New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-06

were injured. There were no Amer
lean passengers aboard, so far as the
American Consul could learn to-
night. but two members Of the crew
we're American citizens, and they
were both saved.
Fortv-four Canadian soldiers, who
were wounded in battle in Elan
ders. were going home 70 recuperate.
Most Of the other passengers were
Canadians returning from a visit to
England, or English people on their
way 10 Canada to settle.
The torpedo struck the Hesperian
in the forward engine room, and the
shin Immediately began to settle by
the head. Captain Main ordered the
passengers and crew into the boats.
He. with his officers, remained on the
bridge. although at that time he
must have felt sure that his ship
would 60 down.
One Boat Is Capsized.
The discipline was perfect, but one
Of the boats. the falls Of which be
came TANNED, capsized, and those IN
her were thrown into the water. In
the darkness confusion naturally
prevailed, but all were picked up
and. with other passengers and the
crew. were transferred to the rescue
steamers which arrived in answer to
wireless calls for assistance. The
Hesperian was about $50 miles to the
westward when struck.
Major J. 5. Barres, a Canadian officer
who was returning home 10 reeuperate
from wounds, and who was landed here
said:
"The Hesperian was torpedoed with
out warning. The deadly missile was
discharged at the steamer while she
was shrouded in darkness. That there
was not an appalling loss OF lie was
no fault Of the commander Of the Ger
man submarine. The torpedo struck IN
vital part Of the engine room.
mN1OT bNTFkN NNbINNN NiiN N''f-
in closing the bulkheads, and thereby
me inflow Of water from the first ana
second forward compartments was
checked By this means the steamer,
which was IN imminent danger OF fouh-
dering, was kept shoat
According 10 statements OF several
OF those who were landed here. the cap
tain Of the Hesperian and about twenty
of his crew never left the steamer
fnd although the captain Appealed 10
many Of ms men who had taken Z"
the boats 10 return they did not re-
spond.
So far as has been ascertained by
the American Consul. there were ONLY
two Americans aboard. Both were
saved. They were ships stewards.
One Of them. named Dolan, o. Pitts
lurFh. said that no submarine was
sighted. The only evidence that a sub
marine was near was q tremendous eN-
plosion which threw up such mass o.
water that ID swept clean over the fore
vart OF the vessel.
Among those who had 70 swim for u
we're several Canadians. They were
good swimmers, and helped TO saw
some of the women and children. \
choppy sea. added 10 the darkness IN
tensifed the misery of those IN the
boats, many Of whom were Scah''lE
clad.
Among the soldiers returning TO Can
ada was one named Chambers. from
Truro. Nova Scotia Through gas
fumes AZ the front he had lost the
siTht Of both eyes, but after the eX-
plosion he discovered 70 ms astonlsh-
mSnt and delight that he had regained
the sight Of one eye.
Another Canadian officer. who re
NAMED on board the Hesperian until
the rescue steamers arrived, SAID me
liner was struck by the torpedo at nall
mast eight o'clock in the evening, When
she was well out Of sight OF the Iri3h
coast end everybody on board thought
they were out Of the danger zone.
With other officers, the Canadian
saws. he went below 10 assist IN closing
;he bulkheads. which was quickly &C
complished. The torpedo, he says, hit
the liner on the starboard side some
where near the second bulkhead, and
the ship went down by the bow 10
about thirty-fve feet. As the water
was mostly confined 10 the forward
part Of the steamer Captain Main was
hopeful that he could bring the Hes
perian 20 port.
The wireless. according 20 the OIL
Ger. was put out Of action as the re-
suit OF Inc tADINNlDIls uAN a 80 y o. '.'
Ger climbed 70 the mast and repaired
II and calls for assistance soon were
being flashed across the sea.
The first rescue steamer arrived AT
q:3O o'clock and took survivors out OF
the hfeboats Two other steamers
came up an hour later and one Of them
remained with the Hesperian until
midnight. when Captain Main reported
that he would be able TO keep the water
down until the vessel reached Queens
town.
Bugler A Royle a Canadian. said a
concert was taking place in the saloon
when a vlolert shock was felt and all
the passengers were thrown from their
chairs. The officers of the steamer and
the male passengers assisted the WON
en- and children into the boats One
hfeboat was hanging IN midair, with its
bow up and stern down. This was due
70 a fall having been jammed IN the
block. Royle said that evidently all
those who had been in that boat were
thrown into the sea.
Later. Royle said, he saw another
boat hanging the same way. Its only
occupant was a baby, which he res
cued. The boat in which Royle put
away from the Hesperian picked up
two women who had been thrown into
the water and later two men.
Ronald Whiteway. Of London, who
with mis- wife. was passenger on the
Hesperian, said:
ave were sitting on the upper deck
the weather being delightful. wher
about $3.50 o'clock we felt a violent i'm
pact. which almost knocked US out oil
our chairs.
"In iess time than | can tell Of it .
buge volume OF water rose almost a.