The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-11
WAR LOAN BILL DRAFTED:
CALLS FOR 81, 600, 600, 600;
OFFERS ASSURE SUCCESS
NEW YORK HITS
MINE AT SEA
Passengers Taken Off by Ves-
sells That Came at Call
for Aid.

LIVERPOOL, April 1o.-The American
Line steamer New York. bound from
New York for Liverpool. struck a mine
last night when nearing her destination.
The explosion occurred on the port bow
of the vessel and distress signals were
Immediately sent out.
Nearby vessels went to the assistance
OF the liner and all her passengers ex-
cept nine were taken Off and brought to
the landing stage here. II was found
that the damage. which was confined to
the fore part of the vessel, was not seri-
Gus, and the New York was able to make
her dock under her own steam.
The vessel had shipped some water.
but her appearance as she came into the
river suggested nothing more than that
she was heavily laden. When the New
York was warped into her dock and
moored. large gang Of dock workers
Immediately rapidly began to discharge
the cargo so as to enable the steamer to
go into dry dock as early as possible.
Passengers Don Lifebelts.
When the New York struck the SUBJ
merged mine the explosion shook the
at once given to every person to don
lifebelt. The crew behaved splendidly.
but the vessel began to take in water
rapidly. The bulkheads were promptly
closed, but in a very short time there
were many feet of water in the forehold
During the launching Of the small
boats some Of the crew received minor
injuries, and when the boats had been
lowered there was extreme danger from
tho possibility OF their coming In con-
tact with the revolving screws Of the
New York, which, owing to the fact that
the vessel was down by the head, were
partially out OF water. BY the energetic
work OF the men at the oars this danger
was averted.
The vessels condition presently caused
feeling OF relief. as the watertigh,
compartments w!thstood the pressure
and after a time the passengers were
allowed to leave the boats and return
to the ships decks. Later, however
two nearby steamers sighted the New
York and steamed close to her and 4,
was decided to transfer the passengers
20 them. Accordingly. they were ordered
into the boats again and were rowed
TO the rescue ships. which took them to
Liverpool. The occupants of the boats
had been afoat only half an hour.
Women Ill From EXposure.
When landed late tonight many OF
the passengers showed signs of theI;
experience. Some of the women were
suffering from extreme nervousness and
from exposure, and several of then
spent the night at hotels here under the
care of physicians. A few were still
wearing lifebel:s
While the iol clx
kent an even keel. The next momen
came the order for the passengers e
take their places At the lifeboats. Drill!
had been carried out during the voyag,
and places had been allotted IN tn.
boats So tho order was carried ou
without excitement. A few minutes
elapsed before the boats were lowered
the captain apparently waiting TO deter
mine IL this was necessary. At the TIM
the sea was smooth.
Description by Passenger.
The following description Of the ex
ploson was told by a passenger 10
night:
I'VE heard a terrific explosion IN tn
direction OF the bow OF the vessel an,
saw gigantic geyser of water ris
higher than the topmast The shl
shuddered from the shock and took
slight list. Distress signals We're sounde
Immediately and passengers and crey
were ordered to prepare TO abando
ship.
THE l.feboats were loaded and swun
over the side, but not lowered. owing (
tho hasty report from the engineer tina
the New York was not sinking
"A hole ten feet square was blown !!
the bow, admitting the sea 20 hol
number four. but tho bulkheads heiC
The machinery was uninjured. Passen
| gers and crew were allowed to leave IN
boats and assemble on tho deck. but upo
| the speedy appearance Of relief vessel
| II was decided to transfer the passe nger
| to OFFSET any danger IN case the bulb
heads collapsed under the pressure.
Accordingly the boats again wer
loaded and lowered and tho passenger
were transferred to nearby steamer
which brought them safely to Liverpoo
The officers and crew returned TO til
New York.
| ships Give Assistance.
| Another passenger said: II was in II
| first boat on the starhoard side, As "
| reached the water an Isle OF Man pa'
senger steamship. outward bound m
having a holiday in England, came I
our assistance. as well as an Admirali
patrol ship.
IAN the passengers were taken aooar
the steamer. while few In the oth'
boats, which contained the stewards ar
stewardess and some OF the memoe,
Of the crew. were taken aboard Il
patrol.
The first person taken off TIE Ne
York was a sick man. fireman. who. {
soon as the explosion occurred, ";
brought up from the ships hospital ar
placed by the surgeon In a l!feboat ar
taken to the resculng steamer Ever.
thing worked with clocklike regularit
not tho slightest m!shap nlarring t!
proceedings.
There we're only Eve women passe
gers in the first cabin. They behave
splendidly. not showing the s,ighte
trace of apprehension. The entire O
Grafton OF getting US from the Ne
York to the rescu!nK steamship occupi,
less than an hour. We reached the Ian
ing dock about 8 o'clock none tho wor
for our experience"
Granville Barker. the Engiis., act
and playwright. told friends on his a
rival here that after the explosion q
passengers behaved SO coolly that sor
Of them even walked back to their stat
! rooms and brought their hand lugga
to the lifeboats, AT no time" said n
: Barker, "dld there appear to be I
| a1IshteSf dapyar Fyeryho5y ranli,