HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-11-15, Page 12Vit ORM
►1TRt, VB.
Editor's note: This is the second in .It; t e -part series Pe
e ,terning :of the Great Lakes passenger, ship, the s.S. .
Nowak.
When passenger Don Church discovered the linen closet
floe On the Moronic, he had discovered the villain. which.
Wguld destroy Otte of the takes" last great passenger liners,
Mr. Church, wasted .eo time in alerting the first crew
member he could find, l -year old bellboy Garth McNeill.
Men w.
R
the
d: m o
u threw I d the Pe
a. an..
ee _ .
'l!"hhe bel b�.r prr�d
rigor of the closet, to find bedding already glowing orange.
and red.
The bellboy ran, for a fire extinguisher, but it was
obltious that using it was like spraying the fire with a water
pistol'. He and, Churchthen ran for a fire hose, but when
they ; trained it on the dames, only a thin. Weide of water
Camc
t of
enozzle. Thiswas the
first Ofa
Series
of
niiSfgrtu es which plagued efforts to protectthe ship,
.
Qnce, the closet door was open, the fire spread rapidly in
both directions, and the varnish on the floor and woodwork
Proved a volatile fuel for the flames, 'Within minutes of his
-discovery, Don' Church realized the situation was hopeless,
and ran to alert his family. sleeping on the deck below.
Seven mipute$ after the fire's discovery, the bellboy
broke the glass in afiireboz to soundthe alarm on board.
He then located a senior crew member and the men started
alerting whoever they could find, including the ship's First
Officer Gerald Wood, Wood decided immediately to throw
a switch to touch off the klaxon horns, a safety device to
alert passengers in case of fire. Then he pulled the boat's;
whistle cord, to give a second sequence of blasts as a
further warning, Ironically, for some unknown reason the
mechanism jammed, and front then on the ship's whistle
blew incessantly - almost totally drowning out the warning
horn,
UKE A PAINT FACTORY
Within minutes the entire upper decks of the ship were
engulfed with flames. A survivor said later, "She went up
like a paint factory,"
For passengers who were light sleepers, or who had,
loyal friends or relatives, or were near the crew, escape
was possible. But other. passengers, 'even those who
escaped from theircabins, panicked inthe thick smoke,
and were unable to reach either a main deck where' they
could jump to the chilly waters below er one of the
gangplanksleadingtosafety. Firemen were able to rescue
some of the trapped passengers with extension ladders,
but many others were overcome with smoke: •
Sam Graham, the C S,L, truck driver; was staying
overnight an "C"' deck, not far from the linen closet. He
was awakenedby the commotion, and managed to escape,
shouting 'Tire". at the top of his lungs as he' ran for the l
gangplank. Many of the people he met looked at, him
disbelievingly, and he assumed they thought he'd done too
much celebrating earlier in the evening.Later, when the
excitement had died down, Mr. Graham discovered he'd
rushed out of his cabin without remembering to pull on his
trousers:
On "C" deck,aJosephine Kerr also heard the commotion'•.
and immediately ,woke her. two young nieces. She then
pound. ed on the door of her brother's, family,but, failed to
wake any of the three people inside. Finally, with the fire
spreading,• she could only pray her brother and wife had
already escaped. •
When Miss • Kerr and the children reached the deck,
they could see the only escape was a 60 -foot plunge to, the •
harbour below. Although' Miss Kerr knew both girls could
swim, she worried they would be injured or panic in the
'04 140 cine passenger picked up the one girt and held her
as "helumped;and Bother �n helped . the other child over'
, Fed
the railing, Miss Kerr then iumped herself, hitting the
anchor cable way, braising; ,herself badly but
.,e � the Y �,
otherwise strrviving, Her brother* his witfe :and their son
did not escape:. ,
At 4:30 a stn„ the blackened. hull of `The ;Queen. of the
Inland Seas' suddenly began to swing away from the pier.
The list'reached an; alarming. angle and it seemed certain
the boat would capsize, taking the bodies; of passenger*
and; Frew with her to, the bottom. But then the ship
suddenly righted herself, and; the stern slowly settled en•
the bottom pf thebarbour,
TRAGICTgit.
it was some days before the final story on the Norenie
was written. BerthaWilliams, s, e
86-Yearar
Old
Passenger
had ad
e shed Mr.
crew byname had perished, a
Who ,
w l
wh al the , P
e .
and Mrs. David Wilder, who complained about the wild
parties on board. Paymistress Louise Dustin survived the
fire, but had a relapse three weeks later and also died. But
the fact which soon; Captured the public's attention was,
that not ope .single member of the crew had perished on,
board,
Captain Taylor had also. escaped, although he later had
to be restrained foam rushing back on board, claiming
some other official wascalling to him from on board the
tfirewith his sailingcareer in shred -.
ship, He survived he
and evidence mounting that he was drunk at the time of.
the fire. (This was never proied,)
The press also asked a number of questions - why
had' the crew escaped, hadn't there been any attempt to
alert :and rescue passengers, were both passengers and
crew suffering the result of too much to drink when the fire
was discovered?
