Evening star., 1949-07-11

vived. DR.. Ramsey said he be-
lieved Gen. Prichard had died
instantly.
Witnesses estimated the Hal
cyon, one end of which was still
tied to the gas pier, sank within
two minutes after the blast. The
force of the blast broke off one
post of the pier near the water
line and gasoline covered the
water. The wind was blowing
away from the other boats moored
at a nearby pier.
Prichards, Biddles Close Friends.
After the explosion and fire, the
bow stuck out of the water at a
crazy angle. Debris, including the
jackets of phonograph records,
f1oated over the burned out stern.
The fire drew equipment from
No. l3 and No. 7 Engine Com
panies, No. 10 truck company and
Fire Rescue Squad No. /. Three
harbor patrol boats, a Coast Guard
launch, Navy crash boat and the
District fireboat also came to the
scene.
OF the group Mr.. Dudley in
vited aboard, the Biddles and the
Prichards were close friends. They
had been neighbors in Germany
near Kronberg Castle for three
years while Col. Biddle was serving
with United States Army head
quarters at Frankfurt. Mrs. Prich-
ard was the godmother of the
Biddle baby.
Gen. Prichard was a West Point
classmate of Gen. Bradley, Army
Chief of Staff, who went to the
Prichard home with Mrs. Bradley
as soon as he heard about the
fatal explosion.
Gen. Prichard had directed the
Army's public relations program
Tor almost a year. During World
War II, he commanded the 1st
Armored Division in Italy.
Mrs. Painter Is in Greece.
Col. Biddle has held numerous
wartime diplomatic posts. includ-
ing that OF ranking United States
Representative to the exiled gov
ernments of Poland, the Neither
lands, Belgium and Norway and
several other countries.
Mr. Painter, who was visiting
Mr.. Dudley at the Westchester,
was here in connection with his
contracting operations. Mr.. Nc
Mutt told the Associated Press in
New York that he had talked to
Mr.. Painter in Paris last week.
Efforts were being made last
night to have the American EN-
bassy in Greece notify the widow
Mr.. Painter also leaves two chill
dren, who are with Mrs. Painter
in Greece.
Born in Dryad, Wash, Mr..
Painter was a graduate of the
University of Washington and be-
fore entering the Navy in 1941 had
been a construction engineer in
Shanghai.
Mr.. Dudley. former Navy COM
said he became acquaint-
ed with Mr.. Painter in the Navy.
Mr.. Painter served in the Pacific.
At Pearl Harbor he was in charge
of raising the Battleship Califor-
mia. He later saw duty on Bou-
gainville and in China.
He received four Legions of
Merit, the Bronze Star and two
commentator ribbons. He left
the Navy in 1916 to resume his
contracting work. which took him
to Greece.
Capt. Luboshez was also visiting
Mr.. Dudley. According to Mr..
Dudley. he was attached to the
State Department after the war
and had recently returned from
China. During the war he served
in the Mediterranean.
Mr.. Johannesen, according to
his family and club members, is an
sailor. The Norweg-
ian-born steward served in the
marine for many years
and during the war commanded
an going tug in the Pacific
for the Army Transportation
Corps. He has been employed as
steward at the yacht club for
nearly two years and is regarded
by members as "the best steward
we ever had" All afternoon after