Evening star., 1915-11-13
AMERICANS MISSING
FROM OFF ANC0NA
Fate of Several Native or Nat
uraIized Citizens Still
Is in Doubt.
INF FORMATION REPORTED
TO AMBASSADOR PAGE
Liners Passengers Had to Seek Safe
ty While Ship Was Being
Shelled. Survivor Says.

LONDON, November IS. 4:Io
a ANA dispatch from the Island
of Malta to Reuters Telegram
Company, says:
There are no American sur
vivors OF the Italian steamship
Ancona here. 1t is learned from
reliable source. however, that
one Amerian either was drowned
or is missing
ROME, November II, I.p.m.
via Paris, November II, ia:
pm. delayed in transmission)-
Thomas Nelson Page, the Amerl-
can ambassador at Rome, today
received a report from the Italian
foreign Office stating that the fate
OF several native or naturalized
Americans who were aboard the
Italian liner Ancona still is in
doubt. The statement says:
Giuseppe Torrisi has been res
cued. The fate OF forrisis wife
of the Patativo family OF New
York, and OF Pasquale Laurino is
unknown.
Sought Safety During shelling.
PARIS, November -. 5:35 p.m.-Pass-
engers aboard the Italian liner Ancona
were compelled to seek safety in the
boats while the steamer was subjected
to a cannonade from an Austrian sub
marine, according to a graphic story
of the sea tragedy told by DR.. Cecile
l.. Greil of New York to the Havas
correspondent at Ferryville. The Amer
lean woman escaped only through hel
ability as a gymnast. She tried vainl,
to find place in two boats, but ther'
was no room for her. She saved her
self by dropping from the deck into
launch (which already was in the sea
Her maid was killed IN their capli
by a gun shot.
Dr. Greifs story indicates that the
torpedo which sent the Ancona to eht
bottom was not fired until the steamer
had been riddled by shots from the
guns of the submarine.
Was Chatting in Dining Room.
Il was in the dining room of the
first-class passengers" DR.. Greil is
quoted as saying, chatting with some
of the voyagers, when we heard the
report of cannon. There was grea'
excitement on deck and men were run.
ming here and there. l asked the ships
doctor what was happening and he re
piled that he did not know. Ihen
went on deck myself.
Il saw through a slight fog sub
marine about a hundred yards distant
1t was equipped with two cannon. for
ward and aft. which were being hred
rapidly [ went down to my cabin to
get nv papers, and there found my
maid, " no pleaded with me to save her.
A cannon shot interrupted our conVer-
sation. A shell entered the vessel
through the portfolio and killed my
maid | took my valise and small hand
bag containing valuables, after slowly
putting on my hat and coat and went
UP to the deck with a life belt.
Boats Completely Filled.
Boats were. being lowered. all COM
pletely filed. l sought to get into one
of them, and was told there was no
more room. | went to another and re-
ceiyed the same response. | then cross
ed the deck and saw a launch afoat
This contained the chief enugineer
Carlo Lemperti, two doctors and other
first-class passengers, some or the
women and members of the crew |
asked Lemberti to be allowed to get
in.
".Come on, he said at the same time
erasping the side of the steamer to
prevent the small boat from moving
off
II eaueed well the height which
separated me from the boat. and being
well trained in gymnastics | dldh heSl l.
tate to let myself fall into the launch.
landing at the place designated.
During all this time the submarine
had not ceased bombarding the Ancona,
not paying the slightest attention to
the women. children and men trying 10
get away At this moment the subma-
rine was very close to US. Ihe ioe
lifted and we could clearly distinguish
the Austrian flag, which wassnew.
Torpedo Finally Fired.
"The Aucona resisted the cannonade
we'll Many of the shots entered above
others were too small to admit much
water as the sea was very calm. To
finish the work the submarine dis
charged a torpedo and the vessel began
to sink.
some hours afterward we encoun-
tered a heavily laden boat which was
leaking. We took aboard five women
and four children in order to Tighten it.
Lemberti then took it in tow, not per
mitting more passengers to crowd into
our boat.
.Iemberti did his best to reassure the
unfortunates under his charge, most OF
whom We're in tears, telling them all
would be well if they needed his advice.
His energetic attitude prevented a pam
ic and brought about order. l did all
could to encourage the women and
children, who continued their cries of
grief.
Picked Up by the Pluton.
when the sun disappeared we saw a
black spot on the horizon and all the
survivors became greatly excited. 1t
was mot another submarine, but the
steamer Pluton, which had seen our
signals and rescued us about O'Clock
in the evening Later it headed for
Rizerta after having circled the vicin-
ity of the spot where the Ancona was
torpedoed and rescued other survivors
who were in boats
First Aid for Wounded.