Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-06
PASSENGERS ON
PERSIA GIVEN NO
TIME TO ESCAPE
TALES OF SURVIVORS SHOW
THAT BIG STEAMER WENT
DOWN VERY QUICKLY.

London. Jan. -Delayed) )-The
survivors OF the British steamship
Persia, which was torpedoed in the
Mediterranean last Thursday, reach
ed Alexandria, Egypt, according to the
account sent by Reuters correspond
ent at that point, all bearing traces
of shock and hardship. Most of them
had badly bruised and bandaged
limbs One woman is in a hospital
with a broken leg.
The tragedy was enacted so rapidly
that the survivors say they hardly
realized what happened, consequently
they had little to tell. The passen.
gers were sitting quietly at luncheon
everyone in good humor and an at.
mosphere of gaiety prevailing. Five
minutes later those who escaped we're
in boats or clinging to wreckage and
the luxurious liner was completely
gone. .....,.
Liner Lists Quickly.
Luncheon had just started when
there came terrific explosion. The
liner trembled violently and moment
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 II glued to the
seats. Their indecision was fatal, as
the water poured in and the list in
creased. Some Of those who gained
the deck lost their footing and slip
ped Immediately into the sea, while
others were swept away by waves.
1t 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 no signs of panic. Everyone
made the most of the few remaining
moments ~
Woman Escapes Death.
One young woman described her
experience as follows: ,..s .--,.-. . 3D..
II was just sitting down at table
when the explosion occurred. ran
at once to my cabin for a life preserv-
er and twice was thrown down In the
passage by the rocking OF the ship.
got to my cabin, snatched lifebelt
and rushed to the deck, I had the
utmost difficulty in keeping my foot.
ing and was again thrown down. As
reached the deck the liner lurched
heavily and I fell Although badly
shaken and bruised, quickly manag-
ed to adjust the lifebelt and jumped
into the sea where I was rescued flf-
teen minutes later"
Two bank clerks going to Egypt
rushed to the bridge and dived into
the sea, from which they were saved.
Mothers who went in quest of their
children never returned. Only two
children were saved.
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.
Few Boats Get Clear.
Many Of the passengers believe that
in addition to boats in which they
were saved, two other lifeboats got
clear Of the sinking steamer. The
chief officer Of the Persia, however,
thinks this is improbable and that II
other boats were seen, as some Of the
passengers declare, they were empty
boats which broke loose when the
steamer turned over and went to the
bottom. This view is supported by the
other surviving officers. .e
The survivors lost everything they
owned and during the thirty hours
they spent in the boats suffered Sc
verely from the cold None Of them
had warm clothing. There was suf-
fcient supply Of water and provisions,
however, as the boats were already
stocked in accordance with marine
Everything possible is
being done here for the comfort of the
survivors. Charles Grant Of Boston,
who so far as known Is the only
American now able to tell the story Of
the disaster, is guest on board the
U. S. cruiser Des Moines.
Sixty-three Lascars among the sur
vivors include fireman and several
Only one of the steward.
esses was saved.
COLD WAVE COMING. @
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