Evening star., 1942-02-10
NavyHopes 10 Salvage
Normandie; | Killed,
220 Huf in Fire
$4,000, 900 Liner Rests
On Side in Mud at
Hudson River Pier
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Feb. 10.-Like a
great wounded monster but,
somehow, majestic still, the fire.
scared and water-logged former
French liner Normandie sue
cumbed to the surging tide today
and toppled to ignominious rest
in Hudson River mud.
Vessel Lies on Side.
Ravaged by flames, a gaping hole
cut in her hull in vain attempt to
counteract pressure of the incoming
tide, the sec, ,000, 900 vessel rolled over
at 2:45 am. and now lies on her
port side in 40 feet of water along
side her pier.
The Navy, however, has not aban-
doned hope of still using the one
time blue ribbon liner. Queried on
reports that she was beyond salvage,
the public relations Office OF the
Sd Naval District said:
"The Navy supports no such con-
tention at this time"
AS f1reboats continued to throw
streams of water on the still-burn-
ing ship, naval officials planned to
meet later in the day to determine
what to do with her.
Touched of by sparks from a
welder's torch, flames ragged through
the naval craft for three and half
hours yesterday before they were
brought under control by every
available piece Of land and sea fire
fighting equipment in Manhattan.
One Man Loses Life.
Two hundred and twenty Of the
1900 workmen and naval personnel
aboard suffered injuries, and one
welder, Frank Trentacosa, SO, died
last night in hospital of frac-
tured skull received when he jumped
from deck to pier.
1t was with scarcely a noise that
the 80,000-ton ship-now the Naval
Auxiliary Lafayette - dipped her
fire. e-blackened superStructure to the
waters surface in surrender.
Only the crunch of ice and final
belch of smoke and f1ame-quickly
extinguished by fireboats - marked
the settling of the sea giant while
spotlights from fire equipment on
shore and in the river played on her
toppling bulk.
Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews,
commandant of the Sd Naval Dis
trict, ordered the big ship aban-
doned three hours before it rolled
over. At that time 2l-de-
gree list had developed and the
clear ship" order was taken as a
precaution against loss of life. The
pier also was cleared.
Sabotage Doubted.
"T don't believe the fire was
caused by sabotage" Admiral An
drews said. There was nothing to
indicate it,"
A big hole was cut in the ships
starboard side to allow water to be
pumped into tanks amidships, he
in an attempt to Offset
a list to port by settling the ship
more firmly on the bottom, but the
pressure of the tide counteracted
this emergency measure.
Get off the ship" was the terse |
over the ships loud-speaker |
system. which gave many of the
workmen their first word Of the fire.
AS flames and smoke raced
through upper decks. workmen sour
ried from the holds in droves and
leaped to the safety of the pier.
Alarm after alarm brought every
conceivable type Of f1rst-aid and
rescue organization to the scene.
Many AFRAID wardens and auxiliary
firemen already mobilized for de-
fenSe got their first taste Of rescue
work.
Work for Hours Over Injured.
Together with disaster units from
hospitals, the Red Cross and the
American Women's Voluntary Serv-
ice, they worked for hours over the
injured, hampered by dense clouds
of smoke.
Priests from nearby churches ad-
the last rites to many OF
the injured, ITO Of whom we're hos
pitalized.
How suddenly the fire started and
how rapidly it spread was described
by former City Alderman Edward J.
who happened to be aboard
the ship.
Il was standing on the promenade
deck watching men with acetylene
torches" he said. They all had
large shields around them to keep
the sparks from their clothing. Sud-
denly there was smoke and flame
in the place. II walked away, and
by the time I had gone about IS feet
the whole area was a roaring fur
nace'.'
Neither Admiral Andrews nor
other responsible officials advanced
any estimate of the damage.