Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-27
Mr.. Bemis has made a deposition at the
American embassy

American embassy.
Almost All Civilians
Mr.. ChatrouX. inspector of the Orleans
railway, who was on the Sussex. gave
today the following account of his ex-
periences:
I'VE left Folkestone at l T. NJ. The
weather was fine and the sea calm. Al
most all the passengers were civilians.
There were many women and children on
board and a number of Belgians.
Il was lying on a lounge in the dim
ing saloon, when at about 5 o'clock
we We're shaken by a violent explosion
forward | had the sensation Of being
plunged suddenly into the water, and
vet | had no feeling of going down.
but rather of struggling upward
through the waves, what had happened
was, that an enormous column of wa
ter, raised by the explosion. fell back
upon the boat and flooded the saloon.
l found myself among all sorts of de-
bris. safe except for few scratches"
Another of the survivors was Alex
ander Clavel of Basel, Switzerland,
who was returning from London on a
business trip. He was picked up after
being four hours in the water, and
when seen at a hotel in Paris was re-
covering from nervous shock.
I'VE had no warning of what was
awaiting u.s." said Mr. Clavel The
report Of a torpedo crashing into the
forward works. where it landed, told
US, however, that we had been sub
marined
Efforts were Immediately made to
send out a wireless call for help, but
that was impossible, as the apparatus
had been destroyed, and siren calls
were sent out instead. Meantime all
those aboard the vessel made prepara-
tions to save themselves. Life belts
were hastily strapped on by the pas
sengers, while the crew were busy low
ering the life boats
Not Enough Boats
"The number of these boats unfor-
tunately was insufficient, and when
Trey became filled there was nothing
else to do but stay on the Sussex. The
deafening noise of the ships siren and
the confusion among the crew and pas
sengers added to the difficulties.
The sea became rouSher and rough
err, but before long the warning sound
from the ships whistle brought aid. in
the end there was - craft of all kinds
surrounding us. picking up survivors
and rendering aid
Among the passengers was a Amer
lean woman, Mrs. Hillock tproba bly,
Mrs. Hilton, whose name appears in
the official lisD. She was with her
G3nobfpl> nd
After receiving first aid Treatment, al
boulosnc she was put on a train for
Paris"
Slipped Out of Overcoat
disengaged myself by slipping out Of
my overcoat. which was pinned down by
the Wreckage. I hurried to the deck and
the passengers there were putting on life
belts and lifeboats were being lowered
TWO seamen were lying unconscious. per-
maps dead, on the forward part of the
deck The ladies' saloon and the dining
saloon were damaged severely.
The first boat to be lowered upset. The
second one also turned over. However.
we succeeded finally in getting almost
everyone into boats and we tishcd out Of
the water numbe., Of passengers. espe-
cially women.
The lifeboats remained near the Sus-
sex, which stayed afoat, the watert,nb,
compartments having been closed. AT the
end OF two hours the captain of the sus
sex made everyone who could help to save
the baggage and valuables aboard the
ship.
lhe wireless apparatus was dana ced
ana was not strong enough to tell Bon
logne that we had been torpedoad. or to
tell our position. We managed. however.
through signals. to summon help. At II
O'Clock at night many of the passengers
VINO mad been eight hours in the boats
were taken aboard a Boulocne s,oon
"hlch mad come up. The remaining pas
sensers were taken aboard an English
boat. third vessel took the Sussex in
tow and started toward Boulogne.
Some of the passengers remained at
Boulogne to wait for their baggage. which
1t was hoped would be saved.
several of those on board thought we
had struck mine. but about 20 passen.
gers with whom I talked said thew had
seen distinctly and had pointed out to tho
others the wake of torpedo"
Mr.. Catroux thought that about 80 per
sons had been killed or Injured