Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-09
CALIFORNIA HAD NO |
CHANGE TO ESCAPE
With Submarine on Each Side
Anchor Liner Cannot
Get Away.
SINKS IN NINE MINUTES

London, Feb. S-The Central News
SAYS the California sank nine minutes
after it was torpedoed.
According to the Exchange Tele-
graph company nearly fifty passengers
or members OF the crew are reported
missing. The Central News says
twenty Eight Of the missing are mem
bers OF the crew. The purser is re-
ported to have been killed.
Second Officer McCallum said the
weather was clear when the California
was torpedoed and that there was a
submarine on each side Of the steam
err. Escape was impossible. Accord
ing to his account the California re-
manned ahoat only seven minutes.
The Central News says the Cali
fornia's lifeboats on the port side
were launched and that some OF the
passengers and crew were able to
get away on them. A few who tell
into the water were rescued. There
was no panic and although number
OF passengers were injured all acted
in calm and courageous manner
After being in the boats short time
they were picked up by a steamship
and landed last evening, The purser's
body was brought to land.
The California was armed for de-
Tense, but did not have an opportun-
ity to use lis guns, as no submarine
was seen.
There were pathetic scenes at the
quay side where the survivors were
landed. Many were only scantily
clad for such severe weather. Nurses
and doctors were waiting to care for
the injured, who were removed to
hotels or hospitals.
Injured Are Doing Well.
The injured among the CALIFORNIA;
passengers and crew are all dong
wen. The Anchor line has arranged
iur sending home the survivors, all
OF whom have been provided with
clothing. Several OF them landed
with no covering except blankets.
Three women and two children are
reported to have been among those
lost on the California Surgeon Al
goe and Assistant Purser Eadie also
were lost.
Alfred Knox. cabin passenger on
the California, said that for an in
slant the vessel seemed to be vir-
tually lifted out of the water, but
that II soon began to settle by the
stern. The captain had taken the
precaution OF assigning all passengers
10 particular lfeboats.
Mr.. Knox went below to distribute
life belts among the passengers and
when he returned to the deck the
stern was almost awash He climbed
into a boat which picked up several
persons who had fallen into the water
Three or four bodies were floating
about. The explosion, he said. must
have killed several persons in the aft
erpart OF the vessel
A particularly sad case was that
OF Mrs. Little. who with four. chill
dren was travelling to Scotland. She
and one OF the children were lost.
The other children were taken in
charge by the Red Cross,
No Warning Given.
An officer OF the California said
the vessel was torpedoed without
warning. A wireless call brought as
sistance quickly. The explosion was
terrific.
One life boat was swamped- Those
who lost their lives were drowned by
the upsetting Of this boat OF killed
by the explosion.
OF the crew OF III, twenty-eight
men were drowned This number with
The thirteen passengers missing makes
the total death list forty-one.
The Exchange Telegraph company
says it understands that John A.
Ice, master at arms Of Montgomery
Ala, was the only American on the
California
Following are the names OF the
survivors among the passengers on
the California;
First cabin--James Broughton.
Second Cabn--Mrs. j. W. Anderson, An
gus Oilcrist, Mrs. Angus Gilcrist, Cornolu
ODonneli, Miss Rose Martin. AlexAnde
Morton tMartinf), Miss A. cuthiil tArs)
Third cabin--Mrs Little. Mary Little ant
baby Little. Mrs. Jennie Mckinley. Alex
ander Knox tAlfredf, James Anderson
Alexander Logan. Marjorie Sinclair. Jesss