New-York tribune., 1918-05-03
Inquiry by Savannah Line
0ficers Reveals Collision
Was Unavoidable
Rescued Women Soon
To Leave Hospitals
Survivors Tell Thrilling
Stories of Heroic Rescues
as Ship Went Down

United States revenue cutters and
naval vessels, assisted by feet of
o,her craft, yesterday began q search
of the Delaware Capes for the bodies
.; the sixty-seven men, women and
shildren believed to have gone down
when the Savannah Line steamship
Athens was rammed by French
eruiser in the fog early Wednesday
morning. No bodies had been recov-
cred lsst night, but it was said at the
ofsces of the line here that the search
would be continued while there was
s,ill a chance of adding to the identi
acstion Of the dead.
Officials of the line, meanwhile
Issued a statement disclaiming any
responsibility for the disaster, which
hey said, was due to unavoidable acci-
dent-an unforseeable mishap of the
ssa. 1t was stated categorically that
the ship had more than the legally
required number of life saving craft
ali Of which recently had been in
spected by the Federal authorities.
No Negligence, Captain Says
Marine Superintendent. Collins. who
received a long report on the accident
from Captain A. G. Forward, master of
the City Of Athens, yesterday, said, in
his Offices at Pier 35, North River:
"There is absolutely no foundation
.or reports or rumors that the ship
vas fitted out with rotten ropes, wAak
dayits or an insufficient number of
lifeboats. The Athens had nine large
lifeboats-penty for everybody on
board.
"The lifeboats were inspected on
February by the steamboat inspec-
tioin service, and were found satisfac-
tory, as the boats had just been
cleaned, overhauled and painted, and
new davits installed.
aIn addition to the boats, there were
three life RATS on the vessel. which
are not required by law on coastwise
ships. 1t was one Of these RATS which
was cut loose and saved the lives of
twelve Of the drowning passengers.
Every preparation had been made
to save all the lives possible. But the
fact that the ship sank in seven min
utes made this practically impossible.
There was no confusion of fog signals.
as the Athens, according to the cap
tam,s report, was sounding her siren
Al the while the fog was about her.
an unavoidable accident"
Rescued Women Recuperating
While search was being made for the
missing, the sixty-eight passengers.
marine recruits, French sailors and
members of the crew who were saved
were recuperating from the exposure
ana shock at hospitals, homes and no
es IN the city and vicinity.
Bellevue Hospital received two of the
infee women who lived through the
crash. Last night it was said Mrs. Eta
levy, OF Bridgeport, and Mrs. Richard
oodzlner, OF Mobile, Ala, would be able
days. 'A'n ie"
Mrs. Arthur Gewher. the third
woman, at her home, 1870 East Ninth
SIfeet, Brooklyn, mourned the loss of
aer 1our-year..old daughter, Josephine,
;, vao went down, clinging to the ships
IAN, while she tried to get as much
e.onsolat'on as possible from the fact
that baby boy was rescued with her
and her husband.
Joseph Ellinger, of 5o4 East Sixth
ssreet, marine recruit, told at his
nome how he had tried to save the
!ue OF the little girl. Ellinger's
brother, William, member of the old
rigntlng 6sth," was reported killed
N france two weeks ago, and Joseph
snnsted in the marines to avenge his
Drother's death.
Hero Tells of Rescue Work
After Ellinger had rushed on deck,
men the crash came, he saw two
french sailors, badly wounded, crawl
,ns out of the hold. He helped them
" and saw that they were given
places in life-boat.
mn Inc boat was settling rapidly when,
s;nnhger s;.n said, Mr.. Gewehr came on deck
sIn the little boy in his arms. He
aesssed the baby to the raft, while
IssWenr s went back for his other child.
suss then Ellinger saw Mrs. Florence