The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-26
FIRST TO AID IN
OTRAN70 WRECK
Red Cross Swift and Efficient
Help Wins High Admira-
ton.
IRISH BEHAVE spLENDIDLY
Simple Folk of IsIay Sacrlrce Inem'
selves in Rescuing and Giving
Aid to Shipwrecked
Soldiers.

London.-So rapidly are events iaii'
ing ono after tho other that the Otran'
to disaster NAV be considered an old
story. Yet there is very siea' yea
which has not yet been 'oiu aouu'
how splendidly the irish people De-
baved in succoring survivors and how
noh1v tho sinon1e folk Of Islay sacri-
feed themselves in rescu,He any,
ing aid to the shipwrecheu soiuiei .
who were cast, many OF lneh unoon-
scious, upon the wild Sco''ish siioie,
And the story, too, OF the s"llt anu
successful aid furnished by the Amer
lean Red Cross is one OF which the
whole Tinted States may well feel
proud.
when the survivors landed at Bel
fast only IL hours after lney iiau oeen
taken off the disabled Otranto py
daring British destroyer, they were IN
nitiful plight. They had peen cling
ing to the deck Of the ue'.,oser WIN
heavy seas constantly preahihg usei
them, and with a colo WIZ eiil,ins
them to the bone. To save themselves
from being carried overpoaiu many
had dashed themselves TO TORPEDO
tubes and to the vessels superslruc-
ture.
Because of the loss of the destroy
er's wireless equipment uue ~ n1i
running into the troopsnlp wiiiie Ian
ing off the men, she had peeh unable
TO give notice of her coming. Conse-
ouently no provision had peen mace
On shore for tbe reception, of the sur
vivors. The seriously inJureu anu sicA
were rushed off to hospitals do SOON aS
ambulances could be brought 10 'he
dock. The others, wet tnioush' anu
shivering with cold and exposure an
of them without shoes ana many WIFI
out much clothing, were marcned away
to the Victoria barracks.
Consul Aids Men.
Meantime the American consul had
been notified of the mems arrival. he
Immediately got in touch vi ~
Cross headquarters at belias'' Ar
though it was Sunday n1ght anu iohs
past nine o'clock the Red mross was
ready for the emergency. ehe
gency warehouse, prepaieu anu
stocked six months before III prepara-
tion for lust such a disaster was
opened at once. and flying squad
ron" of automobiles began ioauihs sup
plies of clothing, medicameh'sa anu eoi,
forts, which were rushed oiA ,iiiiieui-
ately to the barracks where the men
were being sheltered.
Hunter Sharp, consul, had gone TO
the barracks as soon as ne hau iearheu
that the Red Cross machlneiy was ~
operation. He appeared psioi ine
men, introduced himself as Inc Alnei-
lean consul and cheered them Win tue
information that the Red Cross was
on the lob and soon would De there
with all the necessary equlp,nent. :,
"Three cheers for the RED Gross?
proposed a husky Geors.un.
cheers were given with VIII anu .ns
men picked up heart. They cio"deu
around the consul, finding comfort Al
the very presence of an American.
Tho discussion oil around the big |
bare room had begun to ceh'e' com
pletely on the question OF ioou wien
the first Red Cross car, honh,ns cheei
fully, rumbled into the coppieu urlVe
way Of the barracks. The door openeu
and a cheerful voice called OUT any
body want any cigarettes! mere are
all the American brands
There was a rush to the NORWAY
and the men themselves tooh ciarse
of cigarettes, chocolates, biscuiss anu
warm wooden clothing OF Aii Minus
from socks to blankets.
American Women to Rescue
There were American women TOO
that spoke with all sorts OF Alnerlcan
accents from pure "Bostonese TO the
hearty tones Of the Pacific coast.
Meanwhile came the news that otner
survivors and many bodies "e.o i.he
" to be found on the coast u lsiay' |
off the Scotch coast, where the otraH-
n had perishe0 on the rocks. 1t was
Known that the Red Cross oFsani1atlon
n Scotland was trying to reacn 1sihy'
)ut it was doubted whether o"ins "
he terrific storm, travel by .ne usuai
.outes was possible. So the heu cross
in Belfast decided TO senu
IN expedition on the perilous tlip from
Ireland to Islay. A party OF elght,
including two physicians, anu carry
ng large outfits of clotnhs ana
Quantities Of medical and olne, sup
lilies, made the voyage on sihaii yes
eel furnished by the British navy.
Here, in Islay, it was founu Ina. the
,reatest loss of life had occurieu' Ior
he Otranto had gone on lne rocks
lose to the scene of the Tuscanla as
ster.
Of her $50 passengers ~ men,
Including II American soldiers ana
hree members of the crew, were
be only survivors. These twenty
1ore dead than alive, were wasneu IN
onscious on the rocks, bleak ana ues-
late spot, and were taken care VI py
handful of cottagers who i've On tnls