The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1916-10-09
SURVIVORS TELL
[ContTnued From Page One.1


lives were lost, but the crew of the
Kingston still was missing.
The German war submarine which
brought the war to the doorway of
the United States is believed to be the
U-53, which visited Newport Saturday
Survivors of the Stephano, who ar
rived here on board the Ericsson, said
that the ship was warned and the
passengers and crew given a chance
to take to the boats. German seamen
then went on board and opened her
sea cocks She was neither torpedoed
nor shelled.
Tries to Prevent Break
This, it is believed here, indicated
that the submarine commander was
taking precautions to prevent break
with the United States over the latest
outbreak of submarine warning.
The Ericsson was followed by the
United States ship Drayton. She had
on board the master of the West
Point He was taken to the British
cruiser Birmingham in a launch. He
refused to make a statement until he
could confer with the owners of his
ship.
Reports that nine ships were at
tackled and that three submarines
were engaged instead Of one were
contained in a wireless dispatch from
the Nantucket station picked up by
the Ericsson.
Destroyer Plays Part
An important part was played
throughout by this destroyer. She
was in plain view of the attack upon
the Stephano Officers said that the
British passenger ship was halted by
three shots fired across her bow by
the submarine. The Stephano carried
seventy-three passengers, many of
them citizens of the United States.
One of the passengers was Charles
T. Evans of Germantown, Pa. He was
responsible for the statement that the
Stehano had been sunk by filling her
hold with water.
Most of the passengers were at
dinner when the vessel was fired on"
Mr.. Evans said "They were given
time to put on heavy wraps after a
steward had passed among them tell
orders to lower the life boats.
1--WE did not know then that sub
marine was near nor why we were to
leave the ship.
Sea Was Very Calm.
"The sea and weather were calm
and the officers acted very quietly so
that there was very little confusion on
board.
"My wife and / went to our room
and put on our coats and went on
deck.
better put on life preservers. Neither
my wife or myself saw any submarine.
"In the meantime we were assigned
to places in a lifeboat which was
quickly lowered We had gone about
a mile and half in this boat when
we were picked up by the United
States naval boat.
Lose All Baggage.
"Mrs. Evans and myself had been
to St. Anthony, N. F., and were on our
way home We lost all our baggage"
Mrs Marion Cutter of Brooklyn
said that the Stephano was held up
about 6 o'clock.
eve had just seated ourselves when
a shot was fired across the ships
bows she said. Naturally we were
startled. We were told to leave the
room as quickly as possible and as we
were doing so two more shots were
fired. There was amazement but no
disorder.
"The captain told us that we were
to get into the lifeboats, all of which
we're quickly lowered
Darkness had fallen by this time
and we did not see the ship again."
Mrs. Elsie French Vanderbilt, Mrs. |
R. Livingston Beeckman and other |
members of the millionaire colony |
here had automobiles at the pier to |