Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-06-26

Continued from page ~
London, the Red Cross and the Y. M.
G. A.
After answering Seaman, shouted:
STEADY, take your time men, This
was done to steady the men, as most
of them, believing we were practical
lly safe, had undressed before going
to bed and were reused from sound
sleep.
AS slipped on my shoes, heard
the order given to close the bulkhead
doors. Now this was the first period
of horror. My cabin, the largest in
the boat, was furthest forward and
had easy access to the main stairway
A word OF explanation is necessary
here.
Because the boat was shorthanded,
seven of our men acted as walters and
every man made his own bed and
kept his cabin clean Under a semi
military regime, with the other lead
ers of the party, I made an inspec-
ton daily at 1895 o'clock. In a
course Of practical psychology at
Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore,
I had learned the value of habit for
nation and it stood us in good stead
Every man was required to keep his
life preserver ''just so" on the rack
SO that it could be slipped on readily
right side up in the dark Electric
torches were arranged where either
man in the cabin Could find them. By
demanding the life preservers to be
arranged properly each day, their po-
sition and Importance were impressed
upon each mans mind AS result
only one man forgot his life preser-
yer in the moment of stress.
In making daily inspection of the
cabins, discovered that number Of
men were located between bulkhead
doors, without any means of exit in
case they were closed. For some
days I saw in imagination one OF our
men caught between the doors with
no escape and death slowly approach
ing. Sometimes in Imagination saw
him rage at the doors; at other times
sit down and bravely face his death
waiting till the water rose gradually
and drowned him, but ] always hop
ed that the pressure would crush in
the door and death come quickly
So when heard the dread order
rushed to the doors. A member Of
the crew declared that everyone was
out and implored assistance in clos
ing the doors at once so that we
could go on deck. I called down the
port corridor and man answered
l said I would remain to close the
doors if not closed at once.
I called again: Hurry, men, we
are going to close the doors" Every
man knew what that meant. Ten
men came out OF the port corridor
and at least half dozen out of the
starboard. At 1909 o'clock the lights
went out. The boilers exploded. ]
had trouble in closing the port bulk
head door, but finally swung it to.
Chief Steward Gamer went down
the starboard corridor with an cleo
trio torch and lighted Mr.. F. Snow
I of Camp Custer, Michigan, up. AS !
ran to my cabin for my life preserver,
I bumped into three men who told me
they were the last out of their alley
ways. I knew all were accounted for
except three men beyond the second
bulkhead door on the port side 1t
was kept closed, but they could go up
an emergency stairway.
Here was the second period OF hor-
ror. AS grabbed my life preserver,
the horror and darkness and awful
lonliness of the place swept over me.
/ knew that seven steps would en-
able me to reach my flashlight, get
my money, papers and expensive
camera I decided without a sec
ond's hesitation that no amount OF
money or any numbers of valuable
papers could hold me in that cabin
alone fifth OF second longer than
absolutely necessary.
There was peculiar pitch to the
boat. 1t plunged wildly It reminded
me of a man dying, yet making a
game effort to remain standing.
rushed up the two flights Of stairs
to the boat deck. The amending
beauty of the night was wonderful,
after the fearful blackness of the in
terror of the dying ship. The great
round moon hung fairly low in the
sky, casting long shadows on the
deck. The scene is craven on my
memory. Every object stood out
black and dark in the moonlight.
Everywhere were men in lifeboats.
Off in the distance were the other yes
sells of the convoy, scurrying to safe
ty. To the port was another boat in
mortal agony, for the submarine got
two of us. Hurrying toward us was
a destroyer. Way off was the flash
of the lighthouse.
fastened to my position at Life
boat No. / on the bridge deck, up an
other flight of steps. Through some
misunderstanding the passengers as
signed to No. / had been ordered to
the lower deck and then sent back.
They were clambering into the boat.
AS climbed c'climbed" is too slow a
word to describe how got up the
last steps, man passed me as though
going below.
Where are you going?" asked.