South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-17
DANCE MUSIC ON
BURNING VESSEL
AYERTS DISASTER
Messengers, Reused at 4 A. NJ,
Unaware of Grim Reality
of Fire Drill.
BY WILLIAM PARKER.
q. y. :. stan Correspondent

q. y. =. stan Correspondent
WILMINGTON. Calf. oct 16-
Salvaged voyaFers OF the sea. the ~
passengers and 1S6 OF the crew Of
the burned Los Angeles
liner city of Honolulu disembarked
here today from the United States
army transport Thomas.
The passengers were in a happy
mood when they walked down the
gang plank. even though some
clad Ga parts OF clothing hastily
snatched when the fire call sounded
aboard the liner early last Thurs
day morning when the Los Angeles
bound vessel was &670 miles from
ITS destination.
Vivid word pictures were graz
phically painted OF the hours OF peril
Periodically thouzh-and an elo-
quent tribute 20 the marvels OF the
radio. no longer did the full horror
Of being victims OF a sea tragedy
dawn on the passengers when they
realized they were saved.
Although the transport Thomas
arrived OF the san Pedro 0reakwa-
ter at 1880 o'clock Sunday night.
the passengers were held In quarau-
tine until morning The customs
service ocials invoking the time
hOnored law Of pratique.
Meanwhile. through the night, the
~overnment quarantine doctors
D. peacefully In their bungalow
y miles away. Although unwilling
20 be quoted. several or the Tassen-
a nr
devor through their congressional
representative 10 have the law OF
pratique repealed.
Shortly after the Thomas drop
ped anchor. a speedy motorboat sal
lied from the san Pedro submarine
base. drew alongside and three
marines, formidably accoutred 40
caIiber side arm. climbed the "Jac-
obs ladded" and took up their posi-
tions at convenient points, where
the vessels could be boarded. NO
body can come up" 4 peremptory
voice called down from above when
a newspa perman sought 20 follow
the marines.
Praise Captain.
The T. y. S. correspondent went
20 sea in a water taxi and while the
big white steamer was beating
rough sea in the Santa Barbara
channel. he obtained a composite
interview via megaphone with the
rescued passengers.
Say a good word for Capt. Les
ter. the telephone girl and the crew
OF the city OF Honolulu" called a
man who from his nondescript at
tire looked as though he had been
outftted from the transports "sloD
chest"
Then from the fragmentary mar
ratives called through the ships
story or the trip and about the fire
which broke out on the city of Hon
olulu:
. The vessel was halfway 10 her
bne port. approximately GO miles
NWisps OF smoke were discovered
issuing from beneath hatch No. 6.
This was at o'clock Thursday
morning. Ordinarily a cargo FIRE is
not considered especially dangerous,
many vessels coming into port with
smoking cargo or coal bunkers.
Orders Fire Drill
Can't. TT. r. Lester Immediately
summoned the full crew and order
ed water pumped into the hold So
rapidly did the fire spread however,
That Capt. Lester instructed Betty
Stanhope TO telephone all passen-
gers TO assemble on deck immediate
u for practice fire drill. This fore
thought OF the cartain, passengers
said. undoubtedly allayed fear and
prevents what otherwise might have
developed into a fatal panic.
Most OF the passengers, men and
women. came laughing to the main
salon. amused at the odd sort of
klmOnas, bathrobes, pajamas and
night robes suddenly put on dis
play.
shortly. IL dawned on tn e
sleepy thronE that the fire driu was
q grim reality
The ships orchestra began 20
play. The air was "3 O'Clock I'm the
morning" This familiar and tune
ful cir Gained any tendency a.
nervousness. Partners paired off TO
dance Then the ship listed and the
order came at 9 o'clock TO take 20
the boats II was all done calmly and
- il boat loads faced their vigil
Sntr rescue came with the same for
titude they displayed on learning of
sr-a fire