The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-12
CBy the Associatod press.l

San Francisco, Oct. 12.-The pas
sengers and crew of the liner City of
Honolulu, burning at sea, abandoned
at 1910 o'clock this morning, are
facing fourteen hours in open boats
before the first ship dashing to their
rescue can reach them.
The army transport Thomas is ex-
pected to beat the Matson Navigation
company's vessel Enterprise, in the
race to the castaways. The Thomas.
according to wireless from her com
mander, should reach the scene of the
disaster at 1 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
Earlier advices this morning stated
that the Enterprise turning from her
course, from Honolulu to the main
land. would reach the side of the
stricken ship between noon and 1
o'clock this afternoon, a later mes
sage from the Enterprise, however.
said that when she started her race
at $50 o'clock this morning she was
242 miles from the City of Honolulu.
Her speed ordinarily is 10 miles per
hour. but her owners believed she
would crowd on all steam and better
that mark in the emergency.
The last message received here from
the City of Honolulu was at 1910
o'clock this morning when her seventy
six passengers as well as the officers
and crew took to the boats.
Reports of the weather on the ocean
lane down which the abandoned ves-
sci was running on her way to her
home port. were that the sea was
smooth and wind moderate.
Fire Beyond Control.
The fire on the steamer City of
Honolulu was beyond control at 1910
a m. today, and the ship was being
abandoned by the captain, chief engi-
neer, first officer and radio operator,
the last four aboard the vessel, the
radio dispatch received here today,
said.
The steamer Enterprise. the nearest
of the three vessels to the Honolulu
had not reached the burning craft
when the final message was sent. The
message indicated, according to the
Federal telegraph company which re-
ceived it, that all of the passengers
and crew had taken to the life boats.
The radio operator said that he and
the three officers were the last to re-
main aboard and that they were leav-
ing.
The last message received from the
ship sent by the Radio Corporation of
America wireless operator just before
he abandoned his key, said:
Captain and gang leaving ship
Goodbye to you all"
The three radio operators aboard
the City of Honolulu were W. P. Bell,
H. B. Hancock, and NJ. c. Kum,er.
Hurry to Burning Ship.
A message to the Radio Corporation
of America from the United States
army transport, Thomas, reported
early this morning in the neighbor-
hood of the City of Honolulu, said the
Thomas also was proceeding at full
speed to help the burning vessel.
The message from the Thomas said
that she expected to reach the scene
of the disaster at l O'Clock tomorrow
morning. The Thomas is reported to
. have been about 200 miles from the
City of Honolulu when she turned
south in her dash to the rescue at 5
o'clock this morning. Tne passenger
INST OF the City of Honolulu as re-
celved here by radio from Honolulu
includes Mrs. Lucille Edwards, New
ork; Frank 2. Hahn, Napoleon
ohio. and Frederick Pillio, Waterville
Ohio.
Carried Only 76 Passengers.
The vessel carried 76 passengers g.
OF them first class ana second cas-.
1liU - third class The addresses OF
mo thlrd 20 passengers were no
- on M g paEs Nipcl