Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-12

save ourselves and not to stand by the
ship" he went on, but he stood by,
and the most of us followed his example,
clambering back to the hull as soon as
possible
Hall Davis. of Springfield. Mass.
told a dramatic story of his escape from
the tireroom when the ship capsized.
He is a fireman, second class.
81 was on watch in the treroom,'
he said today, together with Brandt
and Robert Meyers, chief water tender.
Meyers was in charge of the watch.
Tells of Thrilling Escape
Everything seemed to be going along
all right, when the boat rocked three or
four times. She shuddcred and the
third time she rose slowly. The ship is
an oil burner and runs under forced
draught. The fireroom is hermetically
sealed, by what is known as an air
lock.
This is done so all the air pumped
into the room goes out under the boilers,
causing the draught. The air lock is
in reality small room about twice
the size of telephone booth. virtually,
double door with a space between. The
plan is. to first unbolt one door, close
| and bolt it after you. then you can
leave by the other without disturbing
the air pressure in the freroom. This
air lock leads to the engine room.
The third time she righted slowly
The chief yelled, Let's get out. there is
something wrong here You know. We
always have that locked door on our
mind anyway.
so we made break for the air
| lock. First we shut off the oil burn =
ers. The lock is kept closed by twelve
clamps. Believe me. once we made UT
our minds to get out we worked fast
There are twelve locks to the door
] undid one side and Meyers the other
Brandt was right behind.
Got Into Engine Room
by this time she had hceed over
| past the center. and in q moment was
upside down. What had been the floor
was now the ceiling We fell and tum
bled and rolled over each other, bu
chung to the clamps, and finally got into
the airlock. closed the door behind Il,
and opened the door leading into thu
engine room.
| when we entered the engine room
| We found ourselves walking along tn
ceiling. The floor was above us, ant
the engines were suspended over ou
| npduS. lou Stts we udu 10 uTOD du'
scramble down from the open door, nov
in the wall near the floor above ou
heads.
Il went to tho hatch that is over tn
engines in steam vessels, to ventilate tn
engine rooms. | felt my way around
The lights were out. | lost track O
the chief or OF Brandt. There was moth
ing to it. so ] dove through the hatch
swan under water and came out tifteeI
feet from the vessel. which was bottor
up. | believe Brandt lost his head j
the excitement. and either got lost, o
could not swim we'll enough TO div
through the opening Meyers, ] sup
pose, got out the same way / did, al
though J. cannot say how he manage
it"
, Men Were Brave and Game"
The men aboard the boat wer
brave and game" said DR.. Willial
Duffield Robinson, 2012 Mount Nerno
street. who was among those aboar
rho Thomas CLYDE.
we were close enough to hear u
men who had been thrown under til
ship. knocking from the inside when sE
turned over" he said. Many swar
under water and on coming to the sur
face, climbed on the upturned bOtto
Of the craft. Realizing that the
might again be pitched into the wat
: they quickly peeled off their clothing {
the rescuing craft approached. All wei
remarkably cool headed under the cor
ditions."
% "All further plans for our outin
were abandoned Immediately, DoCtc
Robinson added. "and we were glad
be able to do something. We helpe
,nA hoI ham faHnn fro
. the water. and In view of their eXperi
ence | suggested that we take up
collection for the men. While they az
prociated what was being done for the
o the sailors declined, however, to aCceI
. any gifts and at their request the i'd
l. of contribution was called of
S THE men regarded the experience
l. a mere incident in the life of sailo
Q Each one was more concerned about Il
& probable fate of those they did not $
aboard.
Dr.. James Mckee. 124 West Rite,
= house street, Germantown. who al
>, was aboard the Clyde, praised L
Il sailors highly. He also praised t
! crews of the resCuing ships.
" I'm the face of great obstacles,
~ said, "they went to work heroicall
~ They gave no thought to their Ov
safety and were concerned only abo
- those who had been thrown into =
~ ~ water. 1t is remarkable that more we
~ ~ not drowned, in view of the suddenne
,e of the accident"
" Storm Came Up Suddenly
,e Captain Z. V. Davenport, in col
d. mand Of the Clyde, said that the sau
Sc was so sudden and so terrific that
t. was compelled to put his vessels he
I'd into the wind. No panic appear
he among his passengers, but some of I
he women were alarmed.
M "The squall," said the capita
- "came mp from the northwest, off N
10 Castle. ] saw it approaching and l
aM Z -.