Evening journal., 1918-06-07
Menace ABATED::
tanker L|hPS IN
Damaged Pratt in Phila
Marine Circles Believe L.
Boats Have Departed
PHILADELPHIAN
PROVESsAaHEk0

Phil ADELFf1A. Pa, Rlne 7.-1h'
I-bost menace. has absted, according t'
opinion ia marine clrclesshere. Naya
officials and Philadelphia shipping mel
yesterday were unanimous in sayini
they thought the Hun4ses raiders hsV'
, left American shores for parts un
known
Vessels will be permitted to leave anC
enter the port freely, 10 clear and pro
ceed. subject 10 restricting instructions
Issued BY the ship-rowipg, officer OF the
Fourth Naval District. This, order wa:
sent out yesterday 20 localsagents anf
shipmasters.
The order, however, Is stsubieot e
chsnge at short notice. The port was
closed and openedsno fewerfthan three
times last "Wednesday.
That submarines no longer lurk on
the Atlantic coast 'NNss thought 10 be
demonstrated by the safe arrival here
Yesterday Of seven vessels from coast
wise and Europesn ports which entered
the harbor unharmed and without en-
counters with the U-boat buccaneers.
All fear for the safety Of the Mer-
chants and Miners liner Cretan was
dispelled yesterday whensword was re-
ceived she had arrived at Jacksonville,
Fla. She sailed from here last Sunday
with passengers and cargofand passed
directly through the zone where the
U-boats were operating last Sunday and
Monday.
Proudly nying the American flag
which never hadsbeen lowered after she
struck a German mine OF Cape Henlo-
pen last Sunday afternoon. the Stand
ard Oil tanker Herbert L. Pratt arrived
at the Atlantic Refining Company's
pier, Point Breeze, shortly before noon
yesterday.
As she slowly rounded the bend in
the Schuylkiu under her own steam.
conveyed by the tugs Caspian. Atlantic
and Brilliant, there was a great DEM
onstration in her honor. All the
whistles OF the vessels In the harbor
Joined in a discordant but joyous eho-
rus OF welcome, and hundreds of the
company's women and men employees,
who were leaving thetbuiidings at noon
added 10 the din with their cheers.
They and dense crowds OF passers-by
swarmed 10 the waterfront for a close
view Of the American vessel that could
pbt bef destroyed by the Huns. But
tb~ sthey encountered the grim faces
. Z srimmer guns of guards. who had
On ers not 10 llowlanyone but officials
near the dock.
Naval officers and sailors, understood
10 have directed the work OF raisinl
/ the ship and bringing her TO port, weri
/. on The Pratt's deck. But except 70
their presence and spots OF fresh blacl
paint on her hull, and some Of the life
s boats With furniture and fittings scat
tered about the deck TO dry. there wer
no indications 10 show that the gian
tanker had met Hun mine on he
maiden trip.
Thrilling stories were told by mem
bcrs of the crew to whom shore leav
was granted yesterday afternoon. The.
could not decide who deserved NOR
credit, Captain II. H. Bennett. com
mander OF the shipato whose alert sea
manship the saving OF the tanker wa,
due, or Jack Bourne. the Philadelphia
wireless operator, who never left his
post and sent out S. o. s Gals for helr
while the vessel was sinking.
According TO the. men, the Pratt had
received wireless warnings 20 be on the
lookout for submsrines.and close watch
had been maintained. With warning
or the sieht Of an enemy craft there
came a terrific explosion under the
fsnker's bow abouti3.25 p. m.
The Pratt was drawing twenty-nine
feet, and, accordingsto the sailors, her
bow rose from eightttosten feet out OF
the water, sending the ship reeling
back on her stern.
Then the bow struckfthe water with
a crash and instantly began to settle.
The forward bulkheadsbhad been blown
In and water was pouring In at a great
rate through a gapingshole in the steel
hull.
CAPTAIN Bennett, these members Of
the crew asserted, prevented the ships
being lost entirely. Immediately after
the blow had been struck he ordered
every man to his post. and then sent
four lifeboats oversize. Three, contain
ing saflors. started away. but the cap
tain remained aboard with several Of
flcers. They rushed into the forward
part OF the ship and carried out all val
liable papers and instruments. which
later were lowered into the remaining
Gfeboat.
When Captain Bennett saw the ship
probahiy. could be,sayed he ordered the
crew 10 row back. The engine force
went DtloWs anu uuurt aDICcu tudlb blc
Pratt was sent forward at a greater
speed than she ever had made before.
The flvermileysfrom the shoals where
she finally settled were made in an in
credibly short time" the-men said. The
stem struck the sand and the forward
deck was hurled under forty-fve feet
Of water.
/, During the twenty minutes in which
all this had happened the three wireless
operators, Bourne and two brothers
Michael and Patrick Riley Of Denver