The Washington times., 1916-10-09

members OF the crews Of sthe stricken
ships arriving here today,
Almost without exception they took
the situation calmly, and said they
were not frightened when the first shot
was sent whistling across their vessel
bows or when they were being put into
the liftboats.
Miss Mcdonald, stewardess OF the Ste
piano, was one Of the last to leave the
ship. She was busy with her regular
duties. and refused to take the alarm
seriously.
Saw Periseope of Submarine.
John Kavanaugh, of Halifax. member
o. the Stephaho's crew. told VI seeing
the perlscope of the U-toat some DIS
tancP from the ship before the subrncr-
slble actually appeared in full bloom.
He hurried below to report. but heard
the snct fired at the .jtsp11no before he
could give warning.
Automobiles from the ilcwp,rt no.
cl";Y colony waited at .hel IJck until
dawn e. take of womcn from the, W
boat victim ships.
The llmousines from Mrs Arthur
James. Mrs. Berkman. and Mrs. Elsie
French Vanderbilt were at the Govern
ment pier. Miss Margaret Wilson. Ar
thur and Clara Ulrich. and Eleanor An
derson were taken to the Vanderbilt
home here.
on the forward deck OF the destroy
or Ericsson. as she swung into her
dock, was one of the strangest groups
ever seen on an American warship.
A little band OF women. with babies
in their arms. sat there silently. try
Ing not to show their sorrow over
the loss OF precious possessions. and
soothing the children, frightened by
their strange surroundings.
Say They Weren't Frightened.
They came, for the most part, OF
hardy Canadian stock. and when
they. learned a submarine had attack
ed their ship. they simply shrugged
their shoulders and replied NO"
One blond haired baby wore sail
or's cap rakishly over one eve.
In her haste to leave the Stephano
the mother had not had time to get
the baby's bonnet. and a seaman had
furnished the necessary head cover
ing.
Another bright-eyed youngster was
having the time OF his life as he lay
IN his mothers lap. g{HSrrgiinng Joyo .nn
thing as submarines existed,
Arriving at the naval hospital here,
the Stephano's passengers and crew
had their first meal in sixteen hours.
There were no signs OF hysteria or
fright as men. women and even an
eight-year-old child told their stories
OF being suddenly reused from dining
saloons and babies hurriedly awaken
ed from sleep to be hustled over the
side and into lifeboats.
Like Giant Fish.
Only n short distance away foated
. sea-green monster. The submarine
rested low in the water. her bulging
sides and pointed snout giving her
the appearance OF giant man-kiil-
Four thousand miles from a home
port. theoretically in enemy waters"
and with no known base for supplies or
fuel. the Teuton was unloosening her
wrath at the very. doors of America.
When the first alarm was given and
shot came screaming across the bow or
the Stephano many of the passengers
refused to believe they were being at
tackled by submarine. They laughed
when an officer rushed by. shooting
that all must don life preservers and
take to the boats.
But the serious mien of the children,
the hurrying about of the crew. and a
glimpse from the deck of the ship con-
WINGED them.
Thousands thronged the Newport wa
ter front as the destroyers put into
port. with their cargoes Of human
freight picked up from the sea.
Two Submarines.
One report brought here declares there
were two submarines-the U-5S. which
put In at Newport Saturday. and the
U-54 Another report mentions the U-61.
There is no way Of establishing definite
ly how many submersibles are on the
scene.
All latest information is that there
has been no loss of life. All passengers
from the steamers which were sunk
have been taken off the Nantucket
hghtship and have either been landed
or are en- route to Newport aboard
United States destroyers.
crews of the Strathdene, the West
Point, the Kingston, the Bloomersdijk,
and the Christian Knudson were taken
on during yesterday afternoon and late
last night.