The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-23
s'Bunkie" Tells of Montana
Mans End i'm Tuscania
Disaster.
SHATTERED ON CLIFF
Lifeb0at Dashed Upon Rocky
Coast, Says Sergeant
q. G.. MunsOn.

Marcus Il. Cook, the State thtNer-
sity man who lost his life when the
Tuscania was torpedoed, met death
bravely as a true soldier when his
lifeboat was shattered against n cliff.
Sergeant @. c. Munson. on Idaho
man who was Cooks "bunkie' on the
trip across, describes the Montana
soldiers death IN letter to the Local
chapter of the Sigma Nh fraternity, Of
which Cook was member. Munson
Idaho. He says:
,.Since | was with Nj. 3. Cook until
almost the very last, before his brave
payment of the .kaiser's kultur,' | am
sure it is my duty as well as my desire
to write this letter to you and let you
know as much of the particulars as ]
may be allowed to do.
Were Close Companions.
We enlisted the same day. went
east at the same time, ate out of the
same mess Kit on the trip, and were
assigned TO the same company and
had been together continually since
our enlistment.
~.
sighted land about $3.50 p. IN. and felt
secure and congratulate each other be-
cause we had crossed safely. At 5
o'clock Brother Cook took his post as
submarine guard. stood and talked
with him for some time and we both
concluded that we could tell the .'fel-
lows at Idaho and Montana when we
got back home how good 1t felt to get
OH to solid soil again. At SAB | went
below. took off my hat and mackinaw
and went below for mess. | had just
reached the door of the mess hall
when BANG! All lights went out and
] started back to deck for my boat po-
sition. Brother Cooks boat position
was on Deck B. while had charge Of
As men on Deck A. so | did not see him
AT all after the crash. I saw Cooks
boat come over the side and watched
the dark forms slide down and in. We
were all in line and as | kept going
back and forth along my squad to
keep them in line couldn't tell
whether he got his boat or not. My
boat came over next and / got about
20 of my men in il before a mob be-
Taken Off Ship by Destroyer.
! Wan left with the rest of my men
and with nothing to do but wait for
IT, After being on the sinking boat
for two and a half hours was taken
off with my men by destroyer. We
had no idea who was saved. some
turned up next morning, and every
morning since. Nothing official could
DE learned for some time and l kept
hoping that Brother Cook would show
up. But ;s soon as the top sergeant OF
(censored) arrived at the camp | am
now in. ! learned that he had charge
OF the burying of III men and that
Brother Cook was among the unlucky.
Carried Against Rocky Cliff.
Later | learned from the survivors
OF the lifeboat Brother Cook was in the
particulars of the case. 1t seems that
due to the extreme blackness of the
night that they were up against a
rocky cliff point before they knew It.
The breakers carried them in regard
less of their supreme efforts to kecI
away. The boat was thrown against
God only knows how the 10 or IL on,
Of the 20 ever escaped at all. They
are all, however, badly mashed an,
bruised According 10 all information
] have been able to get, Brother Cooks
body was picked up the next morning
and identified by means of his identi.
fieation tag.
Gave Life for Country.
Accept the most sincere sympathies
possible to be expressed ON mere paper
God grant that his parents may be con.
soled in thought.
He gave his life for his country ant
by his death will we conquer for tn,
cause of humanity. God grant III
strength tn soon make this possible
God knows that he met death braVell
as a true soldier"
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