On Sept. 28, just 11 days after the fire, a Court of
Investigation: convened in 'Toronto - presided over by the
Honourable Mr. Justice R.L. Kellock of the Supreme Court
of'Canada. •
The investigation had to deal with a series Of charges
put forward bothby the disaster's survivors, and the
relatives of those lost inthe fire, as well as counter claims
from Canada: Steamship Lines spokesmen.
SAFETY MEASURES IGNORED
It soon became obvious that basic: safety measures were
lacking. There were no automatic fire -detection devices on
board, nor was there a sprinkler system. The ship hadn't -
been equipped with ' fire -resist nt bulkheads, as "was
generally required of all passe ger vessels in a 1934
provision of the Canada Shipping Act.
There was no adequate fire patrol; system: in operation
on board when the fire broke out.
Members of the crew hadn't been properly instructed or
trained as to what was expected ofthem in, the event of a
fire. Passengers were completely in :the dark in terms of
how they should proceed in case of emergency. '
The final conclusion, after hearing testimony of First
Officer Gerald Wood and Captain Taylor, was that the
failure to report . the fire's discovery immediately had
proven,fatal. .
Onthe fact there was no loss of life among the crew, the
investigators riled, "They all appear to have been warned
b ;Pm of their fellows, allda %tee ares tsedthey w ;
familiar with the intetlor or the ship, they could M
easily find their way out,"
The final .ruling by Judge Keliock was that, in his
opinion, "Rio: one in a responsible position `itt ,connection
with the ship, , either on the ship or ashore, has 'applied his
m serious way to the handling, of a situation such
tnd rn any, w x a g
as arose on;the outbreak of fire on, the night in question,
th rw•se
although•stttheventuality cannot be considered o e t
than core which might occur at any thee. ;Mor, m'emer,
eomplete eemplacency had descended upon both the
ship's officers and the management.",
In addition, Captain Taylor's certificate' was suspended
for a period: of one'year, and Canada: Steamship tines was
as
ordered to pay all court costs.
Ca -
rain Taylor retired fromsailing, ,
andmovedback
to
the family home.
a familiar Landuark when % was
grow
ua8
itp, He died in 1965, in his )10's..
The last four unidentified passengers on board: the $,S..
Neronic were buried' in a common grave in Mount Pleasant
cemetery,. Toronto, underneath a marker.PernMemorating,
the disaster.
While the Noronic tragedy did result in more stringent
safety rules on board ships sailing the Lakes, it also helped
bring anend to passenger linersin our inland waters.
Today, despite preventative measures, fire still remains
one of the most serious shipboard disasters.
H: & N DAIRY SYSTEMS LTD-
Sales, Service 8 installation of
pipelines, &
milking parlours
R.R.4
WALTON
8873.
Lung
�,
AssociCytion
r
delegates at
convention
Mr. Wm. Leney, Mr$
Frank Dodds, and Mr., and.
Mrs. Art Dunsmore, all of
Stratford attended the Semi-
Annual Meeting of the
Ontario Lung Association re-
cently.
Mrs. Dodds and Mrs. Dun-
smore attended a . Program '
Workshop prior to the
meeting. • when Mrs.
Dunsmoreaddressed the
delegates . regarding the
carbon monoxide testing
done in the ` Spring in the
Secondary :Schools"in Huron
and Perth Counties. • The
machine is'' available for ..
testing in any organization
or industry if ,application
made to the. Huron Perth
Lung'. .Association, 121
Wellington St., Stratford,
271-7500.
Edelweiss. Rebekah, Lodge welcome. Our .plans `for after-
noon euchre for Nov. 21st
was finalized:':
met on. the evening, . of Nv.
12th with Noble grand' Mar=
ion Rose in charge assisted
by Vice grand Irene.' Smith:
Lodge opened in form with
only 1': 'officer absent.
Irene Smith reported . for
the visiting committee.
A letter from United Nat-
ion's Pilgrimage for youth
was read and S50 forwarded
for.. this years student to
receive the trip.,
A float for Santa Claus
parade was discussed and.
decided to pass the inform-
ation on to the CPT Com-
mittee for action 510 was
voted to the War 'Memorial'.
Hospital.
An invitation to Christmas
party at the Home in Barrie
was received.
The Past grand's bazaar
and tea is to be held in lodge
moms on the afternoon of
Nov. 28th with everyone
ATE SHOPPE
MAiN COikNER, CLINTON PHONE 462.177S
(NEXT TO CAMPBELL'S:; MEN'S WEAR).
