The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-09-09
HESPER|AN Sinks;
TWENTY ARE DEAD
No One on Board Saw German
Submarine.
REMAINS AFLOAT SO HOURS
Vessel Carrying Large Number OF
Passengers Finally Goes Down
Near Observation-Disclosures
Say No Warning Given.

steamer Hesperlan, supposedly tor-
pedoed by German submarine, sank
at Gas in the morning after Captain
Main and a volunteer rescue crew OF
% had made a brave fight to bring the
crippled ship into port. During the
night the Hesperian settled gradually
by the head. Daylight showed the
decks awash and the liner about to
take the final plunge. The captain and
crew were taken off by rescue boats
and landed later in Queenstown by
the steamer Empress.
One first cabin passenger, SIX sec
ond cabin passengers and SIX thlrd
class passengers on the liner Hes
perian are missing. according to
statement made by the Allan line
agent at Queenstown. A womans body
has been identified as that of Miss
Carberry, probably Of Newfoundland
A dispatch from United States Consul
Frost at Queenstown says that 20 pas
sengers persisted.
Captain Main of the Hesperian
made the statement that the vessel
had been torpedoed and that no warn
ing was given.
The sinking of the Hesperian in
deep water probably will prevent an
investigation to ascertain whether or
not the disaster resulted from a sub
marines torpedo or from mine. Pas
sengers and crew assert positively
that the vessel was struck by tor
pedo, but no statement has been OBJ
tainable from anyone who actually
saw a submarine or torpedo.
Many Unaccounted For.
The list of identified survivors still
leaves a considerable number of per
sons unaccounted for. officials of the
Allan line are confident the final
checking up will show no loss of life
except for the death of one or two per
sons after reaching Queenstown.
A Chronicle dispatch from Queens
elderly passenger on the Hesperian,
died from shock after being rescued
and that another woman succumbed a
short time after being taken aboard
the rescue ship.
One of Mr. Frosts messages also
said that As unorganized Canadian
troops were on board, most of them in
vaYided, and that the Hesperian had
4.7-inch gun mounted astern.
Two Americans on 8oard.
The consul has been unable to learn
! Of more than two Americans who were
on the Hesperian, both members of
the crew and both reported to have
| been saved.
From stories told by survivors the
detailed account of the disaster grad.
ually is being unfolded. Most Of the
passengers say there is no doubt the
attack was made by German scbma-
rinc and some OF them say they heard
| the lookout shout Submarine on star.
board quarter" No statement has
been made by any survivor who actual
ly saw a submarine or a torpedo.
All agree the Hesperian was struck
on the starboard side between the
foremost and the bridge Lifeboats
were launched in the darkness, but
without panic. The fourth and fifth
boats were lowered unevenly and
overturned the occupants being
thrown into the water. Some of them
were injured.
At the London Office OF the Allan
line it Is said that all passengers
reached Queenstown safely. Some of
the rescued, however, say that they
heard cries for help from persons in
the water.
A woman in one of the life boats
stopped small leak by removing a
stocking and stutIng it into the hole
Three Sisters Of Mercy were among
the last to depart from the Hesperan
One of the passengers asserts that 60
persons were crowded into a lifeboat
having a capacity of 40.
Afoat for Thirty-Sx Hours.
The IIcsperian remained a1oat
about thirty.six hours after being tor
pcdocd. Captain Main and 20 mem
bcrs of the crew remained aboard
Several steamers were standing by
The captain, opcful of being able tc
save his vessel, remained on the bridge
almost until the last,
Mai. J S. Barres, Canadian officer
and Lieutenant Lewis of one of the
British rescue ships, had assisted the
Hesperian's engineer in closing the
bulkhoad doors so the water could b.
held forward.
, Had $50 Persons on Board.
The Hcspcran, with $50 passengers
and crew Of 300 aboard, was bounC
from Liverpool for Montreal. It wal
. attacked without warning by Ger
z man submarine just as darkness wa
falling Saturday evening. Accordn,
to an carly statement issued by III,
r company every person aboard wa
saved.
Discipline was perfect, but one O
the boats, the falls Of which becam
f Iammcd capsl2od and those in he
! were thrown into the water All wer
A picked up and, with other passenger
\ and the crew, were transferred to IN
S rescue steamers. which arrived in M
swer 10 wireless calls for assistance.