Village Squire, 1980-07, Page 14late -as one of the passengers later told a
reporter, the ship "went up like a paint
factory."
Some Noronic passengers never awak-
ened, others panicked and were trapped in
the thick smoke on board. By 4:30 a.m. the
"Queen of the Inland Seas" was a
blackened hull.
DISTINGUISHED RECORD
Captain Taylor's distinguished sailing
record was in shreds -and a Court of
Investigation found basic safety measures
on board the Noronic were completely
lacking. There were no automatic fire -
detection devices on board, nor was there a
sprinkler system. The Noronic also hadn't
been equipped with fire-resistant bulk
heads, as generally required in all
passenger vessels in a 1934 provision of the
Canada Shipping Act. Most of the crew
members hadn't received proper training
on what 'vas expected of them in the event
of fire and passengers had no preparation
in reacting to an emergency.
The Noronic tragedy did result in more
stringent safety rules on board ships
sailing the Great Lakes, but these
regulations also made it increasingly
difficult to operate passenger liners there.
With the deaths of the Huronic,
Hamonic and Noronic, only a few ladies of
the lakes remained.
Two of these ladies were the S.S. South
American and her sister ship, the North
American, owned by ;the Chicago, Duluth
and Georgian Bay Transit Company.
Originally the ships sailed only in the
Upper Great Lakes, but later travelled
along the entire seaway route.
These boats, painted entirely white,
were called the "ocean liners of the lakes"
and many youngsters, like this author,
would stand on shore as they passed,
dreaming of the day when they could afford
a cruise on her lovely flag -covered decks.
Unlike the Northern Navigation ships,
these boats were strictly passenger liners
and didn't carry freight.
Mac McRae, owner of the Pilot House
marine museum on Hwy. 40, south of
Sarnia, has a special fondness for
passenger ships like the South American
since he once spent most holidays on board
the ships.
PHOTOS FROM TOP RIGHT:
This painting of the Asslnibola, one of the
last passenger ships to sail the Great
Lakes, by artist McKenzie Bell.
S.S. North West, one of the Great Lakes
cruise ships which provided luxurious hotel
style accommodation for Its passengers.
Mac McRae, owner of the Pilot House
Museum, displays the sign that greeted
passengers sailing on the S.S. Asslnibola.
(Photos by Gibb)
PG. 12 VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1980
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