The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 7

THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER: SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 21. 193! Victims of Harbor raged Scenes at Fight With Flames 1 I I VI x- i i kx -x, -x -ir i ll BUD KENGMAV, cabin boy, who HAROLD CTRLING, messman on the Charlie Watson, who suffered a fractured leg when the ship blew up. i i suffered burns and lacerations Xxl fs; XX 1 of the. head and face In the i I 'v I rr I tanker explosion.

i -m. jri i j. CAPT. OSCAR LANDAIIL, master of the Standard Oil tanker Charlie Watson, who was burned, perhaps fatally, yesterday in a series of explosions aboard the vessel at Pier 43. 4 DEAD, 9 HURT IN TANKER BLAST Men Hurled Into Bay When Three Terrific ES Ffl UN DEATH RELATED Explosions Rend Oil Ship fConined from Page One.) UOH JOHN GANNON.

TWO OFFICERS of the Charlie Watson, who met death in the explosions and fires on the tanker yesterday. ARROW POINTS to gasoline pump line, bursting of which was blamed for the waterfront tragedy. THE BLACKENED forward deck of the tanker Charlie Watson, swept yesterday by explosions and fire. rfi mmm-s -ssa5. XX I MX Flames, spreading to the docfc, gnawed at timbering on Its under side.

Operating from small skiffs, fireman, directed by Chief Breni nan, extinguished this secondary fire and confined damage to the pier to about $500, Damage to the Charlie Watson, Standard Oil officials declared, wili "run into many thousands." An exact estimate, they said, cannot be made until after a thorough inspection. They announced plans of towing the tanker, which was listing heavily at the dock, to Richmond. The Charlie Watson, first of the full Diesel tankers on this coast, was launched at the Union Construction Yards, Oakland, in 1920. She Is a vessel of 1,769 gross tons, with a cargo capacity of 13,500 fifty-gallon barrels. Four separate investigations were started at once.

The company Itself undertook one, while other inquiries were begun by Coroner T. W. B. Leland, Fire Marshal Frank Kelly of San Francisco and Henry J. Casper, State Fire Marshal for the harbor.

Other State agencies also are expected to join the investigations. Wilkins Nautilus Sunk Off Norway BERGEN Nov. 20. (AP) The Polar submarine Nautilus, in which the expedition of Sir Huoert Wilkins proceeded to the Arctic last summer, was sunlc of the coast here today. Swift death struck three men yesterday, leaving their shipmates aghast at its nearness.

Seamen, bewildered at the terrific suddenness of the explosion which tore at the vitals of the tanker Charlie Watson, stood benumbed on Pier 43, while firemen and hospital stewards carried away pitiful forms un stretchers. After the blackened ship had listed under the weight of water poured Into her holes, they crept aboard, timidly, to retrieve their possessions. The first horror past, they could talk of what happened. BLOWN FROM ROOM. John B.

Amiot, chief steward, winced as first aid was applied to his wounded leg in an ambulance on the dock. He said: "I was In the corner room, making out the menu for dinner. Everybody was aboard. I was blown into the next room. I shouted for every one to leave the ship, quickly." Jimmie McCullen, veteran seaman, was asleep.

The explosion awakened him. "I went ashore by the stern line, with nothing on but my trousers and shirt." He could laugh about It later. SHOT UNDER SHIP. she collapsed while attempting to make her way to the burning vessel. The disaster came, ship's officers declared, as the Charlie Watson was about to complete her unloading.

Some 30,000 gallons of gasoline, it was estimated, were aboard at the time of the explosion. On Thursday, tne tanker had left the company's docks at Richmond with 265,000 gallons in her six tanks. DECK FLOODED. Testimony is unanimous that the pump-line burst and flooded the forward well-deck with gasoline shortly before the first blast The presumption is that a spark ignited the fumes a spark which may have come, Investigators said, from a "blower," from the pump machinery, from a tool dropped on the steel deck, or from a dozen other possible sources. The most startling of this testimony ceoie from Henry Crockett, Insurance agent, who boarded the vessel a few minutes earlier in an effort to sell insurance to Rippy.

He declared Rippy remarked: "I'm well covered, but you can never tell when these things will blow up on you." Then ft whistle blew forward, Crockett said, and he heard a shout: "Your line's parted." Rippy. and a second member of the crew believed to have been Gannon raced forward. They ran directly into the explosion and death. Workers, at distant points of the dock, were felled by. the force of the blast.

Among them was Joseph Blazer, 232 Lexington street Blazer, scrambling to his feet, saw black smoke pouring from the craft and turned in the first fire alarm. SF.KIOUSLY BURNED. Another witness was Sam Drus-kin of 342 Lexington street, Standard Oil employe on the dock. He and R. T.

Finnegan, his fellow employe, raced from the office as the line broke. Finnegan, in the lead, was thrown backward and seriously burned by the spurting flames from the first blast. Druskin escaped A w.t A 1 vlX 5 X- II 5 4 Two seamen, Frank Lloyd and George Allen, were over the side on a staging, painting the tanker's I starboard bow. Allen said: frX I CLASPS 0U CRBBir Lowest Price THE TRAGEDY was caused when a pump line burst, spraying gasoline over- the deck; this was ignited by a spark. THREE MEN perished and ten others were burned when three terrific explosions raked the upper docks of the ship.

