OFFICERS ALIVE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 6

OFFICERS ALIVE

■3 m mm 9 . Commander Seriously Injured (Received 5, 8.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 7. Bevisod figures show tbat 33 are believed to be dead. Nineteen bodies have been recovered. Sixty-four escaped alive, of wbom 20 were passengers. Many of tbe survivors were burned or injured or both, and tbey were taken to hospitals in Lakehurst and nearby communities. It is believed tbat at least half are fatallly injured. Tbe clothing was burned completely 1 from several of tbem. Tbree children wero aboard, and all escaped. Tbe flames wero oxtinguisbed at midnigbt, but the embers were so bot that it was impossible to complete tbe searcb for bodies. Tbere were 97 aboard, inncluding 36 passengers and 61 of a crew. Tbo forcign passengers numbcred 21. Tbo age of all Ihe passengers varied from six montbs to 93 years. Tbe infant was tbe son of a journalist on tbe Berlin staff of the Australian Associated Press. Captain Lebmann, tbe former master, Captain Preuss, the prcsent commander, and Captain Stampf, the second in command, apparently escaped alivo. Captain Lebmann was criticaDy bum'ed, and tbe otber officers were burned leai seriously. Tbe company explained tbat tbe tbree ranking Officers were saved beeause tbey were in tbe contrel «ar, forward and farthest away from the first explosion, wbicb was followed by five "otbers. Tbus tbe stern struck tbe ground first. The flames were slower in Teaching tbe bow, providing an opportunity for tbe officers and more Aan half tbe passengers to escape.