The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-20
WENT TO RESCUE
Verdi Wireless Operator Tells
Story of AncOna.
Two Ships Sent S. o. S. Call to
Italian Steamer.
HUNTED FOR ANCONA BOATS
Cleared Decks in Expectation
of Submarine Attack.
Sent Aid to Stricken "France"
From Shore Stations.

New York, Nov. 2O.-Fresh and
dramatic details of what happened IN
the Mediterranean on the morning on
November 7, when the Ancona was
torpedoeG by a submarine flying the
Austrian flag, were brought to New
York today by the Italian steamer
Giuseppe Verdi, here on her MAIDEN
voyage. The Verdi heard the An
cona's wireless death cry, flashed 1t
on to shore stations which the feeble
batteries of the sinking steamer could
not reach and then rushed at IulI
speed to the Ancona'S aid, her boats
swung outward, her passengers hned
on the deck and her officers momen-
tarily expecting n death dow lheih-
selves from submarines known TO pe
lurking nearby The Verdi steamed
as near as she dared to the spot
where the Ancona went down but ner
lookout saw nothing. Then, turning
swiftly, she fled for Gibraltar ana Sc
curity.
Luigi Mcroni, wireless operator OF
the Verdi, told the story here TO-DAY
1--WE were about 200 miles out from
Palermo, watching for submarines
which we had been told were nearby
on the morning of the 18th" he SAID.
"At twenty minutes past nine got :;
signal S. o. S. France Submar1ne.,
the message said. Then Help. rms
was followed by the Frances position
and then there was nothing more l
notified Captain Zannon1 ana reIlyeu
the Frances message at once TO Snore
W
Speroni The ships that relayed the
message brought back word from the
shorestations that torpedo boats We're
on the way to help the France ana get
the submarine
Pick Up Ancona Call.
eve exchanged several other mes
sages with the relay ships concernlis
the France and submarines ana "nIIe
we were talking the Anconas wireless
spoke. l looked at the CLOCK. II Vas
q D =. a
coma we got. The Ancona gave her
position l sent this message to the
shore stations. The shore stations
sent back an answer Go TO the AL
Captain Zannoni swung his ship
rightabout and gave orders Tor run
speed Then he called the passengers
on the deck The small boats We're
0I1ick1v loaded with emergency sup
plies and swung out on their daVlts.
The passengers then were assigned
to the boats, every man, woman anu
child being given number. Ihey
were then asked to be prepared to en-
ter the life boats as we did not know
when a submarine would fire tor
pedo into the Verdi.
No Trace of Ship.
ut was "a miles to the Ancona and
we made it at top speed. 1 tried sew
eral times to get the Ancona by wire
less but she didn't answer. Afterward
we learned her wireless had been shot
away by the submarine
1.-The captain went as close to the
Ancona's position as he dared to take
the Verdi and doubled the lookout.
We slowed down and tried to find
some trace of the Ancona or her
boats with glasses, but failed to do So
Then we turned about and steamed
away; we didn't want to stay there
too long and invite attack on our
selves
MorOni'S story was verified by sew
eral of the steamers 535 passengers,
among them being Charles B. Perry,
American consul at Torino, Italy.