The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-17
LIFEBOATS CRUSHED
AS SHIP TURNS OVER
Hawke Sinks Eight Minutes At
ter Being Struck by
Projectile.
OFFICERS CALM AT POST

LONDON. Oct IA despatch 70 the
Daily Chronicle from Aberdeen quotes
a survivor from the cruiser Hawke, sunk
yesterday by n German submarine. as
follows:
within eight minutes the Hawke had
gone under. Had tho ship gone down
forward or aft there would have been
some chance to get the boats out clear
OF the cruiser. but she keeled over on
her beam ends. and so all OF the boats
NO lowered we're OF no avail. Those on
the starboard were useless and those on
The port side were crushed as soon as they
touched the water
II was proud to be among such COM
radios. Everything was absolutely in
perfect order when the ship was struck.
fearful explosion followed and CRIME
and dust were everywhere. I was amid
ships at the time and could hardly see to
grope my way to tho side heard
orders given to lower the boats. and
then some one snoued Look after
yourselvesr did that. Most OF the
men on board were married men We
saw hundreds In the water. but We we're
afraid to pick them up AS our boat was
already overcrowdcd. 90 ee threw our
iifebelts to them. n was all we Sould
do. The weather was bitterly cold and
do not think that many. apart from
those who we're landed at Aberdeen, were
saved"
A stoker tells this storyt
when the explosion occurred ]. along
with others who were In the engine room,
was sent flying into space and was
stunned for n time When ! came to my
senses found myself IN the midst OF what
must ne described as an absolute Inferno
one OF tho cylinders OF tho engine had
been wrecked and the steam was passing
To-, Aar oil hnFrnr
OF the situation was increased when the
tank OF oil fuel caught fire and the flames
advanced with frightful rap!dity. Seeing
tlat there was not the ghost OF a chance
Of dong any good by remaining IN what
was obviously death trap. determined
10 make dash for H. ! scrambled up
tho iron ladder TO the main deck
All this had happened In icrs time than
Il takes to tell, but such Is British pluck
and GOODNESS and nerve, even in such a
situation. that the commanders and OIL
GERS were on the bridge and AS calmly as
II ". were on fleet mdnnuvres orders were
given and a. calmly obeyed. The bugers
sounded call which summoned every
man 10 his post During the first minute
or two many believed that all mat was
wrong was boiler explosion. but the
rapidly with which tho cruiser was taking
water on the starboard side quickly dis
abused all minds OF this belief Realizing
tho actual situation the commander gave
orders to close all the watertight doors
Soon after that came orders TO abandon
sap and TO lower the boats.
"One cutter was being launched from
: the port side. but the Hawke n that
/ moment keeled over Before the boat
| could be got clear she luiched against
/ the cruisers side and stove In one or
| Two OF her planlSs. As the Hawke went
/ down. a small pnnace and raft, which
! had been prepared for such an emer-
4 gency. iioated free. but such was the
| onrush of men who had been thrown
/ into tho water that both were over
crowded ON the raft were about sew
enty knee deep In water. and tho PIN
mace also appeared TO be overfiled.
Those who managed TO make their
/ way Into the cutter. which was also In
/ grave danger OF being overturned, caught
a last glimpse 81 those two craft In their
precarious condition The cutter rode
| around the wreck. picking up as many
| survivors as the boat would hold. AL
/ those aboard her who had put on life
belts took them OF and threw them tc
| their comrades struggling in the water
, Oars and other movable woodwork wer'
pitched overheard 10 help those clinginl
To the wrecl<ago. but many of IN" men
! were seen to sink