Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-06
T0RPED0ED HESPERIAN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.;
FACTS AWAITED HERE
Canadian Liner After. Thirty
Four Hours AfIoat Finally
PIunges to Bottom.
ATTACK WITHOUT WARNING,
SAY PASSENGERS AND CREW
Allan Line Officials Say All Saved
But Ten of Crew, Who
Are Missing.

But Ten OF Crew, Who
Are Missing.
LONDON, September 6.-The
Allan line steamer Hesperian,
which had 33S passengers and a
crew of 28o aboard, bound from
Liverpool for Montreal, and
which was attacked without
warning by German submarine
off the Irish coast, just as dark
ness was falling Saturday even
ing, sank at GAS this morning
within few miles of Queens
town. Although the torpedo
found its mark the vessel re-
NAMED ahoat about thirty-four
hours, and, according to state
ment issued by the company
every soul aboard was saved
Two passengers died after being
rescued.
Capt. Main and volunteer res
cue crew of twenty-five made
a brave fight to bring the Grip
pied ship into port. During the
night the Hesperian settled grad
ually 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.
Positive It Was a Torpedo.
The sinking of the Hesperian in deep
water probably will prevent an investi-
CATION to determine whether the disas-
ter resulted from a submarine torpedo
or from a mine. Passengers and crew
assert positively that the vessel was
struck by a torpedo. but thus far no
statement has been obtained from any
one who saw a submarine or a torpedo.
The American embassy is receiving
reports from Wesley Frost. American
consul at Queenstown. on the question
whether warning was given to the
liner Persons so far seen by Mr.. Frost
state that no warning was given. Capt
Mains statement probably will be taken
later today.
Two Deaths Reported.
The list of identified survivors still
leaves a considerable number of per-
sons unaccounted for. The Allan line
is confident the final checking up will
show no loss of life. except for the
death of one or two persons after reach
ing Queenstown.
Passengers and members of the crew
base their opinion that the attack waa
made by a German undersea boat on
the force of the shock and the great
volume of water thrown into the air
This dropped back on the deck
drenching the passengers. who were
taking an after-dinner promenade
feeling quite safe in the belief that
they had passed the submarine danger
zone
The force of the explosion was tre-
at Queenstown. many Of them scantily
clad. about twenty were injured.
No American Passengers.
There were no American passengers
aboard-so far as the American consul
could learn-but two members Of the
crew are American citizens, and they
both were saved. About thirty Cana
dian soldiers who were wounded II
battle in Flanders were going home te
recuperate. Most Of the other passen.
gers were Canadians returning from 6
visit to England or English people or
their way to Canada to settle.
The torpedo struck the Hesperian II
the forward engine room and the shiI
Immediately began to settle by thu
head Capt. Main ordered the passen
gers and crew into the boats, but will
his officers remained on the bridge, al
though at that time he must have fell
sure that his ship would go down.
The discipline was perfect, but one o,
the boats. the falls of which became
jammed. capsized and those in her were
thrown into the water. In the darkness.
confusion naturally prevailed. but al
were picked up. and, with other pas
sensers and the crew. were Transferred
to the rescue steamers. which arrived
in answer to wireless calls for assist
ance. The Hesperian was about 15t
miles to the westward when struck.
Hit Forward Of Engine Room.
ne attack came SO suOdenly, IL wa
stated. that great alarm was fel
aboard the steamer. The torped,
struck the Hesperian forward of tn
engine room. tearing away the forwar,
part so that water rushed into the for
ward compartments The wireless
operator instantly sent out a call 70
aid. while Capt. Main ordered the boat
over the side. Three of them are sal,
to have been upset In launching, an,
twenty persons who were injured hav
been landed at Queenstown. So far a
known, all those thrown into the waite
were saved.
fleet of rescue steamers soon reach
ed the scene and all the persons in tn
small boats were taken aboard whe
IL was seen that the Hespsrian wa
likely to remain afoat for some tim
Capt. Main, regarded as one Of tn
most reliable commanders in the ALA
line service. insisted upon returnin
to his ship to await the arrival o
admiralty tugs, which he hoped woul
be able to take her safely to Queens
IcoattnnsA en- Eleventh Psgal