The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-26
Six of 291 Persons Aboard Were
Citizens of u. s.
The LacOnia Was En- Route
New York to Liverpool.
CARRIED 5000 SACKS U.S.MAIL
Vessel Largest Victim of New
Submarine Warfare.
Giant Leviathan Was 600 Feet
Long, al Foot Beam.

London. Feb. 6.-The 1909 ton
Cunarder Iaconia fell victim today to
the German submarine warfare, being
torpedoed off the Irish coast.
The vessel was en- route from New
York to England.
The Laconia is the biggest victim
of the German submarine warfare
since the new decree was announced.
1t was torpedoed without warning.
The Laconia was steel screw
steamship. of 1909 tons, one of the
largest vessels now in TRANSATLANTIC
service. She was registered at Liver
pool and was built in 1912. She was
owned by the Cunard Steamship COM
pany and was 500 feet in length and
II feet beam.
Six Americans Aboard
New York, Feb. 26.-Six American
citizens were aboard the Cunard liner
Laconia when she was sunk, it was
stated here this afternoon by the
Cunard line.
The Laconia was manned by British
officers and a British crew. She
carried contraband cargo in addition
to mails.
Her last trip from Liverpool ended
here February Ia when she brought
across 81 passengers. She sailed again
for Liverpool on February 8.
Ii.
command of the big liner; c. Balm was
chief engineer; G. S. Kennedy, sur
geon; w. Ballyn, chief steward; A
w. Robertson, chief officer; C. T.
SPEEDING. purser; w. r. Gerson, as
SiStant purser.
Report One Life Lost
A cable message to the Cunard line
this afternoon told of the sinking of
the Laconia and said one life was
lost
Americans aboard the Laconia in
clude:
Miss Phyllis Barker. "a East Sixty
Second street, New York.
F. E. Gibbons. Chicago. believed to
be a representative of the Chicago
Tribune.
Mrs. F. E. Harris, Hotel Wolcott.
New York
Arthur p. Kirby, Braindridge, n. Y.
The names of the other Americans
We're not available.
Five thousand sacks of United
States mail were carried by the La
coma. of which 1900 were transferred
from the American liner, st. Louis.
when it was decided to hold the lat
ter vessel in lort. Many valuable
securities and documents sent by
American business firms were sup
posed to be in the st. Louis mail bags.
33 First Cabin Passengers.
Three additional Americans were
listed by the Cunard liner later. They
were Rev. Joseph Wareing of New
York, Mrs. Mary E. Hoy and Miss
Eliza beth Hoy.
At the Hotel Wolcott, New York,
it was stated Miss Harris had been
there only two days before sailing 1t
was said she registered from Fort Du-
pont, the name of the state was not
on the register, it was stated
Miss Phyliss Barker, who was re-
ported as among the Americans
aboard the Laconia, is an English
subject, who has been visiting with
her brother, who is in business in New
York, it was learned this afternoon.
She was returning at the cabled re-
quest of her mother.
There were 33 first cabin passen-
gers as follows:
Russell d. Bradshaw.
Henry c.. Boston.
Mrs. Boston.
Mrs. Charlotte Chesney.
James Lawrie.
j. NJ. Lewis.
John II. Mccall, John B. Neman,
Mrs. L. NJ Reeson, Mr.. Doreson, VIII.
| liam Robinson, Rev. +. Dustan Sar-
geant, Miss Missile Sik1osi, Charles r.
Wood. Mrs. f. G. Gibson, j. Guthrie
H. Grant, Miss f. Yyonne, Tom Grant,
Master Collin Grant. SewaH H. Greg
! DRY. DR.. B. E. Hawks, Henry Catham,
r. ]. Downing. Edmund s. Duggas,
~. S. Fotherington, Matthew Alex
French, Mrs. Mary T.. Hay, Elizabeth
! Hay, Arthur A. Holland, Cedric F.
Ivatt, Lucien ]. Jerome and valet.
! There were forty-two second class
| passengers and a crew of PIG aboard
the Laconia according to a statement
issued at the Cunard offices
Z. s. Consul Reports.
London, Feb. 26=Wesley Frost.
American consul at Queenstown. tel
egrap1ed the American embassy here
today:
"Cunarder Laconia torpedoed 1880