Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-28

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Queen with It's 1900 passengers came
abreast. Those on board crowded to
the front decks TO witness the spec
tacle ashore. Bands aboard were
playing and everybody was in high
spirits.
Deck Drops Out.
Out OF clear sky there came the
crashing and grating of timbers UNI
dor tho feet of the 900 on the third
deck. They felt the floor sink. They
stood silent, apparently awe-struck
for half minute. Then came a deaf
ening crash. The entire front deck
dropped. Sill there was no panic.
Those who went down with the
deck remembered the Manchester.
Ohio. schoolboys' band had been play
ing Immediately under them. There
were hrty-two boys and girls, many
boys in knee trousers. Were they
killed? As the 300 scrambled from
the crushed deck. the one question
on all lips was Are the band boys
all killed." The question was asked
in whispers.
Chairs Hold Timbcrs,
But the half minutes warning
saved tho boys. AT tlS, first crash.
they began to scurry toward the
stern. Some, however, did not make
it in time and We're caught The
chairs on which they had been seat
ed. however, held the load for n sec
ond. That second was long enough
however, to permit them to crawl to
safety before the tons of timber and
human weight crushed the chairs.
The crash Of the falling deck re-
sounded from bow to stern. Many
thought the steamer was sinking
Others thought the boilers had ex-
ploded. Women tainted and became
hysterical. Children screamed and
men. mostly, appeared awe-struck.
One girl whose name could not be
learned. attempted TO jump overheard
Officers caught her
The little band boys and girls ran
about, many crying. seeking their
companions. thinking some perhaps
had been buried under the debris
Some thinking other parts of the deck
also mad given way, began seeking
their parents and friends.
Hand Plays Lively Tunes.
Officers of tho boat shouted ordors
for the people to remain in thei,
places and keep quiet. Military Of
hcers ana Cincinnati police, of whom
there were many on board. also eau
tioned against becoming panic
stricken. The Eleventh Division
band was on the deck Immediately
above. but which did not extend nil
the way over the Inflated deck. They
heard the crash and saw the deck
drop. True to their military train
ing, not bandsman stirred. Thew
were playing soft air. and, sensing
the situation. the director immedl-
ateiy struck up n lively tune, In
which each member put his entire
energy. The music drowned out tho
cries of children and of hysterIcal
women. 1t no doubt had great eff
feet in preventing panic throughout
the forward decks.
Construct Dead Lines.
Ohlcers Immediately constructed
dead lines on the second deck after
getting all toward the stern and he
gan to search the debris for any
that might have been caught. In
less than ten minutes they were able
to assure the passengers that no one
was caught under the fallen decks
or had been killed. Physicians and
Red Cross nurses attended tho in
jured.
General 3. s. Stansberry, of Gin
cinnat. a veteran of tho Thirty
Seventh Ohio National Guard Divis-
ion overseas. organized n citizens
committee to promote orderly hand
ling OF the crowd during the re-
mainder OF tho voyage.
Was Old Pleasure Craft.
The Island Queen was tho fourth
In line OF the fiotilla. President
Harding did not learn OF tho acci-
dent until the Cnynga moored at tho
Point Pleasant landing.
General Chairman Hugh l. Mich