VICTIM OF THE S.S. MORRO CASTLE FIRE.
CREW MEMBER: Firemen [engine room]- 19 years old.
435 Chauncey Street, Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
Ramon Ferner's death was heroic and at the same time appalling.
He was in Chief Engineer Abbott's boat. Partway to the water, the self-lowering mechanism jammed, and so ferner climbed back aboard the ship and manually lowered the lifeboat the rest of the way.
Ramon then attempted to climb down the rope to the boat, but fell when he was partway down. He was not wearing a life jacket, and did not know how to swim. The current had carried the boat a few yards back along the side of the ship, and its occupants watched as Ferner struggled, screamed for help, and finally sank.
This story was told by MANY witnesses, all of whom were quick to put a good face on it. The current, you see, was too strong to row quickly against...
...except....
1) They did not TRY.
2) 72 year old Minnie Likewise and 76 year old Kate Noteboom succesfully SWAM clear of the current.
and
3) The lifeboat was one of only two aboard the ship equiped with a motor.
Ferner's body was never found. his parents located a "Should I die" letter to them in his possessions, but did not shre its contents with the press. His undamaged camera, with exposed film in it, was recovered from his locker aboard the Morro Castle.
[Biography by Jim Kalafus]
CREW MEMBER: Firemen [engine room]- 19 years old.
435 Chauncey Street, Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
Ramon Ferner's death was heroic and at the same time appalling.
He was in Chief Engineer Abbott's boat. Partway to the water, the self-lowering mechanism jammed, and so ferner climbed back aboard the ship and manually lowered the lifeboat the rest of the way.
Ramon then attempted to climb down the rope to the boat, but fell when he was partway down. He was not wearing a life jacket, and did not know how to swim. The current had carried the boat a few yards back along the side of the ship, and its occupants watched as Ferner struggled, screamed for help, and finally sank.
This story was told by MANY witnesses, all of whom were quick to put a good face on it. The current, you see, was too strong to row quickly against...
...except....
1) They did not TRY.
2) 72 year old Minnie Likewise and 76 year old Kate Noteboom succesfully SWAM clear of the current.
and
3) The lifeboat was one of only two aboard the ship equiped with a motor.
Ferner's body was never found. his parents located a "Should I die" letter to them in his possessions, but did not shre its contents with the press. His undamaged camera, with exposed film in it, was recovered from his locker aboard the Morro Castle.
[Biography by Jim Kalafus]
VICTIM OF THE S.S. MORRO CASTLE FIRE.
CREW MEMBER: Firemen [engine room]- 19 years old.
435 Chauncey Street, Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
Ramon Ferner's death was heroic and at the same time appalling.
He was in Chief Engineer Abbott's boat. Partway to the water, the self-lowering mechanism jammed, and so ferner climbed back aboard the ship and manually lowered the lifeboat the rest of the way.
Ramon then attempted to climb down the rope to the boat, but fell when he was partway down. He was not wearing a life jacket, and did not know how to swim. The current had carried the boat a few yards back along the side of the ship, and its occupants watched as Ferner struggled, screamed for help, and finally sank.
This story was told by MANY witnesses, all of whom were quick to put a good face on it. The current, you see, was too strong to row quickly against...
...except....
1) They did not TRY.
2) 72 year old Minnie Likewise and 76 year old Kate Noteboom succesfully SWAM clear of the current.
and
3) The lifeboat was one of only two aboard the ship equiped with a motor.
Ferner's body was never found. his parents located a "Should I die" letter to them in his possessions, but did not shre its contents with the press. His undamaged camera, with exposed film in it, was recovered from his locker aboard the Morro Castle.
[Biography by Jim Kalafus]
CREW MEMBER: Firemen [engine room]- 19 years old.
435 Chauncey Street, Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
Ramon Ferner's death was heroic and at the same time appalling.
He was in Chief Engineer Abbott's boat. Partway to the water, the self-lowering mechanism jammed, and so ferner climbed back aboard the ship and manually lowered the lifeboat the rest of the way.
Ramon then attempted to climb down the rope to the boat, but fell when he was partway down. He was not wearing a life jacket, and did not know how to swim. The current had carried the boat a few yards back along the side of the ship, and its occupants watched as Ferner struggled, screamed for help, and finally sank.
This story was told by MANY witnesses, all of whom were quick to put a good face on it. The current, you see, was too strong to row quickly against...
...except....
1) They did not TRY.
2) 72 year old Minnie Likewise and 76 year old Kate Noteboom succesfully SWAM clear of the current.
and
3) The lifeboat was one of only two aboard the ship equiped with a motor.
Ferner's body was never found. his parents located a "Should I die" letter to them in his possessions, but did not shre its contents with the press. His undamaged camera, with exposed film in it, was recovered from his locker aboard the Morro Castle.
[Biography by Jim Kalafus]
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
