S. S. Byron, With 397 Passengers Aboard, Reaches New York Harbor.
NEW YORK, October 5.-The liner Byron of the National Greek Line, with 397 passengers aboard, reached port today with a menacing fire in her after hold, which spread after it was believed under control.
Two city fire boats were ordered to her side at the quarantine station and pumped tons of water into the burning cargo.
Officials of the line assured hundreds of anxious callers that there was no danger to the passengers and that no one had been injured.
The fire is believed to have started from spontaneous combustion in hold No. 5. The major part of the cargo consisted of tobacco, rugs and rags.
Great clouds of black smoke belched from the craft and attracted the attention of thousands of observers along the shores of the narrows.
A number of tugs and a police launch were standing by and no attempt was made to remove the passengers. Apparently there was no panic aboard, the passengers being observed on the decks watching the fire boats.
Officials expressed the belief that the liner would be able to dock at her Brooklyn pier during the day.
The Evening Star, Washington, DC, October 5, 1926
