The New York herald., 1922-08-12
Aboard the s. 8. Adriatic off New
England, August IL Saturday.

ADO6rd the >. >. Adrfatic off New
England, August IL Saturday.
The explosion on the Adriatic oc-
Cured at 1880 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. Spontaneous combustion in the
reserve coal hatch is said to have been
the cause Whatever the cause, its
rumbles shook the echoes and it's flare
of light lit up the sea; but the officers
and crew impaired an air of conf
dence to the passengers. and this
helped.
True, the rigging was on fire; true, a
terrific explosion had taken place;
true, a fire was raging in the coal
hole; but Capt. David said we were
all right, and Capt. David proved right.
For two hours we drifted through,
with the pumps pouring water into
that fire, and they We're the longest
two hours any passenger there ever
passed in his or her life.
Then Capt. David comes up out of
the CRIME and dust and says: "All
danger is past"
The pumps stop. The engines start.
The ship is off. And we all thank God
for Capt. David and his efficient crew
of White Star officers.
ABOARD THE STEAMSHIP ApRrArrc, off
New England, Aug. IL (by wireless to
the Associated Press)-An explosion
occurring to-day aboard the steamship
Adriatic In the reserve coal hatch killed
five members of the crew and injured
four others
The explosion was caused by spon-
taneous combustion. OF the five of the
crew who were killed one was believed
to have been blown overheard.
The following description of the ex-
plosion was given by Martin H. Glynn
1T came like roar of thunder. The
captain Of the ship. Hugh r. David. Is a
strict disciplinarian, and this showed to-
day when he performed great work. He
had the fire In the hold under control
and the ship again on her way a few
hours after the explosion.
The discipline and courtesy of all
the officers were admirable, and the
members of the crew were true to the
best traditions Of English seamanship.
The explosion and the attending
flash awakened me. landed on deck
to find scores before me- and there we
stayed until the sun came up. and what
we saw was complimentary to human
nature.
''It was a tense time. There was a
solemnity. a seriousness in the air, a
,quietness of speech. hush of ex-
pectancy and looking of fate in the
face. but no whimpering. no sniveling
no Mysteries. no wailing. no word OF
complaint.
Woman's Voice Reassures.
Then, while the boat was still drift
ing and the pumps plugging away. from
out OF the shadows scame the beautiful
voice OF woman, who said:
"'Capt. David will pull us through all
right
"A man next to her repeated II. Then
some one else took II up. and so Il went
from lip to lip. down the line and around
the deck Capt. David will pull US
through all right
And he did"
To-day while the sun was sinking
two of the victims. enshrouded in the
Union Jack. were consigned 20 the
vaults OF the deep. Nearly 1.400 people
stood in reverential attitude as the
bodies slipped over the side OF the ship
for which they had given their lives.
Passengers raised $1,000 to care for
families OF the dead and injured.
The White Star Line steamship Adri-
attic Is making for this port under full
speed. despite her misfortune.
The first word Of the ships trouble
was so vague and the radio message so
brief that II was feared yesterday an
other big marine disaster was occurring.
While travelling at full speed about
1900 miles from New York a sudden
explosion shook the big ship and FIRE
followed swiftly. Wireless messages
were Immediately sent. giving the posi-
tlon OF the liner at 51.41 west and 41.23