Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-27
Women, Huddled Together
on Boat Decks Sing "Rule
Britannia" in Defiant
Tones as They Reach
Queenstown.

the Laconia's destruction grew this
afternoon as the stories of its survivors
were pieced together.
And with 1t came to light a story of
women's bravery and defiance that
stirred Queenstown to its depths.
When the rescuing patrol steamer
brought the survivors into this port
there was a defiant sound OF voices
from her deck. Eager observers made
out the picture of women. snatched
from death in the cold waters of the
sea, standing together on the little
boats deck and leading in the singing
of Rule Britannia" The women were
huddled together, hair streaming over
their shoulders, and. like the men who
were saved. wearing lifebelts inflated
and strapped across their shoulders.
WOMEN DEFIANT.
Every soul on board sang the song.
their almost hysterical voices raised in
defiantly strident tones.
First ashore was a tall stewardess,
hair streaming and cuddling to her
breast tiny baby that was almost lost
in the wrappings of the womans life
belt.
The pitiful company struggled across
the gang plank and were met with
eager sympathy. They were hurried
to fleet Of waiting automobiles and
carried to the Queens hotel. There
mangums Of champagne and bowls Of
steaming soup awaited them. A big
staff Of Red Cross nurses and surgeons
looked them over and hurried the
survivors off to bed.
Their sufferings had been Intense.
The night air was biting cold They
were adrift from before midnight until
just before dawn Eight Of those who
took TO the frail lifeboats when the
giant Cunarder slowly sank under the
waters perished from the cold, the hor-
ror OF disaster and the agonizing fear
of the icy water that Tapped the gun
wales OF the lifeboats. They were
buried at sea.
OPERATORS THE HEROES.
Wireless Operators Donnes and
Taylor We're heroes of the Laconia dis
aster. They were the two last sur
vivors to leave the sinking Cunardcr.
They stuck to their apparatus, sending
out IS. o. s." calls until British
warship responded then Jumped
overheard. The lfeboat commanded
by Captain Irvine picked the two men
up, little the worse for their expert
ence.
The weather was Comparatively
calm," according to tn survivors, but
there was a heavy swell running The
Laconia was struck at p. IN. Sun
day. The lifeboats with survivors were
afloat until a. IN. Eonday morning
when rescue ship arrived on the
scene and picked them up.
All survivors agreed today that the |
Laconia was torpedocd twice without
any warning, the attack occurring at ?
y. IN. Sunday.
Eight boats were launched There |
was considerable difficulty in casting
them free of the Laconia, owing to con- |
siderable list and one boat was swamp
ed. 1t was believed that Mrs. Hoy and
her daughter were in this lifeboat.
Explosions of the two torpedoes.
however. caused most OF the casual
ties, 1t was believed,
The conduct of both passengers
ana crew was generally calm, although
there was some confusion, owing to
the fact that the lights went out i'm
after the first explosion.
AMERICAN TELLS OF ATTACK.
DIR. Hawke, of San Francisco. aboard
the l-aconia. is in hospital. lie said
ne WIS playing bridge in the ships
surgeon room when he heard an awful
'rash ana guessed IA submarine had at
tack the ship. The passengers, pre-
'i1usly drilled in boat drill got into
he boats without panic. lie said all
behaved well and L discipline was
good. He said: The submarine re-
turned after we ere in the boats an
ired another torpedo which put ut the
lights and was followed by terrific
The ship probably sunk soon after
ward. The second torpedo was fired
'lthongh the lifeboats were close TO the
'essel and the submarines crew could
Tot have failed 10 sne us, as the moon
vas shining IL was about 1880 Sum
lay night when we took 10 the boats
nd about O'Clock the following morn
ng we were picked up"