Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-10
SURVIVORS TELL
TALES OF HORROR


STOkERS LYING DEAD
WHEN FINALLY PICKED Ut
These six stokcrs that 1 mentioned
were big. husky young fellows, APP
parent!y as strong as lions, but, would
you believe it, when we were pickc cd
up by trawler they were lying dead
through exhaustion or drowning In our
boat, which was half-illed with water?
There they were, dcad-six strong
young men-only three out of the nine,
ana OF them a pretty old man, like
myself. were alive. How ! stood tho
three hours struggle is more than L
can believe"
How long was it between the strik-
ing OF the torpedo and the sinking of
the Lusitania?" Mr.. Kcsslcr was asked.
Exactly fifteen minutes. She was
struck at 2:l5 and sank exactly at 2:30.
Look Here is my watch-see. it is
stopped just at gao. when was
thrown into the water when the YES
sci sank"
Dramatically he drew forth a gold
watch with it's case furnished from the
salt water
Then followed a more dramatic incl
dent. About him. listening to his tale,
were dozen fellow survivors. They
exclaimed:
You are right-look at my watch"
but ono showed the hours to be $3.50;
the other showed 2:33
Asked what became OF Alfred Gwynne
vanderbilt. Mr.. kessler said:
am certain he persisted"
1T was Mr. Kessler who Identified the
body Of Charles Frohman at Queens
town.
j. II. Ennecticut said:
was on the wireless deck near the
Marconl room when l saw the torpedo
coming. When 1t struck was thrown
to the deck. cloud of steam en-
veloped the entire forward part OF the
ship. making 1t impossible 20 see.
The ship began to settle at once,
and Immediately It took a sharp course
towards kinsalehead. travelling ap-
parently at about seventeen knots.
PORT SIDE BoATS
ARE OF NO USE
The vessel took such a sharp list
TO starboard that the boats on the port
side were Of absolutely no use. There
was no excitement or hystcria. At
this juncture the captain, who was on
tho bridge. raised his right hand and
said:
There is no danger; don't lower the
boats
The crew went on freeing the boats,
however.
AT this time the top deck was three
icel iIoIl inc water, and tho boats,
hanging from the davits, were floating.
II assisted in getting some Of the
women into the boats. and when ] saw
the ship was going down I dived off
the starboard side.
AS l swan away the Marconi wire
less apparatus came down across me.
nearly carrying me away.
II got into a collapsizlc boat in which
we're two members Of the crew and a
passenger. We soon filled The boat with
women and children. Many women and
children were struggling in the water.
and many dead bodies were floating
about
The Misses Asnew and Evelyn Wild.
sisters, of Paterson, y. j., were a lunch
when the torpedo struck the vessel
They rushed on deck. Agnes said:
We chung to each other. determined
not TO lie separated, even if we went
to the bottom. We were immediately
thrown into a boat together with
thirty-six others. We were, after sew
eral hours. picked up by a fishng boat
and four fishermen towed us for sew
eral hours. intending to take us to
kinsale. Before we arrived, however,
government boat picked us UP and
took us to Queenstown.
OF course we were drenchcd to the
skin, cold and penniess. We went into
a shop where they fitted us out from
head to foot without charge We are
only beginning 10 realize what we have
passed through"
AGED WOMAN SPENDS
FOUR HOURS IN BOAT
Martha Ann Whyatt, sixty years old.
OF New Bedford. Mass. said:
II went down with the ship and spent
four hours in collapsiblc boat he
fore being picked up / was travelling
alone, having buried my husband in
New Bedford. I was going to England
to live.
While the ship was sinking I found
1t impossible to get into any of the
lifeboats. There seemed no help about
| simply stood still, clinging to the rail
and went down. seemed 10 go to the
bottom. When ] came TO the surface
again ] was pulled into the coilapsiblc
boat, which brought me 10 safety"
Mrs. {. Stewart, who was travelling
from Toronto to Glasgow, said:
81 was in my cabin with my eight
months-old baby, who was sleeping in
the berth, when ! heard the crash. 7
snatched my baby up and went on
deck. ~ man yelled. Come on with the
baby I handed him the infant and he
said, Now for Yourself
I'VE were two and ne-half hours in
the boat before we were picked up by
n Greek steamer"
DR.. s. DeVescovi an Italian return
ing from Chill to Italy, said:
II went down with the ship and was
in the water some hours when l man
aged to swim 20 n boat III which there
were several women. j rendered first
aid to one man whose arm was so bad
ly injured that I found it necessary to
amputate it. ] was obliged to use my
penknife for the operation"
Robert c. Wright, a prominent poll
tician of Cleveland, was still visibly
affected by his experiences. lie sai6:
''I was on deck close by the lounge
on the starboard side. reading novel.