The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-09
1,6OO Persons Saved
 From Burning Vessel
Continued from Page 1

 1 But from this distance the water seemed only to feed the flames Within 10 minutes the Wakefield was shrouded in smoke. She never was clearly distinguishable again although this ship and the rest oi the convoy risked the danger ot lurking submarines to circle her fo1 an hour in case additional assist ance was needed.
 From the great cloud of smoke, however, cracked messages on the short range radio that told plainly but dramatically of the Wakef1elds ds battle.
 Have taken off all except those of the crew that they wish to keep abroad" came the first message of importance from one of the des- troyers it was followed moment later by another:
 There is a nucleus of crew still aboard. The engines are still okay and they think they can bring her (The Wakefield on in.'D
 That was at 7:15 D. m. Fifteen minutes later, still reflecting Brad- bury's confidence that he could save his ship, came a message from the cruiser:
 '"The captain has asked us to push of. I estimate that 300 to 400 crew members are still on board Manning the hoses. The fire hasn't got below B deck. The captain thinks 1t will burn out the super structure but he hopes to be able to get the ship into port"
 With that the cruiser pushed of but 10 minutes later her captain was back on the radio.
 "The fire seems to have broken out with new intensity" he said We had better stand by again."
 "The fire seems to be concen- trated on the B and c decks, in salon country" he supplemented a minute later. T have just talked to the (Wakefield) captain and he believes he still has a chance to save the ship. The fire had not reached the engine rooms. This, however, is a serious fire in my opinion. The fire began in a pas senger's stateroom.
 "One of the destroyers has showed of but we are still alongside. We are riding easily but losing a little of our paintwork."
 At 7:55 D. m. the cruiser com- mander mesSaged:
 "The fire apparently is out of control. I think they will abandon ship"
 There followed a long silence un- til at 8:20 the cruiser captain was back with:
 "They are now abandoning ship and coming aboard"
 Many of the crew members stayed aboard until 1t no longer was possible for the rescue ships to ma neuver alongside. They went over the side in boats just as darkness closed down. In the glare of the blaze and with the aid of sub misunderstanding searchlights, the rescue vessels recovered the men in boats.
 Then Bradbury, who originally had been rescued by the cruiser, transferred to the destroyer with a few ranking members of his staff and a standby salvage crew of 50 to the destroyer to stand watch on his ship.
 And as the cruiser pulled away its commander messaged back: Good luck to you, Wakefield"
 Later, when the intensity of the fire had abated somewhat, Brad bury led a special fire-fighting party back aboard .he Wakefield and they then succeeded in getting the flames under control, the navy said.
 Tugs and salvage craft were sum- moned and they safely lowed the bulk of the ship to an Atlantic port.
 The Manhattan was built in ie32 by the New York ShiphuIlding Co. at Camden, N. J.. for the United States Line. The vessel cost more than ei0.000.000 and in peace times accommodated i,iei passengers, with $50 tn cabin class.
 She was taken over hy the Navy ln lDal, soon after outbreak of war, and renamed the U. 6. 8. Wakefield In honor Of George Washlngton's birthplace.
 The Manhattan, e6e4 feet leng with Q beam Of ee.s feet, was the largest tFansAtlantie liner built ln the United states ct the time 3f her completion, The liner America built several years later is aosne- what larger.
 The Manhattan sailed on her maiden voyage from New York en Aug, 70, ias7, with Capt George Fried in command,
 Govt MaRsFt
 WnAhlnston, Gan4 a-ffipl-~ TAna