The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-28

suddenly there was a terrific rumbl-
ing-roaring noise. The huge ship trem-
bleing all over as its tunnels went
over and it just slid down under the
waves by the head and then it seemed
to me suddenly checked as though its
bow struck something. But it was
only momcntarily and it disappeared
under the water
went down with it, but came, to
the surface again quickly and took
a good breath | remember | felt
surprised that had regained the sur
taco so quickly and swan. Around
me a great number of persons were
struggling in the water, but as the
minutes passed we seemed to get
spread out over large area OF sea.
When | remained ahoat | began to
to think that might be saved after
all, and looked around TO r some
thing to keep me up. Presently there
Heated near me a rectangular sheet
metal Canlike air tank of lfeboat,
and | clutched it. | waited for res
cue, but none was in sight. as far as
could see Then two men came
along hanging to barrel with hand
les at each end, so | brought my tank
with me and caught on to it.
| We had been hanging on for some
time when. a man of Is and boy of
II came along on a plank. The boy
could not swim. We caught them
and they an their plank were added
to our party.
We spoke of nothing all this time
except tn chance of being saved, We
said nothing about the Germans who
had so nearly taken our lives. In
these conditions you can easily think
o your chance of life, it is the one
thing that matters.
After another twenty minutes or
50 we saw in the distance what look
ed like a raft, so we swan toward it.
pushing our support with us. 1t took
nearly an hour to reach that raft II
turned out to be collapsible boat
which had not been properly opened,
but we managed to get into it.
We had been floating about in this
tor some time, and it was taking in
water steadily. when a man weighing
perhaps $50 pounds hoated by with
out lite preSerVer. He was all in,
but we got him aboard Next a for
elgner who could not speak English
got in with us.
Our boat was going down lower and
to our chests in water. The foreigner
was frightened and could not keep
still. AS the least stir made the boat
keel over, his restlessness was risk
ing our lives. We all fell into the
water and got back again, but still he
woul d not keep quiet.
Then woman 1oated along with
a deck chair and an oar and we took
her aboard. But it was doubtful how
long we could remain ahoat, so one
man too the can and pushed off on
his own hook.
We were feeling all was up when
we saw trawler in the distance, pick
ing Il p people from the water. Earl
Ter, when there were onl three Of
us holding to the barrel. we had seen
a tramp steamer on the horizon. |
knew it was steaming away from us,
but | said ii was coming our way in
order to cheer up the other fellows.
They said, Yes" | wondered at the
time whether they knew il wasn't as
well as | did.
vt last, after four hours, the traw icr
took us up. We were stiff with cold,
that was our chief trouble, and went
down to engine room at once to
dry our clothes. We were attended
to with the greatest care by the crew,
the members of which made gallons
of hot tea for about fifty whom they
rescued
When we got into Queenstown we
found everything possible being done
Tor us. the military and naval officers
assisting our consul in every way with
the greatest kindness and sympathy
| am the only person saved from
our table of five in the saloon. There
was a splendid young fellow in our
party named Silva, who was in the
cotton business and was coming over
to Liverpool. He might have been
expected to surely battle his way
through, but | am afraid he is lost. 1t
was an experience no man would like
to face again, and those who went
through it will have a lasting memory
of its horror.
| remarked on the trip over that |
never saw so many babies and child
rem on any ship.
AS o the life-saving appliances on
ship board, from what | saw RATS
are needed something that will be
released and float of its own accord
when ship goe down. There arc
so many chances against lifcboats
working properly they should not be
altogether relied upon"
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