Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-20


received by the White Star Line The
Arabic carried no first cabin passen-
gers
Little Loss On Liner
P. A. S. Franklin. vice president and
general manager Of the line, stated to-
night that the company would suffer lit
tie if any loss through the sinking of
the Arabic The liner had been insured
by the British government with British
insurance companies for approximately
one million dollars, he said. Mr.. Frank
lin stated there was no contraband on
board and only about 1000 tons of freight.
The loss on the freight will have to be
borne by the shippers, 1t was said. The
Arabic carried mail from European points
for America.
Wall Street Felt Effect
Wall Street felt the effects of the sink
ing Of the Arabic, shares declining sharp
ly when the news first became known
They rallied, however, when 1t was re-
ported that most of the passengers ana
crew had been saved. only to fall again
at the close. United States Steel and the
more active war issues appeared to
suffer most The market was weak, how
ever. throughout the day.
Mrs John B. Kelk and her children,
Misses Dorothy. Olive NJ. and Violet and
Mr. John w. Kelk, the wife and chill
dren of former captain in the White
Star Line service, were among the pas
sengers rescued.
The Offices of the White Star Line in
lower Broadway were besieged through
out the evening by telephone calls and
kilograms of inquiry.
Boats Were Ready
The survivors. who left the steamer In
the ships boats and were picked up
later by passing vessels. arrived in
Queenstown tonight. says dispatch
from London. They are being accommo-
dated by the White Star Line in hotels
and boarding houses in the little town.
which so short time ago cared for the
survivors and the dead Of the Lusitania.
Details of the sinking of the Arabic
are lacking, but that the toll was not
that the weather was fine and that
steamers plying the German submarine
zone now keep their boats swung out
and otherwise are prepared for emer-
gences.
Struck on Starboard Side
The torpedo that sank the Arabic
struck her on the starboard side 100 feet
from the stern. The vessel had left Liv-
erpool Wednesday afternoon and taken
a southerly course. well of the Irish
coast. doubtless with a view Of avoiding
the submarines which frequent the wa
tiers nearer the shore.
Some 50 miles west Of where the Lusi-
tania was sunk in May, the German
boat rose to the surface and
launched a torpedo
The craftsmanship of the Germans, as
in the case of the Lusitania. was deadly
and. like the Lusitania. the big liner
quickly settled and disappeared
Saw Steamer Torpedoed
Some of the survivors, according to re-
ports. say that they had just witnessed
the torpedoing of British steamer, pre-
sumably the Dunsley. and that this had
caused great alarm on the Arabic. In
their fright the passengers had rushed
for life preservers and had barely ad-
justed them when the German submit
rine turned its torpedo against the YES
sells side.
Lifeboats and Rats
Ten lifeboats and a number OF ra1ts
were quickly put over the side OF the
steamer and into these a large num-
Der Of the passengers and members OF
the crew scrambled. Many OF the pas
sengers, however. fell into the water.
but they got hold of the RATS and lat
er were rescued. One woman who fell
into the sea screamed pittifully for
help. The weather and tidal conditions
being favorable, two sailors swan to
her assistance and succeeded In lift
ing her upon raft.
Among those who were rescued were
Capt. Will Finch. commander OF the
Arabic. all the deck officers. the chief
engineer, the surgeon, the purser. the
assistant purser. the chief steward and
the third class steward. The third engi-
neer Lugeon, is among the missing.