Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-13
MORBID CROWDS VIEW VICTIMS
OF LUSITANIA In MORGUES
in Misft Clothing and Dazed
by Tragedy Present Pitiful
Sights in Hotels

was William Crichton, q prominent
business man in London, and a former
resident of Baltimore, who searched
in vain among the survivors and was
in the morgues for a trace Of his wife
The dragging of lifeboats was ex-
planned by passengers and members
of the crew by the statement that the
second torpedo severed several steam
pipes in the engines. The L~usitania
had been sent full speed ahead when
the first torpedo was seen and it was
impossible to stop her Roadway by
reversing the engines when the ne
cessity for lowering the boats was
realized.
One of the most remarkable escapes
was that of r. ]. Timmis Of Gaines
vile, Tex, who was returning to Eng
land for his yearly visit, accompanied
by his friend, R. T. Noodle, also of
Gainesville. Both men gave their life
belts to steerage woman just as the
Lusitania sank. Timmis, who is a
strong swimmer Nremained# in the wa
ter, clinging to various objects, nearly
three hours. Then he was taken into
a boat which he still had the strength
to assist in rowing. The boat began
picking up all those showing signs OF
life, and the first person rescued was
the half-unconscious steerage woman
to whom Timmis had given his life
belt.
Gives Life for Woman.
Noodle sank when the ship went
under, and, although he was a good
swimmer, he was not seen again.
Noodle was ready to jump when Tim
mis-, who previously had given his belt
to a woman, said:
There is a steerage woman here
with a 6~-nlonth-old baby"
Noodle promptly stripped off his
life belt, but it seems both he and the
woman persisted.
DR.. ]. T. Houghton Of Troy, N. Y,
one of the survivors, said there was
no reason to fear any danger after the
first explosion, as it was believed the
vessel would be headed for Queens
town and beached if necessary. Mean
while boats were being got ready for
any emergency. Just then, Dr.. Hough-
ton said, the liner was struck again,
evidently in a more vital spot, for it
began to settle rapidly. Orders then
came from the bridge to lower all
boats. Panic took possession Of the
women. People we're rushed into the
boats, some of which were launched
successfully, others not SO recess
fully.
Capt. David Murphy Of the trawler
Storm Cock was first on the e
with a rescue boat. His story of the
rescue follows:
First of all | gathered in a lifeboat
81 persons, most of them women and
children, and before | completed my
load l had 20 blessed youngsters on
board the old Storm Cock. Several of
them we're without their mothers, but
all were taken in charge before we
reached harbor by kindly women who
forgot their own sorrow in minister
ing to others.
Zone old lady of IS years had been
in the water two hours, but was as
spry as anyone. Many women tainted
on reaching our decks, and when re-
vived begged pitifu1ly to be allowed to
retain their life belts, as they were
overmastered by the fear that the SUBJ
marine would return to complete it's
work Of destruction. Several died
aboard my boat. and the cenes of
grief and suffering became almost I'M
bearable. The little Storm Cock
brought $50 persons to Queenstown"