The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-06
DETAILS REACH LONDON


 London January 4.-DelayedO-The survivors of the British steamship Per sia torpedoed in the Mediterranean last Thursday reached Alexandria, Egypt, ac- cording to Reuters correspondent at that point, all bearing traces of shock and hardship. Most of them had badly bruised and bandaged limbs. One woman is in a hospital with a broken leg. The tragedy was enacted so rapidly that the survivors say they hardly realized what Happened. The passengers were at luncheon, every one in good humor, and an atmosphere of gaiety prevailing. Five minutes later those who escaped were in boats or clinging to wreckage and the luxurious liner was gone.
 Luncheon had just started when there came a terrific explosion. The liner trembled violently and moment later listed sharply to port. Only those who left their seats instantly and those who had not yet come down to the dining saloon had any chance to escape. Many seemed paralyzed with fear. Their inde- cision was fatal as the water poured in and the list increased. some of those who gained the deck lost their footing land slipped immediately into the sea, while others were swept away by waves It was possible to launch boats only on one side of the ship, and only the promptest action by officers and crew enabled them to launch four boats All the messengers praise the coolness and ouiclness of the crew. There were no signs of panic.
 One young woman described her eX- perience as follows;
 T was just sitting down at the table when the explosion occurred. I ran at once to my cabin for a life preserver and twice was thrown down in the passage by the rocking of the ship. I snatched life belt and rushed to the deck I had the utmost difficulty in | keeping my footing. As I reached the 1 deck the liner lurched heavily and | fell. Although badly shaken and bruised I managed to adjust the life belt and l jumped into the sea where l was res- cued 15 minutes later"
 BUT TWO CHILDREN SAVED Two bank clerks going to Egypt l rushed to the bridge and dived into the water from whence they were saved Mothers who went in quest of their children never returned. Only two chill dren were saved.
 "The chief officer is said to have been | in his cabin at the time of the eX-
 plosion. He rushed to the bridge and die all that was humanely possible. He wenl
 down with the ship but he was rescued from the water He thinks the captain sank with the ship, although some passengers said they saw the captain
 swimming. Many of the passengers be lieve that in addition to the boats il 1 which they were saved, two other life boats got clear of the sinking steamer The chief officer, however thinks tha
 this is improbable and that if othei
 boats were seen as some of the pas
 sengers declare, they were empty boats | which broke loose when the steame
 turned over. The survivors lost every
 thing they owned and during the 3 hours they spent in the boats suffered severely from the cold None of ther had warm clothing. There was sui ficient supply of water and provisions
 however"
 Everything possible is being don shere for the comfort of the survivors
 Charles Grant of Boston, who so far a D known is the only American now abl ! to tell the story of the disaster is guest on board the United States cruise Des Moines
 : Sixty-three Lasrers among the sur vivors include feW md severa l stewards Only O o4 ewardesse
 was saved.