Go Getters World

Working the midnight shift, Constables Ronald Anderson and Warren Shaddock turned their police accident car onto Toronto’s Queens Quay on September 17, 1949, in time to see the SS Noronic, one of the most impressive and beautiful passenger ships in Canada, erupt into sky-splitting flames from bow to stern.

The first rescuers on the scene, their cruiser was immediately surrounded by survivors, some with their clothing on fire. Many more were in the water. Far too many were on the ship, burning on the decks.

Anderson stripped off his uniform and jumped into the frigid, oily water, dragging the injured back to a painters raft in the water and to the dock. From there, police officers hauled them up by rope, where Shaddock and others would administer first aid. One of the officers lifting survivors to safety was Jack Marks, who would later become Toronto’s Police Chief.

Soon, Detective Cyril Cole joined Anderson in the water, with both retrieving bodies and survivors. Later, fireboats arrived to assist. Cole’s partner, Detective Roy Soplet, was also on the scene. Many of the responding officers were World War II Veterans.

“Once you’ve experienced explosions, shell fire and the horror of war, you can handle bodies and injury better. The Police Force was made up of many WWII combat vets who were specifically recruited for their ability to handle this kind of pressure,” says Anderson, now 86.

The blaze started at approximately 2:30am, in full force only minutes later. Soon the hull glowed white from the heat and the decks buckled. So much water was poured on The Noronic, she listed, forcing firefighters to retreat until the ship was upright again.

“Toronto didn’t have the ambulance service we have now,” says Anderson. “Cab drivers deserve a lot of credit. Dozens of cab drivers came down from the Royal York and the King Edward Hotel to help. They didn’t charge fares, they just ran the injured to Toronto General, St. Michael’s, and Toronto Western Hospitals. When the hospitals were overwhelmed, victims were taken to the Royal York and the King Eddie where doctors and hotel staff assisted the injured and those in shock.”

The Royal York Hotel was filled with journalists gathered for the Press Club Awards Dinner. A loud horn coming from The Noronic alerted them to the disaster and they headed down to the Harbour. Throughout the city, the horn blared, hampering the rescue effort because none of the rescuers could hear each other.

Anderson discovered his wallet was missing when he retrieved his uniform in the morning. The wallet, with no money in it, was retrieved from an arrest by Detective Jim Mackie who went on to become Chief of Toronto Police.

Identifying the bodies was challenging because of how badly burned they were. The ship’s manifest complicated the process as well because it reflected a variety of aliases, men who had told their wives they were hunting or fishing, but who were actually traveling with female companions. All of the fatalities were American.

With some of the victims reduced to little more than ash and jewelry, it took almost a year to ID them. Medical examiners from various parts of the US and Canada came in to help. Many of the bodies were identified through dental records, the first time this procedure was used.

The exact cause of the fire was never determined, although many believe it was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette. The ships design and construction were faulted, particularly the use of oiled wood, and many coats of paint. On-board fire hoses were not in working order.

The crew was criticized for not calling the fire department and for not waking passengers. Some fled at the first alarm, leaving sleeping passengers behind. The Captain, William Taylor, did participate in rescue efforts but had his license suspended for a year, following the Royal Commissions investigation, and never captained a vessel again.

Following the Noronic fire, travel by luxury passenger ship virtually ceased on the Great Lakes.

Sixty years later, The Noronic fire, which killed 119, is still the singular Toronto disaster with the greatest loss of life.

Susan McLennan is a communications professional who works at Babble On Communications, a public relations company specializing in socially sustainable projects, people and products. She is the step-daughter of Ronald Anderson. Please stop by Susan McLennan blog or stop by the Babble On Communications website for further information.

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