The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-21
BOAT CAPSIltO
WITH AMERICANS
Consul NJ Malta Tells OF Circumstances
Surrounding Sinking Of
Transport Russian.

Washington, Dec. 20.-A detailed
report from Wilbur B. Keblinger, Uni
ted States consul at Malta. on the
sinking of the British horse transport
Russian with the death of seventeen
American muleteers and twelve Of the
ships crew. was made public today
At the State Department.
The report states that the Ameri-
cans lost their lives through the cap
sizing Of a lifeboat In which they had
been placed during q gale. Statements
gathered by tho American consul
agreed in the belief that the vessel
was attacked by q submarine and tor
pedoed In the afterhold. The informa-
ton obtained by Mr.. Keblinger Is that
tho vessel was not under admiralty
charter.
Secretary Of state Lansing refused
20 comment on tho report other than
TO say that further information had
been requested from tho consul. Other
officials expressed the opinion that the
case must be handled in much the
same way as those Of the Arabia and
Marina In the latter case the de-
partment forwarded to Berlin several
days ago all information from Ameri-
can and British sources. which went
to show that the vessel was not a
transport. and ~ such q vessel Of war.
Mr.. Keblingers report follows:
British steamer Russian. Of Leland
Line, after having DISCHARGED cargo
Of mules at Saloniki brought from
Newport News and while on return
trip in ballast to Newport News, was
struck by what was believed to be a
torpedo from submarine at fve-forty
In the afternoon on December Ia about
two hundred miles east of Malta. The
sea was very rough and considerable
difficulty was experienced in launch
Ing lifeboats. but finally all on board
were taken off. A southwest gale
was blowing. accompanied by drench-
ing rain. thunder and lightning and
one of tho lifeboats capsized. drown
ing twenty-eight men, including sew
enteen American muleteers a. follows:
w. Gurmsey. Otto Fucker. white
men. and Joe Wilson, W. Burchett.
David Scott. L Byrd. L. +. Waters,
6. Hand. e. Cooper. Fl. Taylor. Scott
Campbell. James johnson. Ralph Cor
don, Jack johnson, John Scott, Vance
Brown. Joe Bullock. colored. whose
home addresses probably can be OBJ
tanned from copy OF ships articles at
Newport News
There were ninety American mule
teers on board and also some In the
crew. but as ships papers were lost
actual number not yet Ascertained.
Dut all saved. II was aosoiotoly Ozark
by time lifeboats were launched and
not one on board ever saw any sign
of submarine or any other vessel un-
til two British trawlers came to res
cue in about six hours and brought
them to Malta. Every one on board
80 far interviewed Ia OF opinion that
the explosion was caused by torpedo.
as vessel was struck In hold nearest
the stern and was in water more than
two thousand fathoms deep at the
time Russian was towed by a trnwl-
er until night of fifteenth when II
WIS taken over. II Is said. by tugs.
and 1t has since sunk. according to
unofficial reports. The name survivors
from capsized boat suffered great
hardships from exposure and difYiculty
In keeping on the upturned boat be-
fore being rescued. Informed Rus
sian not admiralty chartered. Am
dAyits by mate,
'AKebIinger. Consul