The Washington times., 1922-10-13
TRANSFER
FINISHED
IN EARLY
. MORNING
Blazing Wreck Of City Of Homo
Z lulu May, Remain Afloat,
~ 10 Belief. ~.
By Internationai New. service.

1, ~ Antfknotbuu8t NoWn DctNhor.
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 49,
The work Of, transferring tbs 26s
persons among passengers Of the
Inflated passenger liner City Of
Honolulu from the Shipping Board
freighter. West Faralon, which
rescued them from open boats
late yesterday. $50 miles off this
port, to the United States trans
port Thomas, was begun ut lay
light todxy = shortly after y the
arrival ef tie big troop ship, and
was completed at 8 O'Clock. -
Liner May Stay AfIoAt. -.
g A radio message to the Federal
Telegraph Company said the liner
City Of Honolulu had been gutted
beyond repair by the fire which
forced her passengers and crew TO
the boats yesterday at sa, m. While
prior radio messages had indicated
she was in sihking condition. to-
days report said she might remain
afloat. although Il would be two
or three days before she could be
boarded because OF the intense heat.
She was still smoking and blazing In
spots today, and the heat from her
twisted steel beams was 50 terrific
II was impossible to approach her
closely.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock II was re.
ported by wireless that the transfer
to the Thomas was complete. The
West Faraion was planning to stand
by the wreck until, the arrival Of
coast guard cutters and seagoing
tugs enroute from Los Angeles and
San Francisco. II win then be de.
termined whether what remains Of
the City Of Honolulu will be towed to
Honolulu by the freighter ors toward
Los Angeles by the salvage tugs.
First Taken Aboard Freighter.,
Picked up by the Shipping Board
freighter West Faralon. the 2S3 per-
sons whose fate had been cause for
best they could on the heavily laden
outbound freight boat. It's officers
and crew gave up their quarters to
make the passengers as comfortable
as possible.
Al daybreak the United States
transport Thomas had reached the
scene and prepared to take all OF
the City Of Honolulu's passenger list
and crew aboard for transportation
to San Francisco. The big transport,
which in war times accommodated
600 officers and 1000 men, is able to
take care of all In rough but com.
Portable style. The Thomas Ii due
here Sunday afternoon. p
So Ear as advices received here
have indicated the thirty-seven men
and thirty-nine women and chill.
dren making up the passenger list
Of the City Of Honolulu suffered
but little. The transfer to boats
was accomplished without trouble
and In orderly fashion after flames
had made abandonment Of the ves-
sci necessary at q. m. yesterday.
For six hours the passengers and
crew floated about with their
former liner blazing to the heavens
and belching forth column OF
smoke which seemed to reach a
mile high. They were prepared to
spend the night in the little boats
as last wireless reports had indi.
Gated the Thomas and the freighter
Enterprise were far away. The
West Fsralon was a dark entry In
the rescue race. her presence In
the vicinity not being known until
long after the City Of Honolulu's
radio was stilled. Ft'..
Breaks An Speed Records.
Breaking an speed records. Cap.
tain Matt Fax Of the West Fara.
lon beat his own estimate Of the
time required to reach the scene
OF the fire by an hour. His crew
was ready for rescue work the
moment the big freighter, hove in
sight Of the small boats which, had
gathered to await rescue about q
mile from the burning ship.
The lifeboats were lying In q wide
semi-circie and four boats from the
West Faralon were soon launched
and set about picking up the women
and children first. At-3 o'clock the
first boatioad was lifted to the deck
OF the rescue ship and by I o'clock
the entire lot were safe on board.
There was ample space In the
twelve large lifeboats Of the City OF
Honolulu for sil on board. and 70
(Co0ffnt,sA IN Rn~s a CAsunnn NJ