New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-10

o'clock.
The first class passengers were all
passed by customs inspectors before
they left the train, but those who had
travelled in the second cabin were
marched through the crowded corridor,
of the station, and were huddlcd to-
gether in a hot, stuffy improvised hos
pital on the lower level of the terminal
to wait until they could be formally
passed by the customs mer.
Suffering in Second Cabin.
1t was on the passengers from the
second cabin that the most severe hard
ship of the disaster fell. To the men
and women who had been able to travel
first class, the torpedoing Of the big
liner was something Of magnificent
adventure thrilling episode IN which
not a man, woman or child was injured
one which they could recite in pict-
uresque detail to the well dressed per
sOHs waiting w btccb NHchi NJ IHc o'o-
ton.
But to the second class passengers
most of whom were Newfoundlanders
in moderate circumstances. the thing
was much more than an adventure. II
was the rsvage Of war, and it had cost
them, when it took their trunks and
bags, nearly everything they possessed
Many Of the women Of the second cabin
were i'll clad and nervous. Some were
penniless; some found themselves I'M
protected in a strange city.
The stories of the abandonment OF
the Stephano and her final sinking by
the German submarine U-53 as given
by the survivors agree in their main
features. The boat was first halted by
the submarine shortly before o'clock
there was no undue excitement in get
ting TO the lifeboats; three American
torpedo boat destroyers lowered about
until she was finally sunk By torpedo
at 1890 in the evening.
Warned Americans Were Aboard.
No one was seriously injured, and
even the ships dog was saved. The
only life lost was that Of the captains
cat. The passengers for the most part
believe they owe their lives to the &C
ton of Captain Clifton Smith of the
Stephano. Two minutes after the first
shot from the U-53 cut the air above
the ships bow his wireless was sput-
tering out this message:
"There are forty-seven American
citizens aboard the Stephano.'
That the message was received by
the U-boat's commander none OF the
passengers doubts. 1t was eight min
utes before the second warning shot
was fired and four hours before the
torpedo that carried the liner to the
bottom was discharged.
OF all the stories Of the disaster
told by the survivors, one OF the most
graphic, accurate and complete was
that of Fred O'Toole, of Conception
Harbor. New Brunswick. He Is Brit
ish soldier recently returned from
eighteen months service in France
with the 1st Newfoundland Regiment
and was on a pleasure excursion TO the
limited States. He found himself in
New York last night in tattered SUIT
Of clothes and with but one cent be-
tween himself and hunger.
No Hysteria on Liner.
owe were all at tea in the second
cabin shortly before 6 o'clock" he said,
"when we heard a faint boom, evident
ly coming from a point several thou
sand yards away. The Stephano's en-
eines were quickly reversed, then we
heard the voice Of the chief steward
laundering through the saloon:
avery one on deck instantly!
"There was a rush for the gangway,
but no bysterical excitement. When |
reached the deck above | could see the
German submarine lying off to the
southeast. She was riding on the sur
face. and have no doubt that she was
the U-53. Much closer TO US and NOV.
ing directly across the U-boats line OF
fire was the American destroyer Balch.
There was nervousness, but no cor
fusion, as we climbed over the SIDE
of the liner and into the lifetoats thai
had been launched. Six boats had been
let down-a number sufficient to hold
all of the passengers and the members
of the crew-and tne operation OF .acn
was perfect.
"For four hours the Stephano re-
NAMED ahoat Her dynamos ran all
the time, and while we circled about
her on the American destroyer her
lights blazed brightly.
Toward o'clock the German sub
marine drew close to her and with her
4-inch guns sent thirty projectiles
against her at her waterline. We could
zee her shake beneath the tcrrifice bonn
bardment, but her lights still blazed
brightly. SO far as we were able to
tell. the thirty 4-inch shells peppered
against her had no more effect than
so many rife bullets would have had.
"Finally. shortly after 10 o'clock,
the commander Of the U-boat was
forced TO do what he had hoped to
svoid-he was compelled TO send a tor
pedo into the Stephano's hull. Tho
American officers on the Balch told US
il was his last one
A woman with long green ven over
her head and half a torn and jagged
life preseryer about her shoulders was
conspicuous on the long platform in
the station. -,
She was Mrs. Charles W. Bostwick,