Collins, with his head protected, trousers tied around his ankles, and hands wrapped with wet cloths, disappeared through the doorway into that scalding hell of steam. Inch by inch he groped his way along but still moved rapidly toward the place Ralph had last been seen, and in a few seconds met the bewildered scalded midshipman who had by this time got to his feet. Ralph was aware that an accident had happened but was blinded and scalded. He hesitated helplessly, and then felt a strong arm grab him; Collins now rose to his feet, and dragging Ralph after him, ran forward to where there was a ladder leading to an open door out of the fire room into the fire men’s wash room. Collins pushed Ralph up the ladder and immediately followed him, and then both were rushed to the sick quarters.
In the meantime Hester had had himself wrapped head and foot in wet bags and cloths and went into the fire room, first to the safety-valve of boiler E which he opened, and then to the top of the boiler where he shut the valve, disconnecting that boiler from the other seven boilers. Then in rushed the chief engineer, without any protection; he was greeted by a blast of steam from the boiler which struck him on the head and knocked him down. Fortunately he was near the door and was hauled out by his feet.
Ralph had run to the sick quarters without assistance. His face, hands and part of his body smarted painfully but he had no idea that he had been badly injured. Intense suffering came in the next few days; his cruise of course came to an abrupt end, and he was transferred to the Newport Naval Hospital where he remained till the end of September, losing all of his September leave.
Collins and Hester both received medals of honor with highly commendatory letters from the Secretary of the Navy. Neither were more than slightly burned.
Severe as was the accident, Ralph was fortunate in several respects. First, the hole in the furnace crown through which the steam had escaped was very small. Then Ralph was at some distance and was not struck directly; and also the fire room was large and spacious. So Ralph had much reason to be thankful he had escaped with his life. He and the chief engineer were the only two who were seriously injured.[6]
CHAPTER XVII
Third Classmen Elect Class Officers
Many times during the long weeks that Ralph Osborn spent in the hospital did the young man’s heart well up with gratitude for Collins’ devoted bravery. “I never could have gotten out,” he said over and over again. He wrote to Collins a letter full of feeling, though the words looked cold and lifeless to him. It was as follows:
“Dear Collins:—
“Thank you, more than my pen can express. I lie here and wonder, day after day, that any man could be so brave; and I shall be grateful to you all my life. I have read of heroes, but I can imagine no greater act of heroism than was yours. I am proud and grateful to call you my friend. I am happy I was saved and oh, so happy it was you who saved me. You will be glad to know I am almost well and will be ready to leave here in three weeks.”