The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-14
BIC BRITISH BATTLESHIp
IS AT The BOTTOM
Continued From First Page.

unharmed but the one aft was put out
Of commission.
Attempt to Save Warship
After taking off all the officers and
crew who would leave the ship. Cap
tain Haddock, of the Olympic, turned
his attention to an attempt to save the
warship. A cable was given her but it
snapped as it frightened. Meantime her
bulk heads began to give way and it
was soon apparent that it would be
impossible to tow the ship or keep her
afloat. The cruiser Liverpool and sew
eral other warships which had come
up stood by. Late in the afternoon it
was decided to abandon the Audacious
and the officers and men who had re-
manned aboard reluctantly left her.
The fotilla or rescue ships continued
to stand by, however, until 9 O'Clock
that evening when a terrific explosion
occurred on board and the Audacious
plunged stern first and in moment had
disappeared.
Supposed Cause of Explosion
The explosion is supposed to have
been caused by shells set loose bv the
listing of the battleship. A bit of ar.
NOR plate torn from the sinking ship
struck the deck of the Liverpool cut
ting the legs from under a gunner. The
man died in a short time.
The Audacious met her fate 25 miles
off the Irish coast which the Olympic
was skirting. The liner sailel from
New York for Glasgow on October 81.
She had been warned that there we're
German mines off Tory island and fear
of these mines was the official expla-
nation when she expectedly put into
Lough 'Swilly. The Olympic s passen-
gers saw the flash of the explosion and
watched the mighty warrior sink. Then
their ship turned her PROV toward
Lough Swilly. Small craft cleared the
route to make sure it was free of mines.
From October 81 to November 2 the
Olympic lay at Lough Swilly during
which time no one but naval officers
were allowed to board her. An immedi-
ate investigation of the loss of the bat
tleship was begun.
Schwab on Board Olympic
Charles NJ. Schwab was the only pas
senger who left the Olympic before it
docked at Belfast on November 9. Vice
Admiral Sir John d. Jellicoe, comman-
der of the fleet, visited the scene of
the disaster November l and it was
with him that Mr.. Schwab went TO Lon.
don.
Even officers of the White Star Line
were not permitted to board the Olym-
pic at Lough Swilly and all supplies
were taken aboard by men of the navy.
After the steamer entered Belfast har.
Dor one of the walters on board was ar
rested charged with being spy and
detained for examination.
Secrecy Regarding Loss Of Vessel
Secrecy regarding the loss of the
Audacious was enjoined upon the crew
and passengers of the Olympic, who
were urged to refrain from discussing
the naval tragedy which they had wit
messed pending a complete investiga-
tion. The crew Of the Audacious was
removed from the liner as soon as war
ships for the purpose were available.
The crew of the Olympic was mag
niticent,' said one of the passengers.
A warship's crew could not have act
ed with greater courage and precision.
Everything was in readiness for
launching the boats as soon as the
Wy mpic WAS Wltn1n Tedcn OF the AuQa
cious. The liners crew was not daunt
ed by the high sea which was running.
Some of the boats were capsized but
the men were fit and | understood that
there was only one life lost in the
sea.
Small Boats Sweep For Mines
While in the vicinity of Lough
Swilly the passengers Of the Olympic
saw many small boats sweeping for
mines though with what success they
could not know. Many of the passeng-
ers expressed the belief that the sink
ing of the Audacious possibly saved
the Olympic which might otherwise
have entered mine field. Others held
to the theory that a submarine torpe-
doed the warship, basing their opinion
on the fact that she was wounded
astern rather than forward which
would more likely be the case if she
had come in contact with submerged
explosive.