A NAVAL HERO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 26 September 1910, Page 7

A NAVAL HERO

THE FIRE ON THE NORTH DAKOTA. ■COMMANDER'S DESPERATE AND BRtLLiAJJT COURAGE. A SINGLE-HANDED FIGHT WITH DEATH. - Vancouver, September 14. . Splendidly conspicuous throughout the fire that nearly destroyed the U.S. warship North Dakota yesterday was the desperate and brilliant courage and devotion displayed by one of the officers, Lieut-Commander Murfin.

To him is attributed not onlv the saving of the ship from destruction, but also the rescue of many of the crew who would otherwise undoubtedly have perished. Throughout .the disaster the gallant commanier fought what was practically a single-handed fight with death. Time after time, when the interior of the ship was filled with flameg and suffocating smoke, Murfin* rushed through tihe fire, fought his way to the engineroom, and carried out into safety men who had been overcome by the fumes and had collapsed. It was like going to certain and terrible death every time, but the brave commander neither flinched nor hesitated.

Later reports concerning the disaster disclose that the three men who were kiOled were coal-passers. They were employed in remote parts of the stokehold when the. fire broke out, and were cut off from escape from the first.