The San Francisco call., 1906-10-10

the esprit de corps in all departments.
and this was never more evident than
yesterday.
Captain Porter talks modestly. He
does not spare himself for the mistake
that led TO the accident, and takes no
credit for the subsequent saving of the
liner. He acknowledges a debt to
/ Captain Klitgard, passenger, who
stayed on board and rendered valuable
assistance. He pays a glowing tribute
I to Chief Engineer Chisholm and the en-
! gineering department, tells how Pur-
ser A. z. Rennie shouldered the re-
/ sponsibility of caring for the passen-
gers. and does not forget Chief Stew
ard Hawyes.
PRAISE FOR BLACK SQUAD.
/ Chief Engineer Chisholm says Por-
/ ter did it, but is unsparing in his praise
of the loyalty and bravery of his own
men, not forgetting the Chinese fire.
men, who stayed by their posts when
the vessel struck. and who faced death
/ in the water -hlled hold helping the
white engineers TO rig pumps.
Rennie says Porter got the ship off
and Chisholm's black squad" saved her
! afterwards
The Mongolia sighted the light on
Midway Island about o'clock Saturday
night, September Is. She was to land
on the island George Ward, vice presi-
dent of the Pacific Cable Company. wait
until he had transacted the business
/ that had called him to the mid-ocean
station, and, when he was on board
again, to proceed on her homeward
voyage. Captain Porter had orders not
I to make the landing except in day
night.
The Mongolia slowed down and would
have cruised about until daylight, but
1 the lights were seen of an approaching
7 rr,l,. r. Il.
was headed for these lights Sound
ings were taken continuously on both
sides of the ship. There was not a
breath of air and not a ripple on the
water.
Suddenly, and before the Ieadsmen
had got soundings at all, the Mongolia
stopped with heavy jar. She was on
I the reef. There was no panic among
4 the passengers, nearly all of whom
were on deck, and each member of his
crew went to his station without any
/ fuster. The passengers, assured of
safety, retired for the night, while Cap
1 tain Porter proceeded to get anchors
out astern to keep the vessel from
crawling any further on the reef.
THREE ANCHORS LOST.
Three anchors, one seven tons, the
others three and a half and one and
half tons. were f1oated astern on boats,
! ana Win SeEen-lncn wire CdDISS the
Mongolia was securely moored. These
seven-inch cables later snapped and the
three anchors were lost. The Mongolia
was pulled off later by wire cable to
which the Japanese training ship
Anegawa had endeavored to make fast.
In pulling back this cable the blight
at the end fouled the coral reef. 1t
could not be freed, and later this un-
/ looked for ENHANCEMENT below the sur
I he nf vi "a
golia, and withstood sufficient strain
to drag the vessel into deep water.
The passengers were landed on Sun
day with their baggage. The landing
was accomplished without mishap.
Comfortable quarters were provided
/ from the Mongolia furnished subsist-
ence. With the passengers were land
ed Chief Steward Hawyes and a force
of cooks and walters. There was a
cold storage plant on the island, which
/ insured daily menu little different
4 from that provided on board the liner,
and the officers said yesterday that the
passengers enjoyed their visit to Mid
way.
The Mongolia was fioated Friday, and
on Saturday the army transport Bufort
arrived. Passengers and mail were
placed on board the trooper. and at 500
tp. m. Sunday the two steamers started
in company for Honolulu.
MATING CHOKEs PUMPS.
The figst part OF the MongoIia's voy-
age from Honolulu to this port was
rather exciting, Some mating in the
/ forward hold cholxed the pumps. and for
a time the water gained with some
rapidity. The liner listed heavily and
things looked serious. 1t was here
that the black squad" under the lead
ership of Chief Engineer Chisholm and
First Assistant Engineer Bunkers. did
+ its best work.
Into the swishing water white enpi-
neers and yellow firemen were lowered
with ropes around their bodies. and
sometimes shoulder deep I'm water. these
men fought to Clear the pumps They