The diamond drill., 1918-03-16
WAS ON THE TUsCANIA.
Edw. Fitzgerald OF Detroit, Writes In
terestingly Of Experience.

to Mayor Marx OF Detroit. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald was a passenger on the Tus-
cania
He was accompanied by A. Il. Larn-
ed. Detroit manufactures. both now be-
ing in France on secret war mission
His story came in letter to Mayor
Marx. IL was written in Dublin. Ire
land, soon after the tragedy.
The two Detroiters were among the
last persons to leave the ship, board
ing a destroyer which came to their
rescue one hour and 45 minutes after
the ship was struck.
OF a l2page letter, only three lines
were stricken out by the censor.
The letter follows:
Dublin, Friday, Feb. s, 1918.
Dear Mayor Inasmuch as the adj
miralty has promptly released fof
publication both here and in America
the facts connected with the sinking
of the troop ship Tuscania, feel that
may make brief mention of the dis
aster without violating the rules OF
censorship.
Ten Hours from Destination.
When YOU realize that we have tray
eled IA days on the ocean without
mishap and were within 10 hours Of
our destination when torpedoed, yon
may appreciate what terrible shock
Il was to all.
Just an hour previous practically
everyone on board had been enjoying
introspectly a series of boxing whicE
was staged on the aft matches OF the
ship. A half hour in advance we had
come into sight of land for the first
time in IL days
The boys were in the best OF spirits.
Nearly all had written letters or cable
grams to be released Immediately on
docking informing their families %
their safe arrival" little dreaming
that these messages would never be
forwarded to their destination.
Torpedo Strikes Home.
| had suffered with cold and had
remained inside until we came in
sight OF land Then took short walk
about the deck with Mr.. Larned. We
had been ordered a few days before
TO carry our lifebelts with US all the
time. Many of us conformed some
what reluctantly with the regulations,
believing that II was needless.
Just as it was growing dark | left
Mr. Larned and went TO my stateroom.
entered a notation in my diary for
the day and then went up TO the
smoking room Four or five OF Us
were locating our direction in the
ships atlas.
Wen be absolutely safe In as min
utos." was the optimistic remark OF
tile young Scotchman with a rich dia-
leot. He claimed he knew the waters
in that locality. Scotland being on
our left and ireland on our right at
the time.
lie had barely finished when th4
Tuscania met its DOOM There was
loud report and a jar which made the !
rs 600 ton hulk tremble Immediately |
the ship was in complete darkness
There was frantic scramble for life
belts
.aa,,l,oa Jr,,,, for ,,fua and a was !
gone. The young Scotch lieutenant
had picked il up by mistake, but he
quickly returned 1t TO me and ! start |
ed for lifeboat No l2. to which Mr. |
Larned and l had been assigned IN
the boat drills which had been con
Quoted previously.
would like TO forget (but / know /
| never shalD the scenes that follow
ed. The dreadful cropping about In
the dark OF those who were trying 10
locate lifebelts and boats The unsuc-
cessful attempt to launch many OF the
lircboats, the breaking OF cables.
which emptied scores OF poor fellows
into the bitter cold water, the fran
tic and futile shouts OF men who
struggled as the huge seas choked and
chilled then, and the slow but steady
listing OF the great ship on It's star
board side.
Among the officers and. In the case
of many OF the men. the composure
vas remarkable While the boats
were being lowered emergency power
re'lt the lights and statements by
members OF the ships crew that the
Lout might float for some time helped
90 allay fears
With practically All OF the llfeboa;s
either launched or collapsed a shout
ri JOY went up from the port side OF