New-York tribune., 1913-05-26
Man Believed To Be British
Army officer Almost Strikes
American Traveller in
Leap Off Carmania.
WAVES lMPERIL RESCUERS
Captain Calls Men Back from
Search in Storm-Letter
Protesting Innocence of
Club Crime Left by
Man Who Died.

Man Who Died.
Frederick DankS a coal trimmer,
who is believed to have been non
commissioped officer of the British
Army. stationed at Alexandra, Egypt,
lcaped into the ocean on Thursday
morning from the deck of the Cunard
liner Carmania and was drowned. The
tragedy occurred while the cabin pas
sengers were going in to breakfast.
Danks left two letters, which de-
noted man Of culture. il was SAID.
but their contents were guarded yes
terday by G. w. Clarke the ships pur
ser who said the letters would be given
TO the persons to whom they were ad-
dressed.
The Carmania had encountered stiff
gales. and al daybreak Thursday was
plunging through heavy seas Dsnks,
who had been trimming coal for four
hours, had just come up on deck with
others Of his watch TO cool off Some
1f the men lounged about on the main
deck aft among the steerage passen-
gers. but Danks left them and climbed
to the promenade deck.
Just below him on the saloon deck
stood Miss Annie l.. Day. Of Meriden.
Conn, who was waiting for a friend
10 60 with her TO breakfast. Miss
Day said she was watching the comb
ors as they broke against the vessel,
when suddenly Danks dropped in
front OF her from the deck above, and
was instantly swallowed up by the
waves.
Tho trimmer fell so close to Miss Day
that his clothing brushed her hair.
With a Shrek she ran forward to the
saloon. shouting that a man had
jumped overheard. The Carmania at
that time was doing a trife over six
teen knots, and although her engines
we're stopped promptly and later re-
yersed. the momentum had carried her
a mile beyond the place where Danks
had jumped
Emergency lifeboat Lowered.
Captain Charles ordered the port
emergency lfeboat 10 he swung out
and when the vessel had steamed back
10 where Danks should be floating If
nc we're alive it was lowered and the
search for the missing trimme: began.
Miss Days chies brought all the pas
sengers TO the decks. The dining sa-
loon was deserted, and for fifty min
utes the travellers watched ten sailors
and two officers search the sea for the
lost trimmer. one of the cabin boys
told Captain Charles that he saw
Danks come 10 the surface and clear
the propellers. He made no effort 10
swim, the boy said, but lay upon his
back as if trying to ride the waves
4 half gale was blowing when the
lifcboat went over the side, and at
times il was lost to sight in the trough
Of the seq MIR. Greig. the second Off
ccr who was in command. kept his
eyes upon the bridge, where men with
signal flags were prepared to direct
the course of the lifeboat in case they
sighted the trimmer. Captain Charles,
the chief officer, and others on the
bridge kept their binoculars trained
upon tho water Mr. Tansley. the third
Mhicer. directed the men at the oars
~ Captain Fears for Rowers.
Mean1hile the gale freshened and
an exceptionally high sea was running.
Captain Charles then became anxious
for the psfety of the men in the boat.
They haT searched for almost an hour
and were then about quarters Of
mile from the vessel. The captain
thought that Danks could not have
lived that Ions in such a sea. so he
blew his whistle for the lfeboat to
return.
Reluctantly the drenched sailormen
came back 10 the Carmania and al
though they were hoisted up on the lee
side, the seas pounded the lifeboat with
terrific force against the vessel Had
they remained out ten minutes longer
they. would have been lost Captain
Charles said
Although he was friendly with the
men with whom he worked Danks
spoke little Of himself or his history.
He was twenty-seven. years old and.
according TO the men Of his watch, was
man unaccustomeo to hremen's work.
In one Of the letters he left addressed
TO Captain Lloyd" Danks made refer
ences 10 an unjust accusation that
there were irregularities in his accounts
al an army club over which he had
presided.