Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-12-05
FIRST To AID IN
OTRANTO WRECK
Red Cross Swift and Efficient
Help Wins High Admira-
ton.
IRISH BEHAVE SPLENDIDLY
Simple Folk of lslay Sacrifice Them.
selves in Rescuing and Giving
Aid to ShipWrecked
Soldiers.

SOLDIERS.
London.-SO rapidly are events fall
ing one after the other that the Otran-
to disaster may be considered an old
story. Yet there is a very great deal
which has not yet been told about
how splendidly the Irish people be-
haved in succoring survivors and how
nObly the simple folk of Islay sacri-
feed themselves in rescuing and Civ
ing aid to the shipwrecked soldiers
who were cast, many of them uncon-
scious, upon the wild Scottish shore.
And the story, too, of the swift and
successful aid furnished by the Amer
lean Red Cross is one Of which the
whole United States may well feel
proud.
When the survivors landed at Bel
fast only II hours after they had been
taken off the disabled Otranto by a
daring British destroyer, they were in
ing to the deck of the destroyer with
heavy seas constantly breaking over
them, and with q cold wind chilling
them to the bone. To save themselves
from being carried overheard many
had dashed themselves to torpedo
tubes and to the vessels superstruc-
ture.
Because of the loss of the Destroy
ers wireless equipment, due to her
running into the troopship while TAX
ing off the men, she had been unable
to give notice Of her coming. COnSe-
quently no provision had been made
on shore for the reception of the sur
vivors. The seriously injured and sick
were rushed off to hospitals as soon as
ambulances could be brought to the
dock. The others, wet through, and
shivering with cold and exposure, all
of them without shoes and many with
out much clothing, were marched away
to the Victoria barracks.
Consul Aids Men.
Meantime the American consul had
been notified of the mems arrival. He
Immediately got in touch with Red
Cross headquarters at Belfast. AL
though it was Sunday night and long
past nine o'clock the Red Cross was
ready for the emergency. The emer-
gency warehouse, prepared and
stocked six months before in prepare
ton for just such a disaster, was
opened at once, and flying squad
ron" of automobiles began loading sup
plies Of clothing, indictments and COM
forts, which were rushed off immedi-
ately to the barracks where the men
were being sheltered.
Hunter Sharp, consul, had gone to
the barracks as soon as he had learned
that the Red Cross machinery was in
operation. He appeared before the
men, introduced himself as the Amer
lean consul and cheered them with the
information that the Red Cross was
on the job and soon would be there
with all the necessary equipment.
"Three cheers for the Red Crossw
proposed a husky Georgian. The
cheers were given with a will and the
men picked up heart. They crowded
around the consul, finding comfort In
the very presence of an American.
The discussion all around the big
bare room had begun to center COM
pletely on the question of food when
the first Red Cross car, honking cheer
fully, rumbled into the cobbled drive
way of the barracks. The door opened
and a cheerful voice called out, "Any-
body want any cigarettes? Here are
all the American brands"
There was a rush to the doorway
and the men themselves took charge
Of cigarettes, chocolates, biscuits and
warm wooden clothing of all kinds,
from socks to blankets.
American Women to Rescue.
There were American women, too,
that spoke with all sorts Of American
accents from pure "Bostonese" to the
hearty tones Of the Pacific coast.
Meanwhile came the news that other
survivors and many bodies were like
1y to be found on the coast of Islay,
off the Scotch coast, where the Otran-
to had persisted on the rocks. 1t was
known that the Red Cross organization
in Scotland was trying to reach Islay,
but it was doubted whether, owing to
the terrific storm, travel by the usual
routes was possible. SO the Red Cross
organization in Belfast decided to send
an expedition On the perilous trip from
Ireland to Islay. A party of eight,
including two. physicians, and carry
ing large outfits of clothing and
quantities of medical and other sup
plies, made the voyage on small yes
sci furnished by the British navy.
Here, in Islay, it was found that the
greatest loss of life had occurred, for
the Otranto had gone ON the rocks
close to the scene Of the Tuscania dis
aster.
OF her $50 passengers 20 men,
including II American soldiers and