The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-11

were burned to death before they
hit the water.
Negro members of the crew
caused more panic than any others
aboard, including women"
Life boats were launched from
the Fairfax, but the tradition Of the
seas--that women and children go
first-were observed carefully.
Men Go in Turns
Men passengers made no attempt
to rush for the lifeboats and went
to them only in their turn" said Jo-
seph Armstrong, a Fairfax passen-
ger. when we (Ar1nstrong and his
friends) go out on deck, efforts al
ready were being made to launch
the lifeboats. This was impossi-
bic at first because fire was sweep
ing the deck. The lifeboats launched
were pulled safely away from the
fire zone, remained there for some
time and then passengers were
taken back aboard the Fairfax
Passengers who were injured or
burned in the disaster were BROUGHT
to hospital here. One unidentified
woman died shortly after reaching
port. Nine others were listed in
hospitals and five of these were
placed on the danger list.
The Fairfax, carrying seventy-one
passengers, mostly from greater
Boston, and a crew of seventy, left
Tuesday night inaugurating its sea-
sonal Boston Baltimore service. Only
one-quarter of its staterooms were
occupied. The Fairfax travelled at
about six knots because of a peaSoup
fog.
Felt Steamer Shudder
Some passengers were in the main
salon. A few promenaded the decks,
but the fog made this form Of di-
version unattractive.
1t was exactly p. m. Central
daylight time) when passengers felt
the ship shudder. So light was the
shock that one man in the main
salon remarked that the Fairfax
must have grounded. Passengers
could see a deep red glow only a.
few yards from the Fairfax, and
this Illuminated the helpless tanker.
Screams could be heard from the
oil vessel. Split almost in two by
the great steel prov Of the Fairfax,
the comparatively diminutiye tank
er soon foundered.
-Four or five nurses were the
heroines Of the disaster. Unmind-
full of their own safety, they worked
furiously to assist the burned and
injured, administering skillful first
aid at time when it seemed almost
certain that the Fairfax would fol-
low the tanker to the bottom.
Nurses Deserved Medals"
Survivors brought here later were
almost as one in paying highest
tribute to the courageous services
rendered by the nurses, marine
among the passengers remarking
that they deserved medals"
A hero Of the tragedy was John
Pott, a sailor who was en- route to
Norfolk, Va, to be assigned to duty
in China. At the height Of the fire,
he noted that flames had crippled
the Fairfax radio antenna. He sue
ceeded in repairing the damage, re-
establishing communication be-
tween the burning ship and shore.
j. B. Walker Of Kittery, Me, a
sailor, attempted to restrain "a wom-
an from leaping into the sea. He
grappled with her as she mounted
the rail, was dragged overheard and
both were believed to have persisted.
Sister Ship to Rescue
It remained for a sister ship Of
the Fairfax, the Gloucester, which
was in the vicinity, to effect the
rescue of the steamers survivors.
Responding to a radio call for
aid, the Gloucester arrived along
side less than half an hour after
the crash. A calm sea made pos
sible a transfer Of the Fairfax pas
sengers over three gang planks and
the Gloucester proceeded TO Boston.