON GASES
Passengers Tell of Heroism
of CreW-Ship Docks
at New York.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct 29-An explosion
and fire aboard the Hamburg American
liner Deutschland. which sent three
freighters racing to her rescue, was
blamed today by her master, Capt. Karl
Steincke, on an accumulation of gases
in the ships hold.
As the ship docked last night, its SOL
passengers-laughing and joking-told
anew Of Tuesdays heroic nine-hour
struggle by the 800 crew members to
control the blaze.
Scouting the possibility Of sabotage,
Capt Steincke said no estimate OF DAM
age could be made until insurance sur
veyors inspected the burned cargo to-
day. There was no visible damage to
the ships exterior
The captain was fervent in praise Of
his crew, ~ Of whom were overcome by
intense heat before the fire WAS smoth-
cred by pumping live steam and so
tanks Of carbon dioxide into the smoul-
dering hold.
Passengers Remain Calm.
The commander declared the pas
sengers could see the smoke pouring
from the bulkheads. but behaved with
remarkable calmness. He paid special
tribute to his chief officer, Alfred
Raschke. who entered the burning
hold and was overcome four times
while directing the fire-fghting crew.
Evidencing the nonchalance OF mest
passengers, Mary Kelly, Fort Worth,
Tex. dancer returning from a London
engagement, said she didn't even
bother to go to her cabin when she
learned Of the FIRE
And my pet poodle was there" she
added. 80 you can be sure I wasn't
alarmed"
1T was shortly after 7:l5 pm. Tues
day." the captain said. when 1 was
advised Of fire in the No. hold for
ward. I Immediately investigated and
ordered an alarm sounded in the
cabin class. My gallant crew availed
themselves OF axes hose and other
means Of fighting fire I could not,
at that time, tell how big or how
intense the fire was
Steam Blown Into Hold.
Steam was blown into the hold,
but when the heat neared the fire
doors. smoke rose rapidly and I
ordered holes cut In the bulkhead
and carbon dioxide was forced into
the hold
In the meantime we tried. but found
1t impossible. to speak passenger liners
for assistance Only the Manhattan
answered and it was $50 miles away,
II hours steaming, so its help was out
Of the question
so 1t was with a heavy heart that
I decided to call freiehters in the
neighborhood whose stations were not
occupied. I had the sos repeated
until the automatic alarms on such
freighters as were within call we're
set into action.
Il was conscious Of the fact that
TINS created great excitement, espe-
cially among relatives and acqua int
ances Of the passengers and crew. but
I could not take that into considera-
ton.
In short time 4 whole row Of
ships answered. Of which requested
the American Traveller. the Europe of
the Norwegian line and the Collamer
for assistance"
Boats Cleared for Emergency.
Il then stopped sending out sos
signals" the captain continued.
Meantime, I had ordered a small
group of the crew to make boats clear
so We might be fortified for any emer-
gency. At that time the sea was calm,
but unfortunately radio advices from
Louisberg, Nova Scotia. had said strong
southerly winds. even to gale force,
were in the offing. This We had to
take into account.
My brave crew under First Officer
Alfred Raschke and Chief Engineer
Adolf holster combatted the fire.
Third-class passengers were brought
to the cabin and tourist class by the
purser and a movie show was put on
in the tourist salon while a dance was
started in the cabin class.
nI no tlme ulQ tne passengers show
any alarm. Their behavior was ex-
emplary and helpd us in battling the
situation.
Through the use OF the carbon d.
oxide, smoke was kept down, and First
Omcer Raschke, donning 4 smoke
helmet. attempted to enter the hold
to fight the fire from the inside. He
was prevented by the heat and the
smoke. however, but he did discover the
fire was only between decks on the
starboard side.
We found then. that the carbon
dioxide was not quick enough, so I
ordered holes cut through the decks