The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-08


rough sea off the island Of Guam.
The barometer was falling, dark
clouds were coming up on the hor-
lion, the wind was looming steadi-
ly through the rigging and jagged
forks of lightning steadily flashed
across the sky.
In the radio house, Theron Bean,
16 years old, was having trouble
with his instruments. The tropi-
Gel storm which even then was
breaking over the numbering ship
was so charged with electricity
that it made working the wireless
apparatus difficult. Unable to do
much, young Bean went out on
deck to watch the storm.
Suddenly there was bright
flash, a tremendous crash and the
Dumaru, struck by lightning burst
into flames. Her cargo consisted
of gasoline and other inflamable
and explosive goods and the dan
ger to the ship was great.
Taking in the peril Immediately
the young radio operator sprang
into his cabin and frantically be-
gan to pound out the call for help,
the IS. O. S." which everywhere
at sea is the signal of distress.
But out of the air there came no
answering call. Perhaps it was
because the instruments were put
out of commission, perhaps there
was no ship within the signaling
radius of the Dumaru. But no
help came.
Eighteen minutes after the ship
was struck, young Bean, with
flames bursting out all around him
in his little wireless house, quit
his post. Already the lifeboats had
been launched so he fearlessly
loaped into the sea and swan to
the nearest.
In the meanwhile back in Port
land flor this is a true story
young Beans parents were frantic
with fear for his safety, for the
newspapers had carried brief
item to the effect that the ship had
been lost. Then one lifeboat
landed at Honolulu, but Theron
was not aboard. The second boat
landed several days later, 200
miles from Honolulu, but the boy.
was not in it, either.
Then came the news that the
third boat had landed on the island
of Samar and that on board 1t was
young Theron Bean, burned, weak
and hungry, but alive!
A letter from the boy to his
parents tells the story better than
any one else could do it, is printed
below.
Now word about young Bean
himself. He was only IL years old
when he became interested in
wireless telegraphy and began to
experiment. While the pocket
money of his companions was go
ing for toys or candy, Bean was
buying equipment for little wire
less station of his own. 1t took
long time to do this. but when his
station finally was set up he was
the envy of all his friends.
Then the United States got into
the war and the Government or
dered all wireless stations dis
mantled. Down came Theron's
little wireless outfit, but the boy
was determined that he would be-
come a regular operator at the
first opportunity. This came last
year when he took the prescribed
course in the Portland Y. M. c. A.
and followed it up with the college
preparatory course and graduated
in both by the time he was six
teen. He received a first-class H.
cense as a radio operator and then
he began to look for chance to
go to work at wireless.
One day the telephone in the
Bean home rang. 1t was Theron.
I've got a chance to 60 to Alas
ka on the steamer City Of Seattle"
he told his startled mother. "But
they say I'm under age and have
to have your consent. Will you
please write out permission for me
right away. The steamer is due
to sail today"
Realizing what her refusal might
mean To the how and knowing that