The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Mothers on Liner Persia Die in
Saving Children.
Only Three Tots Among Sur.
YivOrs Reach Alexandria.
MANY RESCUED BEAR WOUNDS
Captain BraveIy Went Down
With His Ship.
Suffer From Cold for 80 Hours
in Open Boats.

London, Jan. 5.-The survivors of
the British teamship Persia, which
was torpedoed in the Mediterranean
last Thursday, reached Alexandria,
Egypt, according TO the account sent
by Reuters correspondent at that
point. bearing traces of shock and
hardship. Most of them had bruised
and bandaged limbs.
The tragedy was enacted so rapidly
that the survivors say they hardly
realized what happened. The passen-
gers were sitting quietly at luncheon.
every one in good humOr and an at
mosphere of gayety prevailing. Five
minutes later those who escaped were
in boats or clinging to wreckage and
the luxurious liner was completely
gone.
Luncheon had just started when
there came terrific explosion. The
liner trembled violently and a mo-
ment 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 and sat as if glued to their
seats Their INDIGESTION was fatal as
the water poured in and the list in
creased.
Some of those who gained the deck
lost their footing and slipped imme-
diately into the sea, while others were
swept away by waves.
Crew Did Its Part.
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 passengers praise the GOODNESS
and quickness of the crew. There
were few signs of panic. Everyone
made the most of the few remaining
moments. one young woman describ-
ed her experiences as follows:
4 was just sitting down at the ia
Bile when the explosion occurred. /
ran at once to my cabin for a life pre-
server and twice was thrown down in
the passage by the rocking of the
ship I got to my cabin, snatched a
life belt and rushed to the deck. 1
had the utmost difficulty in keeping
my footing and was again thrown
down. AS l reached the deck the liner
lurched heavily and I fell Although
badly shaken, and bruised 1 quickly
managed to adjust the life belt and
jumped into the sea, where 1 was res
cued fifteen minutes later"
Two bank clerks going to Egypt
rushed to the bridge and dived into
the water from which they were
saved. Mothers who went in quest of
their children never returned. Only
three children were saved.
Went Down With His Ship.
The chief officer is said to have
been in his cabin at the time of the
explosion. He rushed to the bridge
and did all that was humanity possible
He went down with the ship but was
rescued from the water. He thinks
that the captain sank with the ship,
although some passengers said they
saw the captain swimming.
Reuters Alexandria correspondent
sends the following:
Many of the passengers of the Brit
ish ship Persia believe that in addi
ton to boats ii which they were saved
two other lifeboats got clear of the
sinking steamer. The chief officer of
the Persia, however, thinks this is inn
probable and that if other boats were
seen, as some of the passengers de-
clare they were empty boats which
broke loose when the steamer turned
over and went to the bottom. This
view is supported by the other surviv
ing officers.
THE survivors lost everything they
owned and during the thirty hours
they spent in the boats, suffered Sc
verely from the cold. None had warm
clothing. There was a sufficient sup
ply Of water and provisions, how