Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-09-24
THREE WARSHIPS
SINK QUICKLY
Survivors of British Cruis-
ers Arrive at Hawich,
England.
LIFE LOSS UNKNOWN
Most Of the Dead and Mis- sing Belong
longed to Ab0ukir-Little
"Middie' Bears Charmed
LIFE LOSS UNKNOWN


The Great Eastern hotel in IarWich
which was converted early in the wal
into an army hospital. is today filled
with men from the British navy. Its
cots are crowded with survivors OF
the three British cruisers sunk yes
terday in the North sea by German
submarines.
According to the stories told by sur
vivors the loss of life was heaviest on
the Aboukir. This vessel was not eX-
pecting an attack and many members
of her crew were below. The other
two vessels, while preparing to aid
their doomed sister, lad brought ev-
cry available man on deck.
story OF Eyewitness.
Captain Bukant of the British cruis-
erTitan gives the following descrip-
ton Of the disaster:
"The fight took place about I
O'Clock this (Tuesday) morning, at
which time | saw a German subma-
rine tearing away at great speed.
Ear away on the horizon | saw
three cruisers, the Aboukr, Greasy
and Hogue, and after while | not
not pay particular attention at the
time, but when | next turned to look
for them, l noticed another had dis
appeared. There was some smoke
and l heard light explosion.
AT once I dashed in their direction
and on arriving in the vicinity l low
cred away two boats to rescue large
number of the men, whom | saw
swimming about. Altogether 1 picked
up Ill men and three officers. AL
were naked. for they had thrown of
their clothes. One of the officers was
Commander w. S. Sells of Ports
mouth. His wrist watch had stopped
at minutes past Z, and it was II
o'clock that I picked him up. Al
were exhausted.
CAS- soon as the commander was
brought aboard he dropped down ex
hausted. He was given wine, and il
about 10 minutes he came around
Then he smiled and said it was Ions
swim.
sWhile I was on my way the re
naming cruiser rolled over and sank
When l arrived ] was pleased to fint
ed the spot before me. They were
pulling naked men out of the water
One boat was absolutely full of men
and other men were struggling al
around, but they were nearly exhaust
ed and almost numb from the cold
Many were clinging to wreckage, ONT
group clustering around floatins
table.
Commander Sells told me of tn,
trying experience of brave little mid
shipman. 1t appears that the mid
shipman was on board the first vesse
| which was struck, and as she was set
ting down, he jumped overheard an
swan clear of the tremendous vorte,
which the disappearance of the shi]
had created. He was picked up b,
another of the cruisers, but soon sh
also was struck by the submarine
torpedo and in her turn began to set
tie down. Though he again had t
jump into the water, he was lninjur
ed, and cleared the downward sue
tlon.. A third cruiser rescued him
but he had not been long IN boar,
her before she also received her dealt
! wound. Again he got clear and cum,
to a piece of wreckage, from which h
was rescued.
THE midshipman was please,
when we of the Titan rescued him
and We asked if he would come Wit
us. He preferred to go back TO Eng
land, however, and accordingly we pu
him on board destroyer, and app
he is now safe at home. Tie dc
stroyer also took most OF the men
picked up.
"The Flora picked up over 200, an,
the Lowestof's boats rescued othor
before came up. One destroye.. cam
up tool ate to rescue any, BIT. sh'
took some OF. the men away to Eng
land. Those engaged in the Work c
rescue had to row among fioa,ins
naked bodies"