Evening star., 1917-02-27
Passengers on the laconia
Had No Warning of Peril
Until Torpedo Struck Ship

QUEENSTOWN. February %. DR.
;Benjamin Z. Hawkes. of Gait, Ontario
Zone of the surviving passengers Of the
.Laconia, said he was playing game OF
ibridge in the ships surgeons room
when he heard an awful crash. anG
guessed that the ship had been attacked
by submarine.
He said that the first torpedo struck
the liner aft on the starboard side and
every one made for the life preservers
The passengers had previously been in
structed in boat drill and got into the
boats without panic. DIR. Hawkes. said
that all behaved well and that the dis
cfplfne was truly good. He continued:
Returned for Second Shot.
The submarine returned after we
had been in the boats and fred another
torpedo. which put out the lights. and
was followed by terrific explosion,
and the ship must have sunk soon
after. The second torpedo. mind you,
was fired. although the Iifeboats were
close to the vessel and the crew of the
submarine could not have failed to see
us, as il was moonlight. 1t was about
1880 pm. Sunday when We took to the
boats and about O'Clock on the follow
ing morning when we were picked up.
to the behavior of the women and
children, and said the captain and crew
were marvellous. 1t appears that two
boats reached Bantry with twenty-five
people. eight of the occupants having
died from exposure. Among those saved
was the singer, Miss Mitsie SikIosi of
Paris.
The bodies of those who died were
consigned to the sea.
After being landed here Father Ware
Ing and Mr.. Gibbons said the VOYAGE
was very pleasant one up to the time
of its fatal termination. 1t was at
ABOUT $3.50 O'Clock sunday night, they
said. when they were startled by the
explosion of the first torpedo. which
struck the ship on the starboard side
by the stern. The vessel kept steady,
and the crew. with ma agniflcent disci-
pline. got out the boats and provided
the passengers with lifebelts. All hands
took to the boats, the passengers first.
Sank in Twelve Minutes.
1t was very shortly afterward that
the second torpedo was fired. striking
the Laconia amidships. The vessel
then quickly settled down. sinking in
about twelve minutes.
- The wireless on the Laconia sent out
n call for help, and rescuing steamers
were soon on the way to the scene.
After about six hours the boats were
picked UP. In addition to the survivors
brought to Queenstown, fifteen were
landed at Bantry.
Everything possible was done to re-
Meve the suffering of the American
women. but the shock and the hard
ships of exposure to the cold proved
fatal to Mrs Hoy and her daughter.
Mrs. F. Z. Harris, wife of an American
army officer, was cheered loudly by the
other survivors on landing. She was
the last woman to leave the ship. get
Ntv.r~ ,v,fN %LA~- Nf.t, IL
played such bravery that she was ac-
corded the honor of being the first to
land.
Those who were injured are receiv-
Ing every attention. as are also the
other survivors. The agents of the
steamship company are being assisted
by naval and military nurses.
Many Hours in Boats.
LONDON. February 27.-According to
stories gathered from passengers from
the Laconia who entered Queenstown.
the steamship was torpedoed at about
1890 o'clock Sunday night The pas
sengers and crew had taken to the boats.
when the second torpedo was fired into
picked up at 4 o'clock Monday mora
ing. Many of the survivors wore only
the scantiest clothing.
A Queenstown dispatch to the Chron-
1cle says tnat tne LacOnla was tOrpe-
doed IN comparatively calm weather.
The Arst torpedo struck near the stern,
and when the vessel was struck a sec
ond time she listed quickly to star
board. The boats got away with con-
siderable difficulty, but there was no
panic among the passengers or crew
The snallness of the loss of life was
due to the excellent discipline of the
crew and the orderliness of the pas
sengers.
Mrs. Hoy's husband, DIR. Albert H.
Hoy, who Is a civil war veteran, and
her son. Austin Y. Hoy, reside in Lon
don. The latter called at the embassy
this morning and received a copy of
the message from Consul Frost.
Austin Y. Hoy resides here as repre-
sentative of the London branch of an
American firm, the other members of
the family residing with him
Mrs. and Miss Hoy went home to the
United States some time ago to settle
some family business affairs. and Aus
tin Hoy repeatedly cabled them not to
return until the present crisis was
over; but they evidently decided to risk
the trip.
DR.. Albert H. Hoy the father. an
aged man, is prostrated with grief
The son was loath to believe the news
that his mother and sister had been
lost until he received the confirmatory
telegram from Consul Frost
REPORTER ON LACONlA