The diamond drill., 1918-03-16
10 my statsroom for mine. While tho
ioats were being launched there were

were shots which the destroyers were
taking at tho U-boat or whether they
were torpodoes being fired from our
ship as a signal OF distress is more
than can say.
Our lifeboat was launched success
fully before / reached the scenes.
Mr. Larned, however, seeing what
happened TO other boats felt il best
not TO enter il. besides he wanted to
wait for me and be sure l was safe.
When all of the lifeboats had been
launched save one, and when 1t ap-
pcared that no more destroyers might
come. 1t looked bad for us. Nj.
Larned gripped my hand and said:
Well, Eddie, II the worst comes to
the worst, we've had a pretty good
time, anyway"
hated 20 believe that all hope was
gole. although there wasn't much In
sight TO make one cheerful
With a young lieutenant named
Clark a splendid boy from Boston. We
climbed TO the topmost deck thinking
that We might have to jump into the
sea, rather than be carried down by
suction in cese the boat suddenly wen,
below.
Some Of the crew were trying to
launch the last remaining lifeboat,
with two women the only ones in a
list OF ESQ persons, as passengers.
We had been told in the event OF
the crew would assist all in
lowering the boats.
] had recollections OF men and wo-
men being carried beneath by suction
in the Titanic and Lusitania disasters.
Sc sought advice from one OF the
Scotch decKhands.
Which side OF the boat Is II best 20
Jump FROM" inquired as politely
as / could.
II don't know This Is time when
rs every man for himself" he re
Piled sharply
IL was rather grim night and
there wasn't much place for humor.
yet | coul1n't help but see something
funny in the reply OF man who
~onidn't even condescend TO tell me
which side of the boat to jump into
tho sea from.
Then we went below TO "D" deck.
We though. we saw a destroyer COM
ing on the port side, but we were dis
appointed. IL was at this time that
the lights commencing to go out again
Then we heard someone az the fore
end Of the boat shout:
Any Hundred squadron men down
ihere?'
There were 20 or 80 OF us on the
port side. We FASTENED TO the sta--
board side and discovered another
destroyer waiting there. She had
come up quietly in the darkness and
had taken q couple OF hundred men
lfi before We knew she was there
With a shout of joy the boys who had
been on our side OF the boat leaped
aboard. Mr.. Larned and / by reason
)f having the heavy suits on were the
ast ones to reach the destroyer. l.
grabbed hold of a rail with one hand
and took hold of Mr. Larned with the
lther. The destroyer was just pulling
away and Mr.. Larned was the last
man TO board her He was literally
rolled over from "B" deck by some of
he crew one hour and forty-hye min
Ites after the explosion.
] can't describe adequately just how
grateful we felt and when | return
want 10 meet the man who inquiries
Ironically. What is the British navy
loing In this war?"
As a matter OF fact, AT least 500 Of
'ur passengers. perhaps more, wouli
rave been lost had IL not been for the
supreme courage OF the men OF those
lestroyers. They took frightful
'hances OF being blown TO pieces In
'ulling up alongside the Tuscania.
We owe our lives TO the bravery OF
he British Jackies. Fortunately. the |
destroyer did not linger after we got
board, and they headed us for a port !
ome so miles away, II was then tina;
experienced seasickness for the first
ime in my life, and will lend testi-
nony that the disease is as bad as
las been claimed. You can't inag1n-
What an awful sensation is produced ,
" riding on a destroyer in higE !
ca.
Mr.. Larned managed 10 weather the |
ide. but a Jackie observed my predlc-
ment (deleted by censor) He did. !
nd frankly, ] would rather sleep or |
at |