New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-17
Survivor Describes
Loss of Dutch
Steamer.
3 AMERICANS
WERE ON BOARD
Lives Lost in Explosion,
Is Report Made by
Passenger.

Rotterdam. March lG dispatch 20
The LONDON Daily TelegraphD Il have
Just received information removing all
doubt that the Turbantia was ;orpe-
doed and not mined. The torpedo was
seen approaching the liner by al least
one OF the crew. II struck the vessel
exactly amidships, three yards below
the waterline. causing an enormous ex-
plosion and hole through which the
water poured.
A passenger who mas just arrived
here states that he heard members OF
the crew OF the boat I'm which ne es-
capped say that several people were re-
ported 10 have lost their lives. some in
the explosion, others in the mishsp
during the launching Of one Of the life
boats. le added, "When got on deck,
after being awakened. the boats were
being launched. Some Of the women
were crying, but everything was car
ried out in perfect order. We were in
a small boat five hours before we were
picked up. The cold was terrible"
London, March 16.-The Holland
Lloyd passenger steamship Tubantia
sank early today of the Noord Hinder
Lightship as the result Of striking a
mine or OF an attack by a submarine.
The passengers. among whom are said
70 have been several Americans, ana
the members Of the crew are all be
lieved 70 have been rescued The yes
sci carried between eighty and ninety
passengers and crew OF three hun
dred She was a vessel OF 5000 tons.
The Tubantia left Amsterdam on
Wednesday for the River Plate. and
was to have stopped at Falmouth for
additional passengers and freight.
Early this morning wireless distress
calls from the steamer were received al
the Hook Of Holland, and torpedo boats
and other craft rushed 20 her assist
ance. Some OF these boats reached IN.
steamer before she sank and took on
passengers and members Of the crow.
while others picked up survivors from
the ships boats, In which they had
taken refuge after tho explosion.
The nrst flashes from tho liner SAID
she had been torpedoed and was in
sinking condition near the Noord Hin
der Lightship. Later messages credited
the disaster 10 The vessel coming m
contact with minc. Until full details
Of tho sinking Of the steamer are Al
hand Il will be impossible 70 say def
nitely what the cause o. tho sinking
was.
Survivor. Blame Submarine.
Among the American passengers said
10 have been on board the Tubantia
was Richard Schlling, described as an
American consul, and his wife ana
daughter.
Seventy survivors OF the disaster
were taken into Flushing, Holland, by
two torpedo boats Others took refuge
on board the lightship, while still
others were picked up by Dutch and
Swedish steamers Those arriving at
Flushing said the explosion occurred at
30 o'clock this morning, just as the
Tubsntia was about 20 drop anchor
Opinions among them Varied as 20
whether the vessel had struck a mine
or been torpedoed h. a submarine.
4 wireless message from the captain
OF the Tubsntia. according 10 Z Central
News dispatch from Amsterdam, de-
cisres the steamer wss attacked with
out warning The torpedo the dispatch
says. struck the stern Of the vessel
A wireless message. which was signed
First Wireless Operator" was re-
ceiyed last night st Ymuiden by way Of
Scheveningen, Holland, and is quoted
az follows:
"Tubsntis torpedoed and lost Am
now leaving ship with captain. Don't
worry
Agents Without News
"It IS certain that the Tubantis ass
torpedoed without warning" telegraph,
the Central News correspondent ~ Am
sterdsm.
The agents had no information as 70
the number OF passengers taken on A.
Amsterdam. 4 Reuter- dispatch. how
ever from Ymuiden says that tho Tu-
bantia carried IS first class. 33 second
class and 5 third class passengers.