Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-08-26

important documents. had just re
turned when I saw white streak
rushing toward the Arabic, churnine
up foam at great rate. Then there
was tremendous explosion. The
ship stopped almost instantly. She
rocked from side to side and began to
keel over. Most of the passengers
| were In the boats I'm an instant, and
there was not the slightest panic.
| Il barely had time to make tho last
| lifeboat. We were launched success
fully, but hadn't got clear when
the Arabic rolled over and went down
She was half turned on her side, and
her starboard quarter struck our boat,
caving In the side and throwing us
into the water.
cIings to q Raft.
Il thought II was all over, but
finally came up and swan to a raft.
don't know what happened to the
others. While was clinging to the
raft saw another lifeboat about to
sink. They called to me and threw me
a hawser. / tied II around the raft
and hung partly to the hawser and to
the raft until / was picked up ex.
hausted
Il counted ten lifeboats pulling
away. One OF them filled with water
just after II cleared the Arabic's side
and sank. A woman, who later
learned WAS the sister OF the Arabic's
surgeon, was thrown into the water.
One of the Arabic's sailors swan to
her and the captain of French ship
that came to our rescue dived Off the
deck Of his vessel and helped get
her into a boat. II was fine piece
OF work"
Women Cool In Danger.
Stella Carroll, a professional sing
er, who was among the survivors, said
there was no panic. The women. she
said. were particularly cool; but sew.
eral OF them. very scantily clad, suf-
fered from the cold wind after they
got into the boats.
There were four women and 80
men In our boat" said Miss Carroll.
I'VE got away safely, and we saw the
captain dive off the bridge as the ship
settled under him. II seemed that
our boat drifted long while before
We were picked up. When the WON
en- became greatly distressed I sang
It's Long Way to Tipperary' to
cheer them up"
B. Curry, the assistant purser, and
several other officers and passengers
who were on deck when the Arabic
was hit corroborated the story told
by Captain Finch.
Il was on the bridge at 9:15 Thurs
day morning. watching the Dunsley,
which appeared to have been torpe-
doed, when saw the white wake Of
torpedo 400 yards away" said the |
captain. II saw no submarine. The |
torpedo struck about ninety feet from
the stern on the starboard side at |
about right angles.
Llfeboat Spiintered.
A big stream of water spouted up |
TO great height, carrying a lot OF |
wreckage and splintering one OF the |
ifeboats, The vessel began to settle
almost Immediately.
The greatest order prevailed. The
boats had previously been swung out. |
because we knew a submarine was In |
he vicinity, and II of them were filed |
md lowered In no time. Two OF the |
boats capsized for some unaccount-
,ble reason. and had II not been for |
his there would have been scarcely |
my loss of life.
II remained on the bridge until the |
water was tapping at my feet. and |
hen dove OF. When | came up my |
read struck some wreckage and was |
Eighty injured. swan to nearby |
aft. but was unable to draw myself |
ip on II. Two women with baby |
we're clinging to one side. helped |
hem to Chamber on the raft. and then |
lung on until all OF us were rescued |
lhOut 30 n,inutea LATER