Evening star., 1928-11-16
STORY Of HERO|SM
TOLD BY WOMEN
Wyoming Brings Last 8 Yes
iris Survivors to Norfolk.
.CoIored Fireman Praised.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NORFOLK, Va, November 16.-The
tory of heroism brought to shore by
ne battleship wyoming with the last
ght survivors of the sinking of the
estris added a glorious page to the
-agedy Of the sea.
Exhausted and running a high tenn
erature from many weary hours OF ex-
)oSure in q stormy sea, five white
omen and three coiored men were al
lowed to sleep late today-a sleep that
meant returning strength to bear up
,motionally under the great strain. One
Toman had lost both husband and
"hild, two others had lost their hus-
oandS and fourth, who had lost
child, learned that her husband was
safe.
Only one of the women was unable
70 walk ashore yesterday-MrS. TerukO
Inouye Of Toxic, wife of the Japanese
consul at BuenoS Aires. She was utterly
exhausted from the strenuous effort to
save her husband from the waters,
clinging to his body even in death when
picked up by the Wyoming
Holds Husband Up.
Mrs. Norman K. Batten of New York
vas also given the role of heroine in the
final chapter of the tragedy. Her hus-
band, along with Maj. Inouye and other
men in the badly crowded lifeboat, had
exhausted themselves in bailing and
righting a lifeboat that continued to
capsize in the high seas. Thrown into
the water and no longer able to keep
afloat. Mrs. Batten kept her husband
up IS long as life lasted, being forced
to let go before ala arrived.
Mrs. Elvira Fernandez Rua Of New
Lat hot 64rc ctAnr1 YAG
,hild, Mrs. Mary Ulrich of New York
had lost a child but learned that her
husband was safe and Mrs. Dolores
Earriero Doril of Brooklyn had been
informed that her husband was picked
up alive at sea.
But among the three negroes, Stokers
on the VestriS, was one whom the res
cued women acclaimed as the hero.
He was Gerald Burton of Barbados.
IF it hadn't been for Gerald, we
wouldn't be here" was the comment of
Mrs. Batten just before she lapsed into
sleep at the Naval Hospital last night
When the water crept up in the boiler
room Monday he remained below and
kept up steam in an upper boiler to
give power to the radio generator, the
last hope of the doomed vessel. He
remained there when the ship was
standing almost on her beam ends.
Helped Right Lifeboat.
When the overloaded lifeboat cap
sized Burton was one of the men who
righted it. The capsizing and righting
continued six times and at last the
so or so survivors had become a mere
handful Burton found himself strug-
Cling alongside Mrs. Batten and Mrs.
Ulrich.
stay with me and I won't let you
drown" they quoted the black man
as saying.
But amid the story of fortitude and
heroism there was another note of vio-
lation of the stern law of the sea-
women and children first
Mrs. Batten said she was placed In
lifeboat No. 8 with Mrs Earl Devore,
wife Of Los Angeles race driver, and
about go other persons. The boat was
both overcrowded and undermined.
Another boat containing only a few
members of the crew was seen nearby
and the No. boat drew alongside to
transfer some of its passengers. Mrs.
Batten said Mrs. Devore got into the
other boat, but that when she tried to
follow she was pushed back by an oar
and the boat then showed away.
The StokerS said that there was ap-
parently a sea valve leading to the ash
hopper that had cracked, probably be-
fore the vessel sailed.