The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-25
new SEA
CRISIS ON
SINKING OF
Steamer
75 Missing From 1876 on Board
the Sussex.
Situation Gravest Since Lusi-
tania Went Down.
IpiaAY AMERICANS ARE LOST
Passenger Declares He Saw
Torpedo Hit Vessel.
Four American Lives Lost on
Dominion Line Ship.
75 Missing From 1876 on Board
the Sussex.
Situation Gravest Since Lusi-
tania Went Down.
MAaY AMERICANS ARE LOST
Passenger Declares He Saw
Torpedo Hit Vessel.
Four American Lives Lost on
Dominion Line Ship.

London, March 25.-The most Sc
rious situation since the torpedoing
of the Lusitania threatened German
American relations today with re-
ports Of the torpedoing of the cham
mel liner Sussex with possible loss of
American lives and that four Ameri-
cans had lost their lives through the
sinking of the Dominion liner Eng
lishman.
This was the viewpoint of British
officials today anxiously awaiting some
news of the Sussex disaster.
Reports as to the probable loss OF
American lives in the Sussex explo-
sion, were most confusing this after
noon. John r. Hearley of Albany,
n Y, a United Press staff cores
pondent. who was aboard the channel
steamer. telegra phed from Boulogne
that Elizabeth Baldwin of Philadei-
phia and her father were missing and
believed to have been drowned.
Says 30 Lives Lost.
Hearley reported it was believed in
Boulogne that SO persons lost their
lives He said three Americans agreed
the Sussex was torpedoed.
Edna Frances Hilton, Edna Hall.
John H. Hearley, Edward Marshall.
Wilder c. Penfield. George Henry
Parker. jr.. Alice w. Ruiz. Mrs. Toll
Ifote Sennell. Daniel Sargent, Tingle-
woods Tulderson, Gertrude w. Milk
Warren. Francis f. Drake.
Sunk in English Channel.
London, March 25.-Information
obtained from passengers on the cham
/ mel steamship Sussex, damaged by an
explosion yesterday afternoon on the
way from Folkestone to Dieppe, indi-
Gates there may have been a consider
able loss of life. One American is
missing and is supposed to have been
lost Another was injured seriously
Several Americans were rescued
Opinion of passengers of the Sussex
is divided as to whether the vessel was
the victim of a mine or torpedo.
The explosion was terrific II oc-
Cured Just ahead of the captains
bridge and tore the front part of tho
steamer to pieces. killing or injuring
a number of persons. Many wers
wounded by flying splinters. The ad-
miralty states that ESQ survivors have
been landed in France and between
80 and 100 at Dover. As there were
3S5 passengers and about so men IN
/ the crew. rs or more persons are still
missing.
27O Women and Children.
The difficulties imposed by war
conditions in communicating with Eng
lish and ross-channel ports have
made it impossible thus far to obtain
accurate information regarding the.
( circumstances of the sinking of the
Sussex and the names and rationale
ties of the passenger. Most of the
passengers are believed to have been
eontinentals. There were 270 women
and children on the vessel.
The Sussex carried II life boats and
several RATS The lifeboats were low
/ cred quickly after the explosion.
Good discipline was maintained. al
though there was some scrambling for
the boats The second boat. which
was lowered containing forty persons.
was overturned. Passengers state
drowned. number of passengers
jumped overheard. Gratings and
pieces of furniture we're thrown to
| them from the decks. More than. half
/ of those who leaped into the water
are believed to have lost their lives.
Wireless Failed.
! The foremast and wireless apparat-
us were blown away by the explosion
f The wireless operator attempted un-
successfully to rig a substitute.
Persons who embarked in the boats
returned to the Sussex before dark.
Rockers were fired during the early
part of the night and at about mid
night trawler came to the rescue. It
took many as it could carry to
Boulogne.
/ afterward and took on the other pas
! sengers. conveying them to Dover.
! Five bodies were left on the Sussex
Paris. March 25.-Sam muel f. Bemis.
T of Medford. Mass, q. passenger on the
/ Sussex today that he saw plainy and
4 Enthusiastically the wake of a torpedo
coming toward the steamer.
Waited Hours for Help.
The chief engineer of the Sussex
was killed by the explosion and the
purser was seriously wounded.
An American whose name is not
a
London. was talking with the Baldwin
/ family close to the captains bridge
when the explosion occurred He has
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