South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-27
Passenger on the ''Queen" De-
SCribeS Thrilling Rescue of
all But 53 Persons Aboard
Doomed Vessel.
BY JOHN G. FOSTER.
(Staff CorreSpondent.l

LONDON, oct. 27.--Survivors from
the French ship Admiral Ganteume
which was blown up by a mine off
BOulOgne yesterday arrived in Lon
don early today. There were 2,437
men, women and children refugees
from the war zone in northern
France rescued by the British mail
steamer Queen, but 90 persons lost
their lives.
1t is believed that the ship was
blown up by a German mine and
sweepers have been sent out to search
for more of the internal machines
that may have drifted from the
North sea along the French coast
The survivors were landed by the
Queen at FolkestOne. whence they
were brought here by train. None
was able to save any possessions and
are all practically penniless. Among
them are 80 babies
Passenger Describes Rescue.
"The damaged ship was going down
fast when we came up for the explO-
sion had torn a big hole in her bow
under the water line. Thei refugees
on board were nearly crazy with ex-
citement and fear. They were swarm
ing over the deck shouting and pray
ing. When they sighted us coming
near they let out q loud shout Of well
come.
Some Of them had tried to lower
a boat but the ship vas lying at such
an angle that this was impossible.
As the ship settled and the water
climbed higher and higher some of
the men climbed into the rigging and
tried to pull their terrified women
folk after them.
Just as we stood by and began the
work Of rescue a fishing smack drew
up, followed by two French Torpedo
boats. The seamen on the Queen
started to lower a boat, but the mas
ter, taking note OF the enormous num-
Der OF people to be rescued, gave or
ders to bring the two vessels to-
gether.
Vessels Lashed Together.
by careful maneuv@ring the Queen
was ranged alongside of the Admiral
/ Ganteume and the vessels were lash
ed together. Even then the work OF
transfer was very dangerous for the
refugees were so frightened they
could scarcely stand and the sea was
choppy causing the ships 10 heave in
the water.
ION board the Queen were mem
! bers Of the Red Cross returning TO
England and they rendered valuable
/ assistance in the rescue work. On
account Of the rocking Of the ships
and the terrified rush of the people
accidents could not be avoided. About
/ so men and women were crushed or
! otherwise hurt.
"One man was caught with crush
ing force when the water forced the
/ ships apart and then drove them to-
/ gether again. He was cut in two. An
4 other had foot cut off and one man
: had both arms crushed. The screams
/ Of the wounded added to the fright OF
I E.n nj crrf
! their voices in a din Of terror. Chill
( dren were thrown from one boat TO
another and many Of them went over
/ board. Small boats were lowered and
all were picked up.
! Feared Vessel Would CapsiZe.
/ When all the persons were trans
| ferred il was found that the Queen
] was so jammed that medical aid
Z could not be gotten TO the sufferers.
1 The vessel was so crowded that the
captain said she would capsize and he
ordered the people TO keep quiet and
avoid moving about. This proved a
difficult order 10 obey for many Of the
! rescued were - oIrjoyed at being
/ saved that they insisted on hugging
and kissing their preservers.
Among the fugitives were $50
! lgian soldiers.
! Credit must be given to the crew
( Of the Admiral Ganteume for the way
/ they stuck 10 their posts and aided
| in the rescue work"
! The French steamer was bound FOR
/ Havre and Calais and was just out
side OF the Boulogne harbor when the
! passengers. who were huddled in
| close quarters, were thrown into
/ panic by a loud explosion which was
/ followed by an upheaval OF the decks
/ SO terrific was the force OF the explO-
sion that the vessel rocked like ar
thrown from their feet. Fortunately
the steamer Queen was IN sight and
they noted the accident. An officer
OF the Queen said he never saw such