Evening star., 1922-10-14
RESCUE SHIP HEADS
|NT0L0S ANGELES
Course of Army Transport
Changed by Order of Sec.
retary Weeks.
WILL DOCK TOMORROW
Passengers and Crew of Burned
Liner in Good Spirits
After Escape.
WILL DOCK TOMORROW
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Army transport Thomas was
ordered today by Secretary Weeks TO
proceed to Los Angeles instead OF
San Francisco to land the passengers
rescued from the burned liner city OF
Honolulu The transport later VIII
go to San Francisco.
Ry the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. October IL
Refugees OF the sea, the 26l persons
who were the passengers ana crew OF
rf,e liner city of Honolulu. when
.lames drove them into the ships
5oats eS. miles southwest of San
Francisco Thursday morning. were
..rproachiuS the mainland today
aboard the transport Thomas.
The Thomas is expected to make
port some time tomorrow. me City
Of Honolulu was burned to the waters
edge Her charred and twisted hulk
will be towed i'll later.
Experiences of the rescued passen-
gers were described in radio mes
sage from the Thomas to the Asso-
ciated Press.
In the open boats the castaways
settled down to make the best OF
miserable situation, expecting TO De
1T sea an indefinite time. The women
passengers accepted tnelr 1ate Dis
brayely as the men.
Seven Hours on Sea.
Upon being transferred to the
Thomas. the passengers were given
warm clothing. although most OF II
was of the mistit variety. Some OF
the men are now dressed as colonels
of cavalry. others as dashinS heuten-
ants of infantry.
From the beginning to the end OF
MT fer nf
the City of Honolulu never raised MS
voice above his ordinary conVersa-
Tional tone. The calm attitude of the
captain inspired confidence in the
passengers and there was no sem
blance of panic.
All messages received here said that
the work of rescue was as effective
as though it had been consistently
rehearsed. According to wireless
message from the Thomas. the great
est hardship suffered by the passen-
gers was their experience of seven
hours on the open sea while the
Thomas. tho West Faralon and the
MatSon liner Enterprise were steam
ing toward them.
According to a message received
from Capt. NJ. NJ. Walk of the Fara-
lon the fire had destroyed all of the
Honolulus upper works and her hull
was evidently 50 warped and twisted
by the flames that salvage will be
out of the question.
There were words of praise for the
manner in which capt. Harry +. Les
ter of the Honolulu and the crew
handled the emergency. The pas
Sengers wanted to stay with the
Honolulu, according to the message
from the Thomas. in the belief that
the fire would be gotten under con-
troll. They were told. however. that
the fight against the fire was proving
:, losing one. The arrival of the
Thomas is not to be made a public
spectacle, according to transport au-
the landing dock. but relatives and
members of the press VIII be per-
mitted on the transport.
The probable cause of the fire was
given as defective wiring in the sec
ond cabin. according to III, message
from the Thomas The usual investi-
cation by the United States steam
boat inspection service is expected to
20 into this fully.
Rescuer Criticised.
Los ANGELES. Calf, october H.
Capt. Walk, master of the Shipping
Board freighter West Faralon. will be
asked to explain several points IN MS
conduct during the rescue OF passengers
and crew of the burned steamer City
Of Honolulu, according to dispatch
received at the Los Angeles offices OF
the board here from James Sheedy.
vice president of the board, at Washing
ton, D. c., the Los Angeles Times
stated in a story published today.
Radiograms have been sent to Capt.
Walk asking an explanation of why he
did not report his position Immediately
upon receiving the first S. o. S. from
the City of Honolulu, the Times
stated.
Mr. Sheedy's message to Los Angeles
Shipping Board officials was said to
contain this paragraph:
Morning press carries signed story
by him Capt. Walk) of rescue in which
he reports City of Honolulu to be
settling. Suggest that you intimate
that he confine his literary efforts to
official reports to YOU"
Local officers were also instructed by
Mr.. Sheedy to order Capt. H. r. Lester
of the City of Honolulu to make a full
report of the disaster Immediately, ex-
planning the likely cause of the fire and
whether it started in the machinery
section or cargo holds.
Orders also were issued for the West
Faralon to stand by the hulk of the
liner. which. according to radio mes
sages to Shipping Board officials, prob
ably will sink today.