Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-01
AMERICAN LOST
ON LINER FABALA
L. G. Thrasher Of Massachusetts, Was
on Ship Sunk by German
Submarine.
ON WAY TO THE GOLD COAST


LONDON, March 31.-Leon Ches.
ter Thrasher, who was among tho
Ill persons who lost their lives when
the British steamer Falaba was tor
pedoed last Sunday by German SUBJ
marine in st. Georges channel, prob
ably was an American citizen, al
though the officials of the Broomss-
sic Mines company, which had EN-.
ployed him to go to the gold coast Of
Africa, did not see his passport and
have no positive proof of his citizen
ship.
Thrasher was employed by the
Panama Railroad company from
1909 to 1919 and in 1908 he worked
in Ecuador on the staff OF c. F. Rob-
erts. chief engineer OF the Guayaquil-
Quito railroad. Xii I
story 90 Passengers.
Passengers rescued from tho Falaba say
that when the submarine approached tha
steamer the German captain shouted IN
English through a megaphono X am
going to sink you
Another first class passenger from the
TaIaba reached Liverpool tonight. having
been rescued by trawler and landed at
Milford
The Daily Mail IN an editorial in con-
nection with the drowning OF Thrasher
says that the question whether the WASH
ington government Will permit a belH-
gerent 70 destroy an unoffendlng pas
senger ship. carrying an American citizen
without giving that citizen any oppor-
tunity to escape is raised in its sharpest
form.
The inquest at Milford Haven in The
matter OF tho sinking OF the steamer
Falaba has established an official death
list OF Ill.
swear 60 Charges.
Witnesses under oath testified TO what
had previously been charged that
the submarine fired before sufficient time
had elapsed for the removal OF the pas
sengers
Walter Baxter, chief officer OF tha
Falaba, said that the submarine crew
were dressed in khaki lie also swore
that the submarine when first sighted.
flew the English enslgn, which was re-
placed by tho German ensign prior TO the
attack.
Thrasher IN Identified.
NEW YORK, March 31.--Leon Chester
Thrasher. who was among the Falaba'E
passengers who persisted, lived in Hard
wank. Mass, before going to England,
His mother, Mrs. M. L. Thrasher lives
There now
The Eastman-Dillon company bankers
of this city. transacted business with Mr..
Thtasher and received from him a mum
Der of letters from time to time, the last
being written at Plymouth. England, Feb
ruary 10. The firm did not know whether
he was an American citizen. but thought
that he was
! In letters to his mother written carly IN
the year Mr., Thrasher said he had Tin
iEhed with the Gold coast and thought he
would return to Hardwick soon.
Thrasher Was Expert Hfachinist.
IiARDWIcK. Mass. March s1.--Leon
Chester Thrasher. one OF the passengers
whose lives were lost when the British
steamer Falaha was sunk. was a citizen
OF the United States He was born here
In 1884.
Thrashers mother. Mrs. Mary L.
} Thrasher. said Leon had lived here until
1901, when he went TO Springfield to learn
the machinist's trade. After completing
! his apprenticeship he became a travelling
8 master mechanic. his work taking him
to many parts of the world.
. Mrs. Thrasher received a letter from
= her son last Friday. In which he wrote
9 that he would sail from Liverpool on tbs
Falaha for broomhaBsie. Africa, where
G he had obtained position as master
: mechanic in the mines.
n The Thrasher family has appealed Il
! Washington TO learn the circumstance
! of the death Of Leon. Mira. Austin M
: Thrasher of West Springfield communL
Gated by long distance telephone witt
: Congressman Frederick II. Gillett, who
she said, promised to cable Ambassador
Page at London asking the latter for .