Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-26
WAS
AMONG THE RESCUED
Tells Graphic Story Of the
Disaster - Massachusetts,
Man Was the Real Hero
Of the Sussex--Investiga-
tion Is Under Way.
By John HearIy.

NOnAIou HFeSs Stau CorreBponoSnt)
Paris, March 25.-Yankee curiosity
saved the lives Of at least a dozen
Americans aboard the channel liner
Sussex, when she struck a mine OF
was attacked by submarine or the
French coast Friday afternoon.
An aeroplane lowered in sight just
before the explosion. With a dozen
other Americans, was standing at
the PROV OF the boat, but rushed to-
the stern to watch the circling bird
man. While we were back there ad-
miring the skill of the aviator, we
heard O muffled roar. / ran forward
and saw the Whole front OF the Sussex
crumplng away as a huge squirt of
water threw debris upon the deck.
Everyone grabbed for a life presery-
er and then ran for the upper deck.
-Four civilians launched a lifeboat ana
dropped it over the side. Our boat had
Just struck the water when we heard
a scream on the upper deck. The next
instant she jumped from the third
deck, landing squarely in the middle Of
our boat. Several Of us threw out our
arms and broke her fall, SO that she
was practically uninjured. Il am Miss
Hilton from New York. she told US,
when she had recovered her breath.
Jumped in BY the Dozens.
Her mother. Mrs. Edward Hilton.
was also among the survivors landed
at Boutogne, and included In our party
arriving in Paris tonight. Meantime.
passengers were jumping by the doz-
ems. We picked up several around us
and SO did other boats that had been
1nMArMI
despite our efforts to plug the seams,
threatened to sink at any moment.
Samuel Bemis OF Medford. Mass.
who was enroute to join an ambulance
corps at the French front, was the real
hero of the Sussex disaster wo-
man floundering in the water near our
boat screamed loudly for help and then
sank beneath the waves. Bemis Ieaped
into the water and swan to her res
cue. He brought her to our boat ana
we dragged her In. The gunwhales by
this time were so near the level of the
water that to drag Bemis aboard was
to insure disaster.
With wave OF his hand, Bemis
rolled over on his side and swan care
lessly as If he were playing in the
waves at a summer resort. Certainly
few men have faced possible death
with lighter heart.
Steamer Game TO = HaIt.
BY this time the Sussex. under the
head OF steam she carried when she
was struck, was two miles away fror,
us. Hemis spied q. raft some distance
away, swan to 1t and clambored
aboard The Sussex finally came to
dead halt. When we observed that
she was not sinking we pulled back, |
making our way slowly for fear that a |
chance wave might capsize our heavily |
laden. leaking boat.
we found the passengers who had
not left the ship gathered forward !
about two mangled bodies and engaged |
in caring for the wounded
The bodies Of these two were the |
only ones found on the Sussex. Nest |
of the dead were those who were blown |
off the ship by the shock of the explo-
sion.
After dark We began sending up I
rockets and cracking out feeble wire
less calls from an improvised wireless
apparatus. At II O'Clock the Marie
Theresa and a tug came alongside and
began taking off passengers.
Three Not With Party.
Three Americana Professor J NJ.
Baldwin. his wife and daughter Eliza-
beth, were not among our party OF
American survivors OF the Sussex dis
aster arriving In Paris tonight.
A dispatch received here before our
arrival said that Elizabeth Baldwin
vas in Bouiogne hospital suffering
from broken leg and other injuries.
t is poaaible that this may be true
and that her father and mother re-
nained behind with her at Bouiogne.
though none Of the Americans reach
CONTINUED % Paes Twol II