FIREMEN BATTLING the disastrous blaze which swept the Standard Oil tanker Charlie Watson yesterday at Tier 43. No extra charge for credit SHOOTING OtX WEST Prophetic Warning Given Instant Before tragedy STANDARD OIL OPENS INQUIRY era GASPS STORY OF LOSS PONED mi injury. Examination Included IRVING HOLBERT Optometrist 8 POWELL STREET "You never know when these things are going to blow up!" Prophetic words then sinister For the second time an Inquest Into the death of Ezzio Bertolozzl, 16, who died of a gunshot wound, has been postponed at South San Francisco. The inqust was to have been held yesterday afternoon, but Edward Eli, IS, in whose hands the gun rested when the fatal shot was discharged, refused to attend, according to police. The inquest has been postponed until next Tuesday.

reality. Two men stood talking yesterday on the after well deck of the tanker Charlie W. J. Schmelz, machinists mate aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Golden Gate, moored nearby, led his crew to the side of the blazing craft with fire extinguishers. Schmelz told of seeing men thrown to the dock from the Charlie Watson and of hurrying to the hospital with one crew member "whose clothes were blown off him." The explosion, occurring in one of the two forward tanks, bulged the vessel's plates and loosened seams Along the entire forecastle head.

The Ideal Xmas Gift The following statement concerning the disastrous fire and explosion aboard the tanker, Charlie Watson, was issued by the Standard Oil Company, owners, last night: "The cause of the tragic accident on the M. S. Charlie Watson has not been determined. As usual In such disasters the suddenness of the event makes evidence of origin difficult to obtain. The company is now making full Investigation in an effort to establish the facts." I "I don't know what It was all about, but we were both blown Into the water, and under the ship.

I fought my way up and was badly cut by barnacles. "The bay was cold, but after I got ashore and saw what had happened, I sure thanked the mate for giving me such a lucky job." Lloyd, 8lso plunged Into the water by the explosion, said: "I don't know what happened, but when I came up to the top of the water I had to laugh at Allen. He was covered by paint and sure looked funny. All I know is that the water was plenty cold." Both men were treated at the hospital. OVER THE SIDE.

Bert Rengman, another who ent over the side with the explosion, was treated for burns and lacerations. "I was amidships, and heard the bos'n sing out; 'Gas line's In a second, the whole forward end was afire." John Macklin, the bos'n, was one cf the men flung over the side by the explosion. "I saw the gas spurt out of the hose and yelled to the pumpmen and all hands," said Macklin. It was his shout which sent officers to the control room to cut the ilectrio current and warned the rew of the blast which came al-aost instantly. H.

K. Short, electrician, who cheated death by a fraction of a second, said: "I was In my room In the mld-shlp-house, when fire shot up on all sides. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my head, and dashed out through the smoke. My room went up a second later." YOUR PORTRAIT I'ae your Bouora Coupon ar Rehn'te Check for your Ja Photos on! They are an sold. Swathed in bandages so that only the pupils of his eyes were visible, Capt Landahl lay on his Marine Hospital cot last night.

He fought with pain to recall a possible cause for the tragic explosion aboand his command, the tanker Charlie Watson. "The hose must have burst," he said. I saw gas spurting high and started for the control room to shut off the current. "Then the blast came. Two men were ahead of me.

Chief Officer B. C. Rippy and Henry Jor-gensen. I wonder what happened to them. "I don't know what happened after that.

It was hell In there." Rippy and Jorgensen were listed among the three dead. Future prnnnerltr nr he nfmiirtit If too will make the wiee lnemrnt new. See the Real Estate columns of tnder'a Want A.I.. "Your line's parted!" a frantic shout from the bow. Rippy turned and ran forward.

With him ran the officer he was about to introduce to Crockett. "She's afire!" the warning pierced the air a second before the first explosion. Crockett leaped to the pier. "I looked back and saw the smoke roll Into the air. The two men started to jump.

The explosion flung them over the rail. I ran down the deck. I turned hack, and running toward me was a man with his clothes all burned off black as coal. "Rippy I never saw him again." Teacher Misconduct Jurors Discharged MORGANTOWN W. Nov.

20. Unable to reach an accord after considering the case since late yesterday, the Jury in the trial of Dr. John Thomas West, charged with misconduct with a teacher in the high school of which he was principal, was discharged today by Judge Charles G. Baker. GAYLORD INN Watson a pier 43.

Henry Croc 1 1, 210 Post street, was trying to sell more insurance to Boyd C. Rippy. chief mate of the tanker. Rippy said: "I'm pretty n-pll cov On Our Sunday Dinner Served from 12 till 8:30 p. aa r.4Prrni lT RCPREVK MARASCHINO Dine in theBeautifulSurroundings of thisllnique Cafe OUR REGULAR SUNDAY DINNER MENU from 13S.KI to 9 P.

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(AP) Cosmopolitan Manila gave an impressive farewell tonight to Governor General Dwight F. Davis, who will leave tomorrow on a visit to the United States. ered, but you never know when these things are going to blow up on you" a whistle shrilled, cutting through his words. CELERY EN BRANCHE GREEN OIX ES CREAH Or CHICKEN. MCSHROOMS.

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