Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-12
$50 j. 5. SOLDIERS
LOST ON TRANSPORT
More Than 200 Rescued After
Crash Of the Otranto and
Steamer Off Scotland.
by Associated Press to Every Evening

soldiers numbering 364 or 3t'6 perishe,
when the British armed mercantile
cruiser Otranto and the transport kashmi
collided in the north channel, betweei
Scotland and Ireland, last Sunday
TWO HUNDRED BODIES PICKED UP.
Three hundred American soldiers an,
thirty French sailors and 266 members o
the crew of the Otranto have been landed
at a port in northern Ireland. Sixteen other
survivors have been picked up Mt Italy
More than 200 bodies have been recovered
this morning and many of them have been
burned
The Otranto is a total wreck on the
Island of Islay The kashmir landed its
troops AT Scottish port without loss of
life
The troop ships colided while heavy
storm was raging and the Otranto with
4 gaping hole in her side then drlfted
helplessIy towards the rocky coast. A
number of the troops on board were from
the interior of the United States and were
without experience at sea. They had pre-
ferred to remain on the bigger ship rather
than risk jumping to the small destroyer
Mounsey and they seemed to be cheered
by the sight of land.
The hopes of the men that they would
be able TO make a safe landing however,
were dispelled by the Otranto's Captain
when he shouted from the bridge,
SWIM FoR IT BoYs.'
''W ell, boys. we will have to swim for IT, T.
About that time the troop ship slId
with hardly a Jar onto shelving rock
which, as a wave receded, held the veSs el
IN a vise-like grip.
The vicious sea began to rend the
ship to pieces The steel deckhousc
was wrenched bodily from its fast enings
by the enormous waves and hurled
into the breakers, sweeping many men
way with it,
The ship had struck about mile
from shore and on the cliffs stood groups
of islanders eager to send aid, but which
was impossible even 10 attempt. Owing
to the terrific winl there was no chance
of getting line 10 the ship, which now
was fast breaking up. Scores Of men
began to jump and many immediately
were seized BY the waves and hurled
against the sides Of the ship,
TRANSPORT BRoKE II TWO.
About noon the Ontranto was lifted
on the crest oil high comher and dashed
back 70 the rock 50 violently that the
vessel broke Squarely III two. The
masts snapped short. killing men as it
faI
One section of the hulk turned sidewise,
emptying all hands still clInging to the
deck into the surf The other section
speedily was ground to pieces on the
rocks
The ships remaining company now
aere struggling in the water The
slim chance they might have had Of
getting ashore virtually was dISSipated
BY the wreckage from the snip through
ri; ~, IL,
TO win their way.
BRAVE IN FACE OF DEATH.
The experience related by William
Richards typlfes that of the othtbers |
perhaps is bit more sensational He |
said.
The fellows were fine We knew
I hat when the ship went fast on the /
rocks far out we would not have much /
chance to save our skins. But we all |
seemed determined 10 make a good try
"A wave washed me off and managed |
TO get clear of the ship The first man
| recognized in the water was the Cap
tain who was thrown overheard when
the mast broke away He was standing
straight up. treading water and looking
for something 10 grasp.
There were three men on mattress
riding into shore n though they were
ENJOYING life, but while ! watched them
and wishing | were on il too big roller
swept them ali of and banged than
against the rocks
sTRENLUsLY FOUGHT FOR LIFt.
4 saw FIVE or six others hanging on
! bench. Some managed to climb on
he tin RATS lowered from the ship but
,Tcry raft Saw was smashed 10 pieces
against the vessel or on the rocks
Tho noise OF the wreckage grinding
III the rocks was fierce and any fellow ! I
Fho got into the wreckagc was as good
Is gone There were dozens al the bows
loating around men, all dead with
nothing but their blue faces out OF the
water
\ big roller carried me into Il kind of
left of the rocks and ! was thrown on
he side must have almost passed out {
Ahen came to | saw two British sailors
III the side Of ne ravine They threw me
rope which | made fast and crossed
land over hand
sTEEP CLIFFS PREVENTED REscUEs.
Joseph Pollock said he believed man,
more OF the soldiers would have been
aved but for the steep banks Of he cliffs /
II one little cove twenty eight bodies were |
ounted
All the Americans voiced their deep !
to the islanders for the tender /
are they gave the men The survivors
7ere put TO bed IN private houses and
ere 50 well provided for in every t
ray that no one wanted to leave |
men the relief snip arrived
As was the case with the victims Of
he troop ship Tuscania the loss of the
trantos papers prevents the army
authorities from learning the names Of
le missing All the names Of the survivors +
re being cabled to Washington where they
Ill be checked against the full list kept
the port from which the vessel sailed {
4 this way the dead Will be ascert aimed !
An officer of the y NJ q A named !
rown IS among the missing !
Belfast. Oct II The Telegram states :,
lat it was in obedience to orders from !
Ie Otranto which was the flagship OF :
le convoy that the steamer Kashmir Z
ter the collision proceeded without !
tempting TO rescue anyone from the 7
tranto.