New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-04
Noordam's Surgeon Tells
How Dutch Liner Just
Escaped Disaster.
AMERICAN GIRL
TO AID BELGIANS
Draws Graphic Picture OF hor-
rors of War Inflicted on
Nou.Combatants.

With IN, arrival of the belsted Hoi-
fundamental steamship Potsdam yes
terday from Rotterdam came frst mana
news Of the mishap 10 the steamship
Noordam. which hit tive floating mines
October II on her way from Dover 10
Rotterdam.
On the Potsdam came Dr. c. q. fsak',
surgeon of the Noordam, who 'olo q
the unusual escape Of the liner Every
ons on hoard. according to the DOCTOR
vss confident that the Noordan was
doomed. but for some reason the MINES
did not damage her plates. and seVera'
hours after the two explosions oc-
Cured tugs from the Hook OF hoIiahu
c,me 10 her assistance and TOOK her
safely TO her home port.
The Noordam, according to Dr. Psaki'
lief, Dover at $3.50 a. m. October ~
The skipper, he said, was loath TO
leave the port without n special pilot
blu, on assurances from the BRUSH
authorities that tho way 70 Rotterdam
was absolutely safe and that no mine
Interference could exist, he got undef
wav ano steamed cautiously for three
hours.
DR. Psah said he was on the after
deck. leaning against the stern rail-
whom Mt 1880 a. m. two great columns
OF water spouted upward about amid
shlus. and az the same time the Moor
dam was lifted well up in the water.
II seemed TO him, he said. as II the
vessel were thrown up clear or the
surface. She settled quickly, and the
captain though, she was hard hit and
would soon sink.
The passengers became panic-strick-
on. hut order was restored promptly and
the lifeboats were made ready. By the
time they were ready 20 be lowered
the skipper announced that the vessel
had not been seriously damaged and
that little water had found its way
into her hold. She listed triiie ut
first, but righted herself, and the only
real harm ascertained was that her
rudder was damaged.
In accordance with British require
ments her wireless antenne had been
taken down, but the captain had il sent
up quickly, and the $ O s call was
sent out. IL was picked up by the
station in Rotterdam, and two big tugs
were sent out 20 her assistance. The
tuqs. which were 1870 miles away,
reached the Noordam within sixteen
hours, took her in tow and brought
her safely 20 dock. The vessel will
not be returned to service before three
months because Of the repairs made
necessary bv the contact with the
mines
On the Potsdam came Miss Frances
Watts. daughter OF the American Con
sui General at Brussels, who returns
10 this country alone 10 assist in re-
lief work for Belgium, which, she says,
is fast approaching starvation. Mis-
Watts, whose home is in Philadelphia,
said that many OF her friends had been
insulted and killed by German soldiers
end that one young woman friend,
Belgian girl, had committed suicide to
avoid drunken German troopers.
During the first two months OF the
war" she said. 81 served with the Bel
gian Red Cross, "but as nurses under
thirty are not permitted to 20 upon
the field | spent most Of my time in
local hospitals attending 20 German
wounded. am engaged 20 a young
Belgian, ana | do not know whether
ne is dead or alive. He was captured
Ky Germans early in the war. and the
German authorities would not permit
me 10 send a message 10 him.
There il not a house intact between
Antwerp and Brussels. With the eY-
eeption of small portion in the north
west section, the whole country has
been made desolste by fire and sword
The most deplorable tragedy Of civili-
,ation is being enacted in that utterly
helpless land. Young girls and women
have been attacked by Germans and
frinl "