Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-01
women Sing DefiantIy as They
Land at Queenstown.
H0YS WERE BURIED AT SEA
Chicago Women Lost Lives When Boat
was Swamped-Mrs. Harris, Hero
inc, Last Passenger to Leave,
Aided Others of Her Sex.

tndt SJffeQ queenstown to its depths.
When the rescuing patrol steamer
brought the survivors into this port
there was a defiant sound of voices
from its deck.
Eager observers made out the pic
ture of disheveIed women, snatched
from death in the cold waters of the
sea, standing forward deck and lead
ing in the singing of Rule Britannia"
The women were huddled together
hair streaming over their shoulders
and, like the men who were saved
wearing life belts inflated and strapped
across their shoulders.
Baby Carried Ashore.
First ashore was a tall stewardess.
hair streaming and cuddling to her
breast tiny baby that was almost lost
in the voluminOus wrapping of the
woman's life belt
Inc pltIful company struggled across
the gangplank and were met with eager
sympathy. They were hurried to a
fleet of waiting automobiles and car
ried to the Queens hotel. There cham
payne and bowls of steaming soup
awaited them. A big staff of Red Cross
nurses and surgeons looked them over
and hurried many off to bed.
Mrs. Harris Heroine.
One of the first passengers to land
was an American woman, Mrs. f. E.
Harris, who was accorded this honor
by the captains order because of her
heroism in supervising the departure
Of the women and children from the
sinking ship.
She was the last passenger to leave
the Laconia, standing by the side of
the captain and going the rounds with
him. carefully checking off the women
and children passengers to see that
they were all in their places and pro-
vided with clothing, blankets and tar
paulins.
Although the passengers showed the
effects of the ordeal, they put merry
face on the misfortune for the most
part, and nearly all were able to enjoy
the meal with a good grace. Their
sufferfngs had been intense.
Cedric 2. watts, q theatrical mana
ger, who was a passenger on the La
cOnia died of exposure. Mr.. Watts was
resident of London.
After the LacOnia's survivors had
taken to the boats, the German subma
rine which apparently sank the Cunard~
er, approached one lifebOat, inquired
for the captain and asked the nature
Of ix-in +ho iyfO
ton from the second officer of the La
conia the German officer remarked that
a British admiralty boat would reach
the survivors shortly, and then depart
ed without offering assistance. Ameri-
can Consul Frost reported the incidents
to Ambassador Page.
Four Americans are among the
known surviving passengers, one Of
whom is Rev. Joseph Wareing Of Ba1ti-
more, who was exhausted completely
when brought ashore.
According to stories gathered from
passengers from the Laconia who Ell.
tered Queenstown, the steamship was
torpedoed at about 10 80 o'clock Sun
day night. The passengers and crew
had taken to the boats when the Sec
Ond torpedo was fired into the sink
ing vessel. The boats were picked up
at four o'clock on Monday morning.
Many of the survivors wore only the
scantiest clothing.
Wireless Calls for Help.
The wireless on the Laconia sent
out q 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,
Is were landed at Bantry.
Four passengers are among those
sent to hospitals. Their injuries are
slight. Among the four is Doctor
Hawke, a resident of San Francisco.
He said that the first torpedo struck
the liner aft on the starbOard side and
everyone made for the life preseryers.
The passengers previously had been
instructed in boat drill and got into
the boats without panic. Doctor
Hawke said that all behaved we'll and
that discipline was truly good.
llS StiDLIldl me IStuihed NltGI we
had been in the boats and fred anoth-
er torpedo, which put out the lights
and was followed by a terrific expIo-
sion, and the ship must have sunk
soon after" he continued. "The sec
Ond torpedo, mind you, was fired al
though the lifeboats were close to the
vessel, and the crew of the submarine
could not have failed to see Us, as it
was moonlight.
In Boats About Six Hours
ut was about 9:30 p. m. Sunday,
when we took to the boats, and about
three o'clock on the following morn
ing we were picked up"
Doctor Hawk gave the highest praise
to the behavior of the women and
children and said that the captain and
crew were marvellous.