The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-27
French Steamer Amiral
Ganteaume Is Blown
Up by a Mine Off
Bonlogne
SHIP CARRIED
MANY REFUGEES
Thirty Men and Women Drowned or
Crushed to Death Between the ves-
sells During the Rescue of Passen-
gers by the Queen
By associated Press.

London, Oct. 26, 11.30 P. Mt is
officially announced that the channel
steamer Queen rescued $500 passengers
from the French steamer Amiral Gan
teaume, blown up by a mine off Bou.
logne. An appeal has been made for
help for the distressed people. When
the steamer Queen left the scene of the
accident the Amiral Ganteaume was
still ahoat and British destroyers were
standing by.
The mail boat Queen left Boulogne
for Folkestone Monday afternoon. When
still in sight of the French coast her
captain saw volumes of smoke and the
water spout up where Immediately be-
fore was an on-eoming French vessel. A
passenger on the Queen told the follow
ing story:
Passenger S Story of Disaster
1--WE made as speedily as possible to
the damaged ship which then appeared
to oe going down by the bows.> The
refugees on board were terribly excit,
ed, swarming to tine deck, climbing into
the rigging and shouting in a piteous
manner. They attempted 10 lower a
boat but the vessel was at such an
acute angle that it swamped rs soon
as it touched the water.
4" a neighboring fishing smack came
to the rescue and later two French tor.
pedo boats came up. The Queen at,
tempted to lower boat but seeing the
enormous number of people to be res
cued eorcluded that this course was use.
less. BY carefully maneuvering she got
along side and by strenuous exertions
assisted in passing the refugees across
to her own deck. The sea was choppy
aud both vessels were heaving, making
the work extremely difficult.
Red Gross Assists in Rescue
"Some of the returning members of
the British Red Cross were aboard the
Queen and rendered valuable assistance.
The whole of the refugees were trans.
ferred in forty minutes. 4 number of
accidents occurred during this process,
thirty men and women being drowned
or crushed between the ships.
''One man was cut in half; another
had foot cut off and third had both
arms severed. Children were thrown
wildly across by their agonized par
ents. Some were safely caught but
others missed and fell into the sea and
were drowned, Many men jumped into
the sea and were rescued by the smac k
and the torpedo boats.
$50 Belgian Soldiers Among Saved
'rhe effect of having 2.5Oe more
souls on the Queen caused fears of over
weigbting the ship and capsiziug her
so the rescued were forc ed below in such
masses that it was impossible to get to
the sufferers with medical aid.
1.-The rescued were so pleased at
their escape that they threw their arms
around their rescuers and kissed them.
One hundred and fifty Belgian soldiers
were among the saved.
''-All the crew of the Ganteaume
stuck to their ship and were doing all
they possible could to keep her afioat
when the Queen left for Folkestone
where the injured were taken ashore.
The rest remained aboard the Queen.
All the passengers on the Gauteaume,
except a few soldiers. were refugees
from Lille and Arras.'
London. Oct. %. $50 A. MA dis
patch from Folkestone to the "Dailv
Chronicle says that the disaster to
the Amiral Ganteaume was not due to a
mine explosion but TO the bursting of a
boiler.