New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-29
Is LIVES LOST
AS TURK BOAT
STOPS STEAMER
"We're No Murderers!"
Submarine Officer Cries
to BarulOS Passengers.


Mrs. Eleanor Franklin Egsn, a writer,
returning yesterday on the New York
from tour Of Southern Europe,
brought the first news that has reached
this country Of the panic on the pas
senger ship Barulos, which drowned
twenty-five persons. Men, women and
children Joined In a mad rush to leave
the vessel when a Turkish submarine
was sighted near Crete. The disaster
occurred while the ship was on her way
from Pireus to Alexandria early in
October.
Mrs. Egan, the wife of Martin Egan,
of II East Fifty-ifth Street, was nearly
drowned, as she was carried overheard
in the passengers rush to escape fate
that really never threatened them. She
told yesterday of the terrible scenes on
board the Barulos as tho fear-crszed
crew fought their way to the lfeboats
and cut them loose, while terrified
mothers, driven back from the boats
threw their children into the sea and
plunged after them.
A single shot from the submarine
fired over the Barulos as q signal TO
stop, was responsible for the panic,
said Mrs. Egan. Scores Of lives were
saved, she declared, by the crew Of the
submarine, which stood by for five
hours.
Submarine Crew Aided.
There was apparently no desire on
the part of the Turkish. boat to sink
the Barulos without warning, for the
crew did ali in their power to check the
loss of life, according to Mrs. Egan.
She was struggling in the water when
she saw the submarines commander,
evidently an Austrian. wave his hands
and shout in perfect English:
For Gods sake go back to your ship!
We are no murderers."
The Barulos flew a British ieg, but
most of the passengers and crew were
Greeks and Orientals. About five hours
after leaving Crete the ship picked up
three boats containing the survivors OF
the British steamer Sailor Prince, which
had been sunk by submarine a few
hours before.
Already nervous at the thought of
the dangers besetting the ships course,
the passengers were on the edge of
- I. /. - a
sailors were passed in whispers along
the decks. Excited groups gathered
here and there about the ship dis
cussing in low tones the danger that
seemed so near, while they appre-
hensively scanned the horizon for the
dreaded periscope.
Suddenly there was a fash Of water
and a shower of spray two miles away.
A submarine had risen for observa--
tions. In an instant word flashed
through the ship, and while the first
warning shout still ran along the
decks, a shell passed screaming over
the ship. The passengers did not know
IL was only warning. Strung TO the
highest point of nervous tension, pas
sengers and crew alike lost their last
trace of self-control. The Barulos De-
came a yeritable Bedlam.
Rush for Boats.
The frat mad rush was for the boats.
Four Of these resting IN their chocAs
were swung overheard. fiIed win
mon fighting for places in them, tney
crashed into the sea. Frightened sail
ors cur the ropes and swamped them
pushed madly aside By the crew. and
stranger men passengers, women nre"
tberselyes into the water from the
Jecks. often tossing their babies IN be
core them. Meanwhile the British sail
org. aided by shouts from the suDma-
yine. tried TO quell the panic. but soon
they turned their attention TO SAVING
the dozens Of men, women and children
struggling in the water on all sides.
Numbers were pulled up to the subma-
rine's deck, revived, and later taken
ba ck to the ship.
Mrs Egan, caught in the blind
scramble for the boats, was carried
overheard by the rush OF passengers
pouring u. from below. This is how
she described her experiences:
when the wild panic broke loose, |
was az the rail and started back toward
the stairs 70 help quiet the passengers.
But il was o. ~ use, for | was caught
in the rush and literally forced over
the side into the sea. had hard
time to keep above the water, for
others struggling near kept trying 70
catch hold OF me. Now and then face
near me would sink quietly and never
come up again. The screams Of those