The New York herald., 1922-08-14
Blast Veered to Starboard
and Missed Bridge Where
Navigators Were.
NO EXCITEMENT ON BOARD
Many Unaware of Accident
Deck Painted, Bodies Re-
moved at Night.

The story OF the explosion killing
fve men and the fire aboard the
Adriatic of the White Star Line, of the
GOODNESS of the passengers and crew
and the tale of the heroism of one
James Corrigan, second engineer
who crawled alone into the blazing
gas filed hold to rescue his injured
mates. was told yesterday evening
Ehen the liner arrived here, after her
fciting crossing from Liverpool.
Hundreds of relatives and friends
those aboard the liner jammed the
er several hours before the ship had
It Quarantine, and two ambulances
lood in waiting to take ashore the
jlree members of the crew who were
seriously injured inJthe explosion. 1t
Y was greatly relieved crowd of pas
sengers on deck as they watched the
skyline of New York loom up after the
troubled days at sea.
All Have Praise for Crew.
Many different versions of the events
which occurred early Friday morning
while the big liner was about f,20a
miles at sea were told by the passengers
ana members OF the crew. On one thing
al we're in accord: the splendid calm
less of the women aboard the ship. and
the wonderful manner in which the crew
members took their stations at once, and
then 1okingly talked of the blazing
foredeck as nothing at ALL" while they
went about their work at polishing
brass or other little bits of work, re-
assuring the passengers by their words
and actions that everything was fully
under control of the officers and men
aboard. So splendidly did the men
work under the directions of Cant. HI.
+. David. that many Of the passengers
knew nothing of the blast until they
arose for breakfast and then were sin-
able TO see any signs of fire, as the
decks and bridge had all been scraped
and painted by the seamen during the
early hours of the morning
( Although the official investigation has
not been held. the officers and men Of
the ship state that the explosion was
undoubtedly caused by spontaneous COM
bustion of soft coal in the lowest tier
OF NO. hold, which Is directly forward
of the bridge. Only the fact that the
explosion drove upward and to the star
board saved the lives of Capt David
and his officers. who were at the time
on the port side of the bridge The
steel hatchbar holding the cover was
torn upward and bent into the shape OF
letter "S' and the rigging. fifty feet
aloft. was set ablaze by the flame which
accompanied the explosion
Former Governor Martin II. Glynn,
who with Mrs. Glynn was on board. was
one of the first passengers to see the
flames Immediately following the cxplo-
sion. Their stateroom was near the
bridge on the starboard side and they
felt the full force OF the explosion. Gov
Glynn arose at once and dressed hur-
riedly and went to the deck, to see the
inert body of one of the fremen which
had been driven UP onto the passenger
deck, not far from his stateroom win
dow. Below the bridge clouds of heavy
smoke and fumes were rolling upward
and back toward the stern and a dull
greensh light was coupled with the
bright glare of the blazing rigging and
lighted the ship up with their brilliancy.
on the bridge hurrying figures were lin
ing up at the direction OF Capt. David,
who spoke slightly above the ordinary
tone of voice. There was no confusion
anywhere, according to Gov. GIynn and
other cyewitnesses.
CorriGan Enters Burnina Hold.
Within five minutes from the moment
OF the explosion eight lines OF hose were
playing into the hold and IL was then
seen that one Of tho men was still below.
Another who had been lying on top OF
the hatch asleep is still missing and ii
IS thought he was blown overheard with
u part of the hatchway. Cant. David
then called for volunteers TO make an
effort TO rescue any men who might still
l.LlI
and officers volunteered. Before Cant
David had opportunity TO designate any
one James &. Corrigan, senior second
engineer jumped to the lower deck and
started toward the hold which was belch-
ing smoke.
There's one OF my men in there !" he
shouted.
"Don't go in there yet. it's full OF gas
and you'll never set out!' shouted Capt.
David.
Damn the gas." yas the reply as
Corrigan disappeared In the smoke and
fumes.
The other men were ordered In to fol-
low Corrigan II possible. and they took
a line OF buckets filled with water and
made their way below decks where the
bulkhead doors led to the blazing hold.
AS they crawled along close TO the floor
they met Corrigan coming out carrying
tnG O0ny OF lseStlc <NDllf, an
who later died from burns. Handing
his burden to some one outside the hold
CCrrigan Joined the men going IN and
again entered tho gas filled hold. this
time carrying a bucket In n few min
utcs the men had extinguished the fire
in the hold and went back to their sta
lions Meanwhile the other members OF
the crew had climbed aloft and put out
the fire IN the mast rigging. Capt. David
had stopped tho ship at the first out
break Of the explosion and fire, and
drifted until the signal IAN clear" was
flashed by the fire crew.
True to british Traditions.
"Thc discipline maintained by Capt
David was most wonderful" Gov. Giynn
said yesterday. "and coupled with the
daring and heroism Of Corrigan and En-
elnccr r. w. Ruddlc, was thing which
held true TO the finest traditions OF Brit
ish sailormen. The work of the crew In
taking their posts and In reassuring the
passengers that everything was in order
was also remarkable. Most wonderful
OF all. however, was the hcrosm of the
women and little children who were with
them. 7 thank God for tho way they
acted and am proud TO say that the ma
jorfty OF them were American women.
They we're far more calm thsn the men