Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-12
THELMA SAILS
As CROWDS WATCH

ronslnoed from rare One
81 The Mayor and Mr.. wanamaker
Then beaved Il into the water.
While tho ceremonies were going on,
fwo ioneshoremen made the discovery
that about 1900 pounds OF peaches and
pfunes we're on the pier. The crates con-
faining the peaches and prunes were
picked up hurriediy and taken aboard.
Mayor Blankenburg boarded the ship
and accompanied Captain Hendrickson
down the river
The Thcima viii be piloted to tho Della
ware Capes by Robert G. Chambers, who
has been IN the pilot service for more
than 30 years.
The deck OF the Theima was scrubbed
early today. Her crew wore new blue
overalls, From Captain Hendrickson down
20 the youngest member in the crow the
"trip to Rotterdam was looked upo- as
the moat important sea trip ever unG, -
taken By them
AS the ship made Its way down the
Delaware she was cheered by the COO
persons on shore. Ferryboats plying be-
tween Camden and Market street, Phila-
delphia, blew their whistles. A locomo-
tive drawing string of freight trains
footed.
AZ i:2S the Thelma passed the Phila-
delphia Navy Yard Her black funnel
decorated with the Red Cross emblem
was seen by sailors on several battle
shirs and cruisers. The sailors lined w
at the railing end waved their caps.
Workmen employed in the different
shops IN the Navy Yard, also cheered,
The supplies aboard the Thoma are
consigned to DIR. Henry Van Dyke, the
American Minister at The Hague. He
will be at Rotterdam when the vessel
docks there. After docking at Rottcr-
dam plans will be outlined by various
committees there for the distribution OF
It a..
gians. The value Of the food aboard the
Thelma Ia estimated at $4,000
After the Thelmn had sailed, Mr.. Wanna
maker extended an invitation to every
one On the pier to follow the ship on the
tug Triton. About 100 persons accepted
the invitation. Mr.. Wnnamaller also went
aboard the tug.
Francis II. Reeves, treasurer Of the
committee, and John p. Dwyer and John
J. Collier, representing the Newspaper
Committee, went to Washington I'm re-
snonse to the request of Miss Mabel
Boardman. executive director OF tho Red
Cross Society. After communicating with
the British and German Ambassadors,
Miss Bonrdman assured the philndel-
phians that the German military authorl-
ties would not attempt to prevent the
cargo of the Thelma from reaching its
proper destination.
Under international maritime law, the
Thclma cannot make the voyage under
the Rcd Cross flag. Miss Roardman ex-
planned. however. that the foreign diplo-
mats In Washington had offered no OBJ
lection to the Norwegian steamship sail
ing from Philadelphia with the Red
Cross emblem displayed from her main
mast When the threc-Hile limit Is
crossed, the Thelms viii lower the Red
Cross flag, aud win hy the Norwegian
colors until nearing Rotterdam. when tho
Red Cross flag again viii be raised.
Although the enthusiasm which chnr-
acter2es the first few days Of every
popular campaign has somewhat nhated.
still sufficient number OF substantial
contributions are coming IN to Justify
the committee in charge Of tho work in
believing the Thanksgiving Ship" will
sail as auspiclnusly as the Theima
This Is what the committee Is working
for-to bring the generous citizens of this
town to a realization OF the fact that
women and children are nt the point OF
starvation and that no matter how much
money these Belgians may have or how
willing they may be to work to earn
their bread there is no bread to be earned
unless America sends 1t to them.
ToDAY'S CONTRIBUTIONS.
Contributions received at the relief