The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-26

lerolSm' both on the part of the
crewmen aboard who escaped in
jury and the Coast Guard which
brought medical assistance.
DR.. T. M. Hall, Chick Hosch. As
ISOLATED Press writer, Rudy Fair
cloth, APP photographer and N.Y.
self left the Oak Island Station
with CMOMM Walter Lewis and his
crew, consisting of Norman Hen
dry, S 1-c of Fredonia, Kas..
Eddie Bayard, S 1-c of Wsxesville,
Mass and Robert Jestice, Cptr. M,
OF Wilmington, shortly after 8 a. m.
to make contact with the stricken
Bennington.
We observed a ply flying over
head and made contacts by radio
with the Oak Island station at in
tervals. The speedy 63-foot Air-sea
rescue craft was plying through the
choppy waters in search of the
tanker. We sighted the ship at 9:25
a. m. and at $50 a. M, then
boarded her by climbing up a sway
ing Jacobs ladder.
DR.. Hall, a graduate of the
University of Georgia Medical Col
lege was the first to 20 aboard,
followed by myself, Hosch and
Faircloth. The doctor Immediately
vas rushed to the compartment Of
Faulkner, who was suffering from
severe burns that covered his en-
tire body. We found that Faulkner
was the only man needing medical
attention.
We talked with a veteran" of
the sea, Henry B. Wilson, 49-year-
old resident Of Cumberland, Md.
Wilson had several weeks growth of
beard and was called Pop" by
the other crew members, who ap-
peared to be very young.
The pump man came aft and
advised the boatswain of the pres
ence of gas fumes in the foresec-
ton Wilson said. in telling of the
events Immediately before and aft
err the terrific explosions.
Fighting Blaze
Some of the crew returned with
the boatswain and pumpmen to the
bow section. The explosion hap
pened a couple of minutes after
that. We lay to, turn the ship
cross-wise the wind so the flames
would blow off the side and began
fighting the blaze with fire hoses.
There was so much smoke-and it
was raining we had trouble at
first, but we finally got the fire
under control and held it to the
forward compartment" the beard
ed sailor said.
After talking with Wilson, we
went to the bow section to see a
mass of buckled steel plates and
equipment. The steel stairway was
broken and twisted by the intense
heat. We saw n sheet draped
body sprawled on the steel deck.
face down and burned beyond
recognition.
The major portion of another
body was seen in the cargo hatch
and still another lay on the aft
deck. more than 200 feet from the
damaged section. Large gaping
holes in the bow of the ship gave
evidence of the powerful force OF
the mysterious blast.
Doctor Hall was working over
James F. Faulkner, the only vic
tim still alive, he was burned all
over the body but did not lose
consciousness. He tried desper-
atelv to raise out Of his bunk to
talk with us.
Faulkner's Version
Faulkner feebly told us 1.-The
pumpmen told the boatswain to
turn the light on just after he had
turned it off. There was a tremen-
dous explosion and fire shot every
where. l don't remember anything
after that"
Stewart Faulkner (no relation to
the injured mani of Camden, N.
j.. said he had just retired when
the roaring blast shook the ship.
IT jumped into my clothes and
ran out onto the deck. I saw a
man staggering acros the deck,
trying to support himself" he
said. 81 ran to him and helped to
lead him amidship. 1t was James
Faulkner" he added. He then
told how several of the boys car
ried two injured men out OF the
fire zone. Both Of these men died
later.
Larry W. Hall, 10, of Springfield,
Mo-. was on his way to the bow
when the explosion occurred. His