Evening journal., 1918-10-12
TRANSPORT SUNK;
$50 AMERICANS
REPORTED LOST
tContInued on Page Twenty-two.)

Continued on Page Twenty-two.)
who commanded the British destroyer
MOunsley and rescued more than 2OC
men.
Most OF the soldiers on the transport
were Georgia men. all casualties prob
ably meaning replacement units. Red
Cross workers met survivors OF the lost
ship as they landed, supplying them
with cigaretts, hot coffee and food and
other necessities.
Miss Jane Rider. OF Tucson, Arlz. a
Red Cross nurse who was aboard one
OF the vessels convoy with which the
Otranto was proceeding, said:
1.-THE first we knew Of trouble to the
Otranto was when we picked up SOS.
messages from both the Otranto and
the Kashmir. The storm was so bad
we couldn't turn. but had to put back
out TO seas. We couldn't see thing.
Then we heard the OtrantO was trying
TO put llfeboats over the side with
some OF the men drowning as they
tried to enter"
Miss Ruth Gibbons, Of Ardmore, n.
Y, another survivor, told many con-
flictlng stories regarding the number Of
missing. Latest reports from Belfast,
she declared, said there were 300 unac-
counted for, while others she had heard,
placed the lost at 400.
Men from the lost ships who talked
described spectacular scenes as the Brit
lsh rescuIng ship came alongside the
damaged transport.
The men were told lt was every man
for himself Standing on the top deck
men began TO leap aboard the destroyer,
some OF them as far as twenty feet.
Corporal J. J. DOherty, OF Brooklyn,
who was among those landed, was ask
ed n he was scared
Hell, nor he said. Nothing scares
usl"
Private r. s. Appleby, OF Knoxville,
Pa, said, Man, the weather was awful.
The waves came over as the ship listed
and 1t was difflcult to stand still"
Privates C. w. Allen, OF Moxen, Pa,
and o. j. Holman, Of Boston, jumped to-
gether.
Everybody was calm" declared Ser
geant Z. J. Donohue, Of Columbus. o.
I'VE knew we were doomed and didn't
think Of rescue. Boy, when we saw that
destroyer we felt fine. saw fifty sol
diers swimming at the side Of the de-
stroyers and saw that ship cut one in
two. Another who was hanging TO
ladder dangling from the side Of the
destroyer was crushed 10 death when
the warship was thrown aside the side
OF the Otranto.
Many other stories OF men being
crushed between the rescue ship and
the doomed vessel were told. Other
survivors told Of men being washed
into swirling seas from which there
was no returning. Corporal C. Finne-
gan, Of New York, was able TO grasp
rope tied TO a gun aboard the de-
strOyer. For forty-flve minutes he was
dragged in the water behind the rescue
ship, but finally was pulled aboard.
At Belfast the soldiers were unani-
nous in their praise Of Lieut.. Com
mander Craven. who forced the de-
stroyer eight times alongside the Otran-
10 to take off the men.
Word reaching here early today de-
clared bodies OF forty soldiers had been
washed ashore, and that twenty sur
vivors had reached Islay in safety. Islay
is the point where the Otranto was
driven on the beach. American author
tiles have sent a ship loaded with sup
plies and British supply ships have also
been sent.
Accounts OF the accident seem to
agree that It was due to the jamming
OF the Kashmir's steering gear, and
heavy loss Of life was ascribed TO loss
Of the wireless on both ships. The
also lost her wireless The
reached port in a badly dam
aged condition.
An official admiralty statement is
sued last night, declared the Mounsley |
took off 593 men, members Of the crew
and soldiers, and that &c survivors had /
reached Islay. This statement placed .
The missing at 43i. Late estimates, be-
.ieved to be high, declared 800 would .
be the number OF dead, while cOnser-
Satives said it would be below $50.
The 0tranto was steel steamer Of |
z. i24 tons, built In 1909 and owned by !
he Orient Steam Navigation Company. !
She was registered at Belfast
The Kashmir is a steel steamer OF
1874 tons, built in 1915, and owned by
he Peninsular and Oriental Company.
She is registered at GreenOck.