The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-27
HEROES
Hold Posts Sending s. o. s. Calls
Until Ship Starts It's Final
Plunge
VESSEL ATTACKED 7 p. M.
SUNDAY ON CALM OCEAN
Big Cunarder Lists Rapidly as
First Shot Takes Vital Effect
Grew Very Efficient
UNITED Press.)

London, Feb. 27.-Two American
women were among the II killed on
the Summarized Cunard liner. Laconia.
They were, Mrs. Mary Hoy and her
daughter, Elizabeth Hoy. They per.
|ished in an open lifeboat, death being
due to exposure. Both were buried
in the open sea. Consul Frost at
Queenstown made this report to the
American embassy here, adding that
there were four other Americans
aboard. They were: F. L.. Gibbons,
Mrs. F. T.. Harris, Arthur 4. Kirby
and Rev. Father Waering.
Official figures of the Laconia dis.
aster show:
Total number of passengers and
crew, 293. E#
Survivors landed at Queenstown,
267.
Survivors landed at Bantry, IA.
Drowned, 5. ..
Died of exposure and buried at sea, g..
|gs In hospitals, s.
Il These figures were furnished by the
American consul at Queenstown and
sent to American Ambassador Page
here today.
se Six of the 20 Americans in the crew
Of the Laconia lost their lives, accord
ing to the best figures available to-.
day The Cunard liner left the names
OF 20 American seamen, which were
signed when the ship left this port.
and the company said one or two 9TH
ers may have signed. American Con-
sui Frost at Queenstown listed Is Am
orleans of the crew saved. His list
calls for IA of those in the Ctnard
list.
Offer No Resistance.
After the Laconia had been subma-
rined and the survivors had taken to
1ifeboats. the submarine which sunk
the vessel approached one of the life
boats and inquired of the captain, and
asked for the nature of the cargo.
He received answers from the second
officer and the German officer said a
British admiralty boat would reach
the survivors shortly and then depart
ed without offering any assistance.
American Consul Frost at Queenstown
reported these incidents to Ambassa-
dor Page today "
Fifteen American negroes were
among the Iaconia's crew, according
to Cunard Line officials today.
Without Warning.
American Consul Frost at Queens
town officially reported to the Ameri-
can embassy today that the Laconia
was sunk without warning and by
explosions of two torpedoes. The sec
0nd torpedo was fired 20 minutes af-
ter the first had struck. In this in
terval of 20 minutes, the first of Is
boats were launched from the Laco-
MIA. The weather was cloudy and
there was a heavy swell on the ocean.
T. To Avenge Death.
Austin Hoy, left motherless by the
death of Mrs. Mary Hoy and Eliza
beth Hoy in the Laconia tragedy, to-.
day cabled his employers at the Sulli.
van Machinery company Of Chicago,
that he has taken an indefinite leave
of absence. 1t is said the leave was
taken in order to carry out plans to
help avenge the death Of his mother
and sister.
The Cunard company this after.
noon issued the following bulletin:
"Laconia passengers dead, 8; miss
ing, 3; crew missing, g.; crew in hos.
pitals, g."
TO Avenae Death.
A quiet-voiced, Observation-Disclosures
ed, successful American business man,
Austin Hoy, 36. today urged his
rights upon President Wilson to
avenge the killing of his mother and
sister. There was no suggestion Of
mock heroics in his manner. He was
deadly calm in dealing against those
he charged with their death. He ask
ed the president that the deaths Of
Mrs. Mary Hoy and Miss Elizabeth
Hoy be avenged and requested the
privilege of being the first volunteer
If citizens army is raised in Ameri-
ca. Otherwise, he said he would en-.
list in the British army. His mes.
sage to the president followed a con.
sultation with American Ambassador
Walter Hines Page and Consul-G Gener-
al Skinner today. following which he
said he thought he had right to act.
Il am an American business man"
he explained. 81 have been in London
in business four years, representing
the Sullivan Machinery Co., Of Chica-
70. Father is too old and 1t is the
duty for me as the active me1mer Of
7Coofinue6 o. Paeo TWo)