The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-06-01
SURVIVOR TELLS
OF DEATH THAT
CAME SILENTLY
tCoatinued from Page one. ,

lied only dimly that something was
amiss He threw an oyercoat over
his sleeping attire and stepped into
the brilliant passage to inquire or a
passing steward what the trouble
was He was directed 10 the deck,
and as he reached there the first hint
OF disaster was forced upon him The
deck was aslant and somewhere far
below there was gurgling OF black
waters rushing into the vttals OF the
wounded ship There was no confu'
sion no shouts or running about A
few passengers stood on the tipping
deck and asked vague questions or
one another.
Suddenly the angle OF the deck IN
creased and the few passengers felt
a cold wash about their feet. The
hungry waves were awash OF the
boards They seized the rail farthest
from the list and chung there waiting
for they knew not what.
II was at this point that the first
scream sounded and woman rushed
along the slanting board sobolng
something about her child. Her
frightened voice sank into a murmur
and was lost In dull undertone OF
voices from below as passengers by
the score rushed toward companion
ways. The deck was slanting danger
ously now. and the human beings
clinging to tho rail climbed slowly
on the outer edge AS they did so
a dull explosion sounded and the
great ship trembled from stem TO
stern and dipped deep into the wa
tiers. Those hanging on TO the rail
climbed out until they chung to the
plates of the side and looked about
for place TO jump. All this time
there was dull silence.
The fog had lifted" said Ensign
Pugmire. II could see the gray cur
tain moving up and growing thin. The
moon was low on the horizon. a great,
white face that stared at US without
pity and turned 10 silver the little
white crests OF the waves that seemed
10 be waiting and calling us. Oh, II
was horrible"
The ship lunged moment later
and the ensign sprang into the waters
and sank down and down into the
green icy coldness and II there were
screams when the ship went down he
down into the depths. When he came
TO the surface he saw few black
things bobbing about on the waters
and he knew they were human be-
ings In battle with the relentless sea.
He began to swim toward black
oulk that doomed half mile away. IL
was the Storstad.
II had no thought OF death or OF
life,' he said. Il just swan because
the life within me told me TO. The
water was like ice and IL chilled me
through and through until the nerve
centers were numbed and then 1
swan on because my muscles obeyed
the love OF life and not my mind.
Once or twice looked back AS
topped a wave. but only that dreary
expanse OF waters met my gaze and
not sound could ! hear except the
swish OF IN waves against my own
body | grew weary and tired and IL
came into my head TO open my lips
and let tire salt water rush in 40 tnRt
I might die quickly. A lifeboat creak.
ed near and hope sprang into my
breast, but IL passed with the men at
the oars straining I'm silence and
few poor souls crouched In the bot
tom looking across TO the ship tnat
had been our destruction
Then | saw death and closed my
eyes. In another mFment ! would
have gone down but picture came
/ saw my wife holding out her hands
to me and the boy calling, daddy,
daddy IL acted like spur. My
limbs we're allied with a new strength.
The dawn vas breaking in the east,
and could see the outlines OF spars
and stack OF the steamer swan on
and on and suddenly | heard shout
and right above me doomed lifeboat.
They dragged me In and ! fell into
the bottom, sobbing
The ensign was taken aboard the
Storstad and snch crude comfort Civ
on him as Was possible lie sank into
coma that did not leave until shore
was sighted lie left for Detroit as
soon as he obtained clothing Tues
day he will return 10 his home IN
Montreal. where funeral service will
be held for the army members that
went down with the ship,