Scores Perish in Blazing Inferno as Fire Guts Luxury Liner (Universal Newsreel, Sep 1934)

Description

The original release sheet reads: SCORES PERISH IN BLAZING INFERNO AS FIRE GUTS LUXURY LINER / Universal Newsreel Present the First Pictures of the Disaster Which Destroyed the Morro Castle. 1. ASBURY PARK, NJ - (EXTRA! SPECIAL!) Flames rake the S.S. Morro Castle in the early hours of the morning, trapping dozens in their beds as a joyous holiday cruise quickly becomes stark tragedy. Almost two hundred persons are dead or missing in the holocaust which reduces a proud vessel to a mass of twisted junk. Burned lifeboats foil hopes of escape. A curtain of fire drops between frantic passengers and safety. Coast Guard boats, fishing smacks and big liners stand by to take the travelers from the doomed vessel, but high seas hamper the heroic efforts of rescue-workers. Famed resort beaches resemble morgues as the death toll mounts despite hours of struggle to revive the victims. Pitiful scenes are enacted as bereaved parents, orphaned children and grief-stricken husbands and wives vainly seek their loved ones. 2. The wreck, still flaming in many places, breaks from the control of death-defying Coast Guards and menaces Asbury Park’s Convention Hall pier with destruction. Thousands line the sands staring in horror at the floating tomb. Smoke and flame issue from the beached liner as great holes gape in her decks and luxurious staterooms smolder in black ruin. OTHER BIG NEWS PICTURES including: 3. NEW YORK CITY’S IMPRESSIVE CELEBRATION OF THE JEWISH NEW YEAR. 4. THE HAVOC WROUGHT BY GIANT WAVES AT NEWPORT AND LONG BEACH, CA. 5. BITTER CLASH BETWEEN STRIKING TEXTILE WORKERS AND GUARDS AT SAYLESVILLE, RI. 6. THE SPECTACULAR RIDING OF COW-PUNCHERS IN A THRILLING RODEO AT ELLENSBURG, WA. (LOCAL – BUFFALO) No info. (LOCAL – INDIANA) No info. (LOCAL – NEW ORLEANS) No info.

Collection

MCA/Universal Pictures Collection

Series

Motion Picture Releases of the Universal Newsreel Library