The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-13
Otranto Splits in Half on
Rocks and Soldiers Die
I'm Wreckage.
HELPLESS CROWDS WATCH
Terrific Storm Prevents Any
Attempt at Rescue on
Steep Coast.
BK fAs Asspcieted Press.

soldiers 10 the NUMBER OF tbS OF Soo
persisted when the British armed mer-
camille cruiser otrante and the transport
Rashmir crashed in the North Channel.
between Scotland ana Ireland, last
Sunday.
Three hundred American soldiers and
thirty French sailors and zee members
OF. the crew OF the otranto have been
landed at q port IN northern ireland:
Sixteen other survivors have been
picked up st Islay. More than 400
bodies had been recovered this morning
ana many of them have been buried.
The Otranto Ii total wreck on the
island OF Islay- The Kashmir landed
III troops at = scottish port without loss
Of life.
The troopships came In collision while
a heavy storm was raging and the
Otranto with a gaping hole In her side
drifted helplessly toward the rocky
coast.
s.swfm for IT," Shouted Captain.
A number Of the troops on board were
from the interior Of the United States
and were without experience at sea.
They had preferred 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 safe landing. how
ever, were dispelled by the Otrantos
captain when he shouted from the
bridge:
well. boys. We viii have TO swim
for nw
About that time the troopship slid
with hardly a FAR on to a shelving rock.
which. as a wave receded. bit its teeth
INTO the ships timber and held her in
viee,ike grip. After that the tragedy
moved quickly to its climax.
The fury Of the storm seemed vented
On the pinioned and helpless vessel and
IN league with tho vicious sea which
began to rend and tear the ship to
pieces. The steel deck house was
wrenched bodily from its fastenings by
the enormous waves and was hurled into
ne breakers. sweeping many men away
with II.
On Rocks Mile From shore.
The a,lip had struck about a mile from
shore and on the cliffs stood groups OF
islanders eager to send aid, but which II
was impossible even to attempt Owing
20 the terrific wind there WAS no chance
OF getting a line TO the ship, which was
now 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
About noon the Otranto was lifted on
the crest Of high comber and dashed
oack to the rock. so, Violently that the
VESSEL broke squarely In two. The mast
snapped short, killing men as II fell.
One section OF the hulk turned side
wise. emptying all hands still clineing to
the deck into the boiling surf. The other
section proved a plaything OF the waves
and speedily was ground to pieces on
the rocks.
The ships remaining company were
now struggling In the water. The slim
chance they might have had OF getting
ashore was virtually dissipated by the
wreckage from the ship. through which
the best swimmers were unable to win
their way.
The experience related by William
Richards typihes that OF the others but
perhaps Is a bit more sensational. He
said:
The fellows were fine. We knew
that when the ship went fast on the
rocks so far out we would not have
much chance to save our skins But
we all seemed determined to make a
good try.
Captain Hurled Into Sea.
"a wave washed me of and I man
aged to get clear OF the ship. The first
man I recognized in the water was the
captain. who was thrown over I'd
when the mast broke away. He was
standing straight up. treading water and
looking about for something to grasp.