East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-10-12
400 QUIT CITY
Of HONOLULU IN
PACIFIC
Former German Liner and
Army Transport in Flames
2 Days Out Of Los Angeles.
HELP EXPECTED TO
ARRIVE THIS AFTERNOON
Radio Operator Flashed All
Hands Gone at 1912 This
Morning and Quit Post.


HONOLULU, Oct IA. =
+ P)-There were seventy SIX =
passengers aboard the City of =
Honolulu when she left here for =
+ Los Angeles, sixty four of them =
j. saloon and twelve third class. =
+ + T. + = : = = =
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. H.
(U. P.)-Thc yacht Casiana pass
ed the drifting boats this after.
eftoon, md flashed the word that
the sen was calm and the Nttie
crafts were riding nicely. The
weather bureau reported no signs
of u storm.
SAN FRANCISCO, oct. l2.-(U. P)
SOME four hundred passengers and
crew of the palatial pacifb. liner City
of Honolulu We're afloat to-day on the
trac<less. Pacific watching from their
flimsy ifehoats the burning of the
giant liner. The liner left Honolulu
october seventh. 1t was due to arrive
at san Pedro Saturday. Captain II.
Il. Lester commands the vessel. She
was a transport during the war, max
ing eight trips across the Atlantic. The
vessel first reported n fire at five
thirty this morning. The vessels near
by are prepared to rush to the rescue.
A destroyer squadron at San Pedro
loaded with supplies Is to SAIL Then
came the message that passengers
were ordered to the boats, officers and
crew standing by. Then that the Off
GERS and crew took to the boats. Just
before the last goodbye" the radio
operator, holding his post to the last
said the flames were licking about
him. He closed his set, and shore
stations heard no more. II Is believed
that every one escaped the floating
The vessel known as the
Huron" during the war, was once
German liner.
Conflicting messages were received
the positions OF vessels to
aid the passengers. Some believed
ships might sight the lifeboats today,
but later radios said the transport
Thomas, the nearest vessel, would be
unable to reach the scene before to-
morrow afternoon.
IAN hands Gone"
w. p. Bell, chief radio operator.
sent the last message "Ali hands
gone" at ten twelve. This meant that
Captain Lester. first officer, chief en-
gineer and radio operator. who were
the last to remain aboard the ship.
were driven from the ship at that
time. The vessel was apparently left
to the fury Of the flames. Officials
Of the company here said there were
probably hundred passengers
aboard. A small fruit cargo was car
ricd. Passengers and crew will drift
in the life boats until vessels in the
are able to pick them up or
a destroyer crew is rushed from San
Pedro TO their assistance. No word
was received as to the condition OF tho
passengers. so II is assumed all escap-
ed the fire without injury. Ordinary
always kept aboard lifeboats
are sufficient to supply the refugees
until help arrives. The steamer was
returning from her maiden voyage to
the Hawaiian Islands. having formerly
been engaged in South American
trade. Before that she was an army
transport, and previous TO the war
piled between New York and German
ports under the flag OF the North Ger
man Lloyd Line. named Friedrich der
Crosse.
At noon radio word came that the
steamer Enterprise. Matson Saviga-
tion company line in the South Seas.
should reach the scene of the disaster
this afternoon. The United States
army transport Thomas and the ship
ping board freighter West Farralone
should be in the vicinity this after
noon also.
CAPETOWN,-A movement Is afoot
10 send a shipload OF Christmas gifts
n food and stores 10 Tristan da Gun
Ia. the loneliest isle in the world.