New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-17
Hawke Sank in 8 Minutes,
Boats Useless, Say Rescued

INV Wireless. via Louisburg, y. 81
London. Oct. ia dispatch to "The
Daily Chronicle" from Aberdeen quotes
A survivor from the cruiser Hawke,
sunk yesterday by German subma-
rine. as follows:
"Within eight minutes the Hawke
had gone under. Had the 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 we lowered were of no avail
Those on the starboard were useless
and those on the port side were
crushed as soon as they touched the
water.
81 was proud to be among such
comrades. Everything was absolutely
in perfect order when the ship was
struck. A fearful explosion followed
and CRIME and dust were everywhere.
| was amidships at the time and could
hardly see to grope my waV TO the
side. heard orders given to lower the
boats and then some one shouted:
Look after yourselvesi' / did that.
/ Most of the men on board were mar
ried men. We saw hundreds in the
water. but we were afraid to pick them
IN as our boat was already overcrowd-
/ ed. so we threw our life belts TO them.
II was all we could do. The weather
was bitterly cold, and | do not think
that many apart from those who were
landed at Aberdeen were saved"
Here is the statement Of rescued
/ stoker: when the explosion occurred
|, along with others who were IN the
engine room, was sent flying into space
and was stunned for time. When
came to my senses ! found myself in
the midst of what must be described
as an absolute inferno. One Of the
cylinders of the engine had been COM
pletely wrecked, and the steam was
} passing out in dense, scaldng clouds.
/ The horror of the situation was in
creased when the tank OF OIL fuel
caught fire and the flames advanced
with frightful Tapidity. Seeing that
/ there was not the ghost OF n chance Of
doing any good by remaining in what
was obviously death trap, deter
= mined to make a dash for il. | scram-
/ bled up the iron ladder 10 the main
deck
"All this had happened in less time
than il takes to tell, but such is British
pluck and GOODNESS and nerve, even in
/ such a situation, that the commanders
and officers were on the bridge, and as
calmly as If we were on fleet ma
neuvres orders were given and as
calmly obeyed. The buglers sounded a
call which summoned every man to his
post During the first minute or two
many believed that all that was wrong
was a boiler explosion, but the rapidity
with which the cruiser was taking
water on the starboard side quickly
disabused all minds of this belief. Re
alizing the actual situation, the COM
mander gave orders to close all the
watertight doors. Soon after that came
orders to abandon ship and to lower
the boats.
zone cutter was being launched from
the port side, but the Hawke al that
moment keeled over. Before the boat
could be got clear she lurched against
the cruisers side and stove in one or
two Of her planks. As the Hawke went
down, q small pinnace and raft, which
had been prepared for such an emer-
gency. hoated free. but such was the
onrush Of men who had been thrown
into the water that both were over
crowded. On the raft were about sew
enty, knee deep in water, and the PIN
mace also appeared TO be Overiilled.
"Those who managed 20 make their
way into the cutter, which was also in
grave danger OF being overturned,
caught a last glimpse of those two
craft in their precarious condition.
The cutter rode around the wreck,
picking up as many survivors as the
boat would hold. All those aboard her
who had put on life belts took them off
and threw them to their comrades
STRUGGLING in the water. Oars and
other movable woodwork were pitched