:5!
eLOUSESlitair -PANT$,-IIBL ArEas SWEATERS
OPEN l--6•
OMEN 1-4•
USE
EXPOSITOR
WANT - ADS
Phone 527-0240
A new'financial Sec. book
is to be sent for.
Lodge closed in form.
2-5 p.m.
Home Balling, f raftit, White Elephant Table
Mr. & Mrs. Alfie Dale Arts & heights
will be on display
sitsvoiftet
4
Open 9e.m. till 11p.m. 7 days a week
Xmas Cards
$ee our Targe selection of
Xmas cards. by Coutts -Hallmark
Boxesfrom
Singles for everyone►
• Large selection of matching serviettes,
pithy' and.,accassories
+°
1480 calendars -different Scenes
Wren you care' nnauglt td send' the very best.
•
Gdr»Os. Rartiote Control 'tr'ucks
Science fair Kits for the Hobbyist
'1
Huron
as ern'
Wednesday to Saturday and
Saturday Matinee.
Stage.
Flight
Next week & Saturday Matinee
Dining Room
Open- Dally, from i2 Noon
Good Old -Fashioned
Horne -Cooked tVils
autkertau m eflt tom $ p.rn to 1 a.m.
HWAY ` 8 ovillis.
'44' OPP.oh r:
r vomittiont
$qtecywheeI gets re
"TAOSThe aque411CY._, . wheel
Ygets the grease .in,
educat%ri Circles. •
The Huron County board
of education learned Tuesday
that on occasion government
Itself cart become a victim ,,of
government bureaucracy.
John Cochrane, dutorof
edueation,. Old the board;
that a recent appeal of the
board's education requisition:
to the villa e o
fBaYl1
hayfield
d
been appealed. He extlalned
that each, year the board
passes its: budget and then.
divides up: the amount of
money to be paid into
education. coffers ' 'by
municipalitiesin the county.
He said the board notifies
each. municipality of its ap-
portionment
portionment and bills it for
the amount. He said hayfield'
had; objected to the amount it
was billed and appealed the
*natter:
The director said any
appeal by a town or township
issent to a specialmeeting of
clerks- and: treasurers ijr the
county. That group hears the
argu ment raised by the
appealing . municipality and
acts ail: an arbitrator in the
matter. He said, he clerks
fii
hir*Ter-f te' appes M
voted in foot: of the Pomo- a.
requisition:
Kayfield was not Satisfied
�
with those resi its` and took
the matter * to,
the Ontario Municipal f#pslyd;
A hearing date was set f`o
'December 10 in the,
municipal offices in Bayfield.
The OMB iglatr00.04 :thc.
board .of wile 4th fl*
all clerks ;an 1 . olf
the Media* by e.
mail; Cochrane said that aria
I n4. sooner done than *►.
,Hubei ,1., boar.sent
bili
;'beard of"education .
125, presurnabT fOr the
rental of the hall.
"The wheels govern,
Meat," .muttered Cr►ne,.
Stratford 'Fair roun�
presents''
s
TIHP
C�roratiofl
Friday, Nov.. 23
9p.m,-1a.m.
DOOMS OmATB$-M.
■
Ticketsts SS.00 per pennon, atvaWble at Oho dose or
phaatt271-5130
HRISTMAS
00:0
SAYING CARDS
.4 For the person with every.
thing, choose from our wide
selectionof styles • aitcl
colors imprinted name 'or
initials,
Single 1 • 95
Deck • . * s.
Double .11 cc •s
Deck . •i •0
"OA0v0z0:0:0
Put your name 0n•
handy personal labels:-
Excellent for Cameras,
Toys, Stationery and thou-
sands' of other uses.
tiGUMMED `
.LABELS 1.95• •
200 Presson Labels
(White or Gold)
2.95
;IP
PENCIL PACK
Yellow eraset-topped
pencils stamped with a full
name in gold. Handy gift
for the scholar, 12
Pencil', 44 47.95
Tack
TREASURE PACK
Cocktail napkins and:
matches both with na►€te or
initials imprinted.: De
SERVIETTES
Ideal accompaniment to.
any table ...luncheon, tea
or dinner napkins in a linen:
or facial quality imprinted
with your , name in gold,
silver or black. Choose from
a wide assortment of colors
and styles.
s.
Frain
6.20
BOOK MATCHES
Wide range of colors.
Personalized book matchet.
ina
lig'otful souvenir of your .
oholiday parties or a 's
thoughtful gift • for thea
• hostess. 1 •
0 54) Facial Quality Napkins ,
•t and 45 regular
0
size matches.. 12.95
0
osTESS . PACK if!)
50 Facial Quality Napkins
imprinted in red or gold ' _'
and . attractively' packaged
GIET DRUM
Show your good taste , • , i
an attractive clear plastic
drum containing 50,
personalized book matches..
795 Choice of` Fromwr
colors F'am
5.7 O24O
;xpo,�ifia