The Washington herald., 1913-11-19
WIRELESS TELLS
STORY OF RESCUE
Capt. Capper, Of Cunarder,
Describes Saving of the
Steamer BaImes.
BATTLE WITH HIGH SEA
S. o. S. Call Brings Succor to Burn
ing Spaniard and 103 Dis
tressed Passengers.
BATTLE WITH HIGH SEA

New York, Nov. 1S.-The story of how
the Cunard Liner Pannonia effected the
rescue of the los passengers on the Span
ish steamer Balmes, which took fire at
sea on November l3, and how the Pan
nonia conveyed the blazing vessel 564
miles to Bermuda, was told FOR the first
time today in a radio message, from Capt.
Robert Capper, of the Pannonia. The
wireless says:
Il received the first S. o. S. call from
Capt. Juan Ruiz, of the steamship
Balmes. at 10:15 a. m. on November 13.
His second message said the Balmes was
at latitude 35 degrees minutes n. and
longitude 50 degrees 43 minutes W. We
3 were 81 miles from the Balmes. We
picked up the Balmes at 7:9O p. m, No
4 vember Is, at a point 107 miles from
! where she was when she sent US the
first S. o. S.
When we got the call the weather
was adverse. There was heavy sea and
a strong southerly gale. 1 ordered all
steam put on and put double watches on.
At the same time, We got our boats
ready TO launch, after placing proyi-
sions, medicines, and all necessary sup
plies in them.
No Other Call Answered.
We were in almost constant radio
communication with the Balmes and as
we neared that vessel We learned that
no other reply than ours had been made
TO the S. o. $. call. The probable reason
for this was that the Balmes was far on
the beaten track of travel in that section
Of the Atlantic.
THE Balmes could only steam at ten
knots, but Capt. Ruiz thought II best to
come toward us for his passengers. all
of whom were Spaniards or Cubans in
the steerage, were panic stricken and his
crew of Tifty-eIght could do but little
against the fire under the circumstances.
when We first sighted the Balmes
the vessel seemed to be ablaze from her
GorecastIe to her stern and IT looked for
a time as il all on board her must have
been burned 10 death AS we drew closer
We could see passengers and crew NOV
ing about the decks.
Il had the boats, ladders, nTeIines. ana
lights made ready to get over the side
when I received a Morse lamp signal
from Capt. Ruiz. He said the cotton III
No. > hole was ablaze and that he had
sOJ packages OF rum on the deck as well
as considerable more below matches. He
also advised against the Pannonia getting
too close for the sea was running high.
The Race for BermEdn.
Il replied that | would gladly send the
PanRonia boats. and every man in the
crew Immediately volunteered to go.
Capt. Ruiz said it would be better TO wait
until daylight. as he had many women
and children aboard. He thought it best
10 steam as fast as possible toward Ber-
muda, 564 miles distant. The two vessels.
keeping one mile apart, raced toward Ber-
muda.
AT daylight on the I4th I sent three
boats from the Pannonia. The first was
in command of the first officer and car
ried the doctor. Another doctor. the
purser. and chief steward took the sec
ond.
After the doctor was put aboard the
Balmes Lhirty-seven women and children
were taken off by means of a human
ladder. the men Clinging with a hand and
leg 10 the rope ladder while they passed
the passengers down to our lifebOat. The
first boat load of passengers reached the
PRnnonia at 80 a. m. and the last were
taken of AT 9:l6 a. m. The boat got to
the Pannonia just in time. for hardly had
the last man touched the deck when a
terrific storm broke over US. and the
BaImes was practically lost to sight
Many of the children suffered terribly
during the night on the deck of the
Balmes, while a number of the women
rescued were almost naked when taken
aboard the Pannonia, and all were suf-
fering from the events of the night
Ndpl RulL Intn asked me 10 convoy MIN
to Bermuda and asked me not to leave
him for he said the Balmes was in con-
slant danger of being blown up. He
reported the fire as gaining steadily and
made ready TO abandon the ship at an
instant's notice.
The crew on the Balmes struggled
gallantly, and not man offered TO de-
sert his post. The strain and anxiety of
all persons on both boats was intense
na
radio to the dockyard at Bermuda, ask
ing for tugs to meet US and at s a. m
on the 18th We sighted the lights of the
tugs. When the tugs came up to us
the passengers made a great demonstra,
ton