The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-10
HUNS KILL WOUNDED.
AMBULANCE SHIP sUNK-sACRI-
FTCE OF LIVES TO GERMAN
KULTUR.
Death List of More Than One Hun
dre(. as Result Of Ruthless Act
Near Port-One American Private
Lost and Two Officers Saved.

"A British Port, Saturday, Aug. 8 (By
the Associated Press) THE torpedo
ing early this morning OF the British
ship Wariida was one of the most
narrowing disasters in the history
Of submarine warfare. The number
of dead is variously estimated from
from los to. 13O and upward and in
cluded several women nurses.
The ship carried 600 sick and
wounded. Among them were seven
Americans, two officers and five en-
listed men all Of who have been ac-
counted for except one private.
There were about SO nurses and
members of the voluntary aid depart
ment and the crew comprised about
200 men.
More than $50 survivors brought
here shortly after o'clock were given
first aid treatment, food and clothing.
The patients were placed aboard spe-
cial trains, which had. been waiting to
receive them and sent to hospitals in
various parts Of the country.
The torpedo struck the after part
Of the engine room, killing the thru
engineer and two other members OF
the engine room force. The dynamo
was destroyed, plunging the vessel
into darkness.
Just over the dynamo was the ward
room which contained more than lOO
eatients. Most Of these were killed
outright by the explosion and the 9TH
ers, many Of whom had been freshly
injured by the torpedo. found them
selves trapped. It was impossible TOR
outside aid to reach them and all, ex-
cept a few who jumped overheard and
were picked up, perished. This part
of the ship quickly settled and water
flooded the ward room, drowning the
men Gagged there.
Stories OF the fearful struggle in the
darkness to rescue the helpless in
! valids are told by survivors. The ship
remained af1oat more than two hours.
but for a great part of the time con-
tinued under headway because the en-
gines could not be stopped. This con-
dition greatly harnpered the rescue
work and in addition three or four
boats were smashed while being
lowered, throwing their occupants
into the sea. All the soldier patients
and the nurses testify 20 the heroic
efforts of the officers and crew. Not
withstanding the excitement and con-
fusion which were increased by the
inky darkness, the crew under the
mastery direction Of the officers went
coolly and methodically about the diff
ficult task of bringing the sick and
wounded up on deck. AS many as
could be handled in this manner were
placed in sings and lowered to the
escorting destroyers which by wonder
j full seamanship in rough water man
aged to work in close enough to the
sinking ship to take off men by low
ering repes. ssf 5,
The morale .stheg wounded, lying
on deck, waiting to be taken of, is
described by members of the crew as
too fine for words They never COM
planned and they never urged the
rescue to hurry.
The less seriously disabled assisted
their more unfortunate mates. One
boat. containing six women, was
thrown against another just before
touching the water and upset. Three
| women from the capsized craft were
pied up by another small boat,
along with five wounded British SOL
diers, all of whom had managed to
keep af1oat although each had an arm
in sling.
The Warilda had been in the chan
mel service two years and this was
her first crossing from France in
which she did not carry a number of
German wounded prisoners. Members
of the crew remarked over this fact
and some expressed the opinion that
it was of sinister significance.
T. E. Redman, one of the stewards,
had an unusual escape. He had been
placed with the six women in the first
boat and when the rope broke he
seized another line and climed hand
over hand to the top. There he man
aged to swing in from the end OF
the davit to the rail where wounded
Tommy" awaiting rescue seized the
stewards hand and aided him to
Chamber aboard. This man descrlb-
ed how one woman becoming en-
tangled in the ropes as she was being
placed in the boat was caught be-
tween the boat and the side Of the
ship. She was frightfully injured by
the pressure and begged to be releas-
ed, but no aid was possible. The small
boat finally went adritt and the wo-
man fell into the sea and was drown
ed.
When the steward regained the
deck he rushed below to get some of
his clothes. II stumbled over wound
ed in the darkness" he said. Depth
bombs were shaking the ship. final
ly found my cubby and obtained some
clothes and returned to the deck
There was placed in another boat
which managed to go free without
disaster The Warilda settled slow
ly at the stern and then up-ended
When the water reached the boilers
they blew up in terrific column Of
fire and steam and then darkness fell
again"
LENINE AND TROTZxY HELD IN
I'LL FAVOR.