The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-14

; ; call all the while.
Mr.. Barnard tells OF reaching a life
boat that hung "by its loose, hanging
tackle to the saloon deck. There was
steward in the boats. clambered
in and a couple OF minutes later there
was swarm clambering around her
chiefly stokers and trimmers. All OF
these got I'm. She was the last boat
on the deck.
my watch stopped at just s30
when 7 entered the water. Watches
carried by others OF the survivors
, stopped at the same time. II had
been only eight minutes since ! saw
the torpedo coming.
"The overhanging tackle now was
pressing the boat dangerously down
ward. A deck steward chopped il
away Just in time. Then as the Lusi.
part OF the funnel rigging. came
onto the boat lengthwise. We man
aged 10 push the boat rpm. Irpder IT,
getting the rowlocks under II as II
left us like a huge tight banjo string
released from a pluck. We sheered off
/ a little bit; then our worst danger was
one of the huge tunnels. This was
/ descending on us steadily as the Lusi-
| tania leaned over further and further.
II seemed impossible TO escape. but
| the funnel just missed us. passing not
more than a foot from some OF our
heads.
I'VE were now working the heavy.
unwieldly oars. but made practically
no progress. When the Lusitnia went
down the she caused scarcely any
vortex but the water boiled up in
great masses in the sea around her
exactly like the Niagara rapids. When
the sea became smooth again we
could see hundreds OF heads and arms
OF struggling victims on barrels. deck
chairs and all the fotsam and ietsam
that had remained of the Lusitania
above the water
MANY now climbed into the boat
A woman came up close by me.
pulled her in and we managed TO slide
her down into a reclining posture
with her head resting on my legs at
about the level of the knees. There
she died We were all standlng-the
boat was so full there was no room
TO sit down. The oars were so heavy
and unmanageable and the boat so
crowded that we made scarcely an'
progress. but we had made some to.
ward the lighthouse when n fishing
smack picked us up about p. m.
The smack picked up four boats In all
with a couple of hundred people.
t.,
with a name something like Wigham
little chap with a waxed mustache
was our sheet anchor. He took charge
OF everything and cheered every one
up He had the heart OF a lion"
Mr. Barnard continued:
"The first steamer we saw was
Greek vessel. At about ,p. m. the
skipper OF our smack asked the coin
mander OF this steamer TO take some
OF our people on this boat. hut he con
tinued on 10 the scene of the disaster.
Shortly afterward some torpedo boats
tore past and other steamers followed
quickly.
When we reached Queenstown and
had been installed I'm hotels we could
not wash. as all the water had been
turned off Many OF us were as black
as negroes from coal dust and debris
resulting from the explosion OF the
torpedoes. Later in the night I went
to the wharf again to see If could
find any trace of Mr.. and Mrs. Stew
art s. Mason OF Boston. ] searched
three temporary morgues. Ii was a
CHASTITY and pitiful sight I saw as !
entered the first one A heap-liter-
ally a heap-of babies was, lying on
the floor. They were almost naked
and their poor little bodies were bruis-
ed and cut. Some of them were pur-
pie. while some were almost black.
and others were yellow 1t was ter
rible sight
'ln the next morgue I saw Froh-
mans body. His hands were folded
and the expression on his face was
calm. placid and benevolent. He
looked as If he had been laid out for
burial though his was the only body
that looked so. The faces OF others
were covered with foam, mingled in
many cases with blood. The strong
men who had made a hard fight for
life showed the marks Of the struggle
more than others.
"The bodies OF the women made a
particularly pathetic sight. They had
not thought 10 divest themselves Of
any OF their clothing and many OF
them had even put on long coats and
furs. which, with their skirts had be
come wrapped and twisted about their
limbs, thus making IL impossible for
them 10 swim. The drowned men also
were fully dressed.
"Those who were saved. men and
women alike. had thrown of their
clothes. On the smack which picked
up the people in my boat was a Cana
dian clergyman whose wife had been
rescued from the sea. She had been
able 10 stay on the surface because
she had thrown off her clothing The
clergyman had given her his trousers
I saw several women who probably
owed their lives TO the fact that they
/ had sufficient presence OF mind 10 re.
move their skirts and corsets.