Evening star., 1918-07-21


launched and to pieces of wreckage.
When the first of the rescuing steam
ero arrived many of the men were at
the point Of exhaustion. q =
Rescuing Captains Statement.
Capt James F. Brewer. master of
the steamship Bussum, the second
ship to reach the scene, said the first
he knew of the sinking was when
his watch ofiicer reported seeing some
distance ahead what appeared to be
chain Of floating buoys, spread out
like the supports to q monster fishing
net. Although unarmed. Capt.
Brewer at once altered the course OF
his ship, suspecting that some dis
aster had occurred. His suspicious
were verified and he steered almost
into the midst Of the hoating men,
who greeted his arrival with cheers
+ They looked like big crowd Of
swimmers at Coney Island on a sum-
mer afternoon" said the captain.
The Maiden had arrived only a few
minutes previously. and the F. P.
Jones came a few minutes later. In
less than a half hour ali those in the
water were picked up. The three ves-
sells, steering as close into shore as
safety would permit. made for New
York, arriving during the night The
men were taken ashore at the Army
DOCKS, where they were met by Red
Cross representatives with food and
clothing. Most of the survivors were
clad only in their underclothing, hav-
ing discarded their outer garments
while in the water.
Rescued Soldiers Sing.
7 was torpedoed myself last Sep
tember." said Capt Brewer. NV
snip, the Wflmore. was blown up un-
der me in the Mediterranean, and
after having had a taste of being in
the water and rescued was glad of
chance to return the favor. Inever
saw such a cheerful lot of men as
those sailors were. They were jok-
ing, laughing and singing all the time
fhey were being hauled aboard my
ship. and they kept It up until we
landed. All of them lost everything
they had. but 1t never worried them
q bit.
Stories of the disaster told me i'm
olcated that the general belief was
the ship, was torpedoed. L was told
that It was believed that possibly nifty
men had been lost. mainly among the
nreroom crew on watch. The cruiser
settled Tor about twenty-five minutes,
then turned over on her side, before
lgpine entirely under,
ssThe men said that one OF their
.s4thtSis q 6uuacEs StAy0Q un1li only a
few feet OF the side of the hull was
above water, continued Capt. Brewer.
He ran the length Of that. called for
a cheer for the old ship and the q.
s. A. and dived overheard.
4 3; Passed School Of Sharks.
eJust before rescuing the men nv
vesset passed school of perhaps
twenty sharks which were feeding on
the body Of small whale. The sight
gave me q scare. for I was afraid
they were also after the men in the
water but was told none had been
seen by them.
ut was q great sight on board nv
ship after had started again for New
York with 70s passengers. Some Of
the boys had shed all Their clothes.
and those who had more than enough
to cover them divided UP with those
who had none. One of the officers was
wearing two shirts. one where IL
should be and the other as makeshtft
trousers. Fortunately. had plenty
Of food on board and the boys turned
to and helped the steward get a meal.
"As we were coming In we passed
q government vessel, which saluted,
Who are your
.'scne Of thessailorsl yelled: Tell ,em
it's q Sunday school plcnic.."