Irish Ships and Shipping
Irish Shipping Ltd.
Crew and Ships
Irish Sycamore fire 1965
Photos and cuttings from Kieran O' Connell | ||||
Taken at mass in New
Orleans for Tom Paul Ring and the seamen of the Irish Sycamore with some of their shipmates present. |
Capt.O'Shea surveys the scene |
Fire Sweeps Through Irish Sycamore in New
Orleans
IRISHMEN DlE IN SHIP BLAZE
Cork And Limerick Victims
FOUR Irishmen three from Cork, one from Limerick
died in a fire which raced through the upper deck of the cargo ship
Irish Sycamore (10,500 gross tons) in New Orleans yesterday. The vessel,
owned by Irish Shipping Ltd., and registered in Dublin, was tied up at a
public commodities dock on the Mississippi River. The cause of the fire
was not determined.
The dead were named as: Patrick Cowhey (44), a
member of the engine room staff. whose wife, Noreen lives at Gardiner's
Hill, St, Luke's. Cork; Thomas Ring (36), ordinary seaman, whose mother
lives at Sarsfield Terrace. Youghal, Co. Cork; Michael Walsh (21 )
deckhand, whose mother lives at Claughaun Avenue, Garryowen.. Limerick,
and William Gaule, able seaman, a native of Youghal with an address at
34 Kenilworth Court. Curson
Crescent, London. N.W.10 survived by his
parents, None of the remainder of
the crew of about 40 was
injured.
Company's Dublin headquarters yesterday afternoon.
He said that the five was discovered in the crews' quarters about 4 a.m.
local time 01 a.m. Irish time). He believed that the men were overcome
by fumes.
The ship which left Dublin last March had arrived
at the Mississippi River port on Thursday with a load of steel products
from Japan. It had been due to depart today. Many of the victims
shipmates stood on the smoldering deck with tears in their eyes as a
Catholic chaplain administered last rites.
SMELLED SMOKE
He began shouting to his shipmates and' set off
the ship's alarm system. He was joined by a 22 year-old junior
engineer, identified only as K. Edwards of Dublin "I was asleep in
the engineer's quarters," Edward’s said, "I saw the smoke and I jumped
up and started waking up the lads."
He ran on deck to escape the thick smoke, then
decided to go below again to see if any of his shipmates remained asleep
but clouds of smoke forced him back. Dennis Kirk (18) apprentice
Seaman from Clare, was on cargo watch. He
saw smoke seeping from a door to the steward's alleyway just as the fire
alarm sounded.
The late Mr. Patrick Cowhey of 12 Gardiner’s hill
St.Lukes Cork
was aged 44 Years, and the father of four
young children, the eldest at whom is 16 years and the youngest eight
years. They are Pat (16), Michael (15). Marie (11) Cathleen (8).
Mr Cowhey, who joined the Irish Sycamore in March
last, when she sailed from Rushbrook,
Mr. T. P. Ring (Jnr.) (26). of 68 Sarsfield
Terrace Youghal, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Ring. He joined
the Irish Sycamore on 'March 10 Iast and although he had been to sea
before this was his first long voyage and he was, expected home in
December. He was single and is survived by his parents, three brothers
and four sisters.
The late Mr. Ring's sisters are Mrs. Margaret
O’Connell, of Dominic Collins Place. Youghal, Co. Cork; Mrs. Kathleen
Bulman. also of Dominic Collins Place. Youghal: Mrs. Linda Butler. who
lives with the family and Miss Teresa Ring
His brothers are Messrs. Patrick, Joseph
and Sean Ring.
William Gaule, aged about 27 years is survived by his parents. both of
whom reside in London. He left Youghal almost seven years ago, and was a
frequent visitor to his home town. ~~~ |
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