Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-08-19 | Page 2 | Forty Missing in Dock Blaze

FORTY MISSING IN DOCK BLAZE BLAZEi i Continued from irons Page One boarded the stern in their search They issued the following tabulation tabulation tabu- tabu lation No 1 hold hold Four Four men safe five missing No 2 hold hold 17 17 men safe three missing No 3 and No 5 holds holds 18 18 missing N No 4 nine hold hold nine missing Except for No 2 hold these figures did not include any of the Panuco's own crew but rath rather r stevedores working g on the vessel at the pier As a matter of fact said Assistant As- As Assistant District Attorney EdwardA Edward A A. A Heffernan after an night an night all investigation the actual number of dead may never be be- known Although the fire occurred on a vital defense-vital waterfront virtually within within- sight of the BrookI Brooklyn n navy vy yard yard ard and nd numerous numerous' lend lease d loading docks the possibility o of f sa sabotage tt was was' con considered conder der d unlikely Find No Hint of Sabotage I Fire officials said there was no Immediate indication that the fire was the work of saboteurs I From Washington however aboard a board board oard named by Secretary of Commerce Commerce Com Com- Com I merce Jones was sent Tuesday to join oin an Investigation s started arted by I Brooklyn District Attorney Wiliam Willam Wil Wil- WilI I I lam Ham ODwyer police and fire officials officials dais and the F FBI B I om-I. om Members of the board are J. J Frank Staley of the justice department department department de de- Captain R R. W. W Dempwolf Dempwolf Dempwolf Demp- Demp wolf of the coast and guard Captain Captain Cap- Cap tain aln George Fried of the bureau of marine inspection The Panuco was towed down the East Cast river Monday and grounded on the Red Hook flats listing to port ort and with great billows of smoke moke and flame shooting from her holds as fireboats defied intense heat leat to pour tons of water into her Starts in Hemp The blaze apparently started ina In Ina ina a bale of hemp possible hemp possible from a and and spread with almost unbelievable speed to other bales down the full foot length of the he pier and onto the Panuco and other ther small craft to the accompaniment accompaniment p of the exploding drums of f oil So fast did the flames spread that hat stevedores in their path were overtaken Many running before the he- blaze made the deck of the vessel and then dived headlong Into nto the river They were rescued by y police and fire boats and volunteers volun- volun