South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-28
Capt. Irvine and Men on the
LaCOnia Had Prepared For
Emergency and Got All
Passengers Into Boats.
BODIES OF AMERICAN
WOMEN BURIED AT SEA
Boat in Which They Were,
Was Riding Low and Pre-
cautions Had to be TAX
en- to Save Others.
International 80 servic,e:

International News Service:
, LONDON, Feb. 2s.-The nation
wide hatred of Germany that follow
ed the sinking of the Lusitania
famed anew throughout England
today as il read the survivors stories
of the sinking of her sister ship. the
Laconia, under even more ruthless
conditions. with the loss of at least
II lives.
That the loss of life was not great
er was due to the excellent prepare
tons that had been made for just
such an emergency and 10 the SPLEEN
did conduct of Capt. Irvine and his
men in getting the passengers safe
" into the lifeboars on this all sur
vivors' stories agree.
Most of the survivors who landed
at Queenstown were scattering 10
their homes and destinations today.
All are without their belongings, as
there was no time to gather them up
after the torpedo struck the vessel.
High tribute is paid to the hero
ism and GOODNESS of Mrs. Frank +.
Harris, wife of a United States army
officer. a passenger. She was the last
woman to leave the ship, and the
first woman TO step ashore at
Queenstown.
Last Woman To Leave.
Mrs. Harris was the coolest wOm-
an on board. according to the ship
crew. She directed the operations of
many other women and aided in
getting the children safely in the
Hfeboats. Capt. Irvine ordered her
into the boat finally.
The Rev. z. Dunstan Sargent, who
landed at Bantry. was in the boat
with Mrs. Mary r. Hoy and her
daughter, Elizabeth. the only two
women TO lose their lives. Both were
Americans. According TO the min
lister. considerable difficulty was eX-
perienced i'm getting their lifebOat
away from the sinking liner.
While we were being sent down
the side" he said the side of our
boat continually banged against the
liners side. We were afraid that IL
would be crushed and yelled instruc-
tons to the men who were lowering
US. At that they stopped, and we
were left suspended about six feet
above the water. We yelled TO let
go, and they did it so precipitately
that We dropped the rest Of the way
to the water, almost head foremost
Both Die of Exposure.
L cut the oars loose with my pen
knife There were four women in
our boat. including Mrs Hoy and
her daughter. both Of whom died OF
/ exposure Their bodies had 10 be
thrown overheard. 10 tighten the
| load. II was horrible. but the rest
had 10 be saved
Altogether. seven persons died I'm
our boat They all had 10 be dis
posed Of. because we rode very low
and waves continually broke over
US"
Boat No. i carried the heaviest
load. with so passengers. II had
many women in it. It got safely
away and was laying 10 watching
the Laconia in her death throes
when the submarine bobbed up
alongside.
We could only see the boat DIM
w." said one of the women. ct
drenched US as IL rose. Two men
were standing on its deck One of
them. I suppose il was the captain.
spoke in very good English. What IS
the name of your ship, her tonnage.
and her cargo he called. Someone
suggested that We not answer him
at all but sing Rule Brittania'. The
steward in charge Of the boat said
we had better not. do that. as we
were completely al his mercy.
Then the steward told the Ger
man We had women and children
aboard. and the captain replied that
that was all right a patrol would
pick Us up After inQuiring for
Capt. irvine the submarine disap-
peare5."
Practically all Of the survivors
suffered more or less severely from
| exposure The wind was Wintry and
/ biting and heavy swells drenched
most OF the passengers TO the skin.
! The night added 10 their fears