Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-12
1855 AMERICAN
SOLDIERS LOSE
LIVES At SEA
British Mercantile Cruiser
OtrantO Sunk in
Collision.
WAS TRANSPORTING
TROOPS TO ENGLAND
Many Soldiers on Board From Middle
west-otranto Goes Upon Rocks and
is Pounded to Pieces in Storm
Three Hundred Soldiers and 266
Members Of Crew Resc led Under
Great Oifficuities-SeeondT Transport
Reaches Port.
[By the Associated Press !

An Irish Port Oct. 12.-American
soldiers to the number Of ss4 to 3s6
perished when the British armed mer-
camille cruiser Otranto and the trans
port Kashmir colIided in the North
channel between Scotland and Ireland
last Sunday.
Three hundred American, soldiers
and thirty French sailors and 266
members of the crew of the Otranto
have ben landed at port in northern
Ireland. Sixteen other survivors have
been picked up at Islay
More than 200 bodies have been re-
covered this morning and many Of
them have been buried.
The Otranto is total wreck. The
Kashmir landed it's troops at Scottish
port without loss OF life.
Collide in Heavy Storm.
The troop ships collided while a
heavy storm was raging and the
Otranto. with gaping hole in her
side. then drifted helplessly toward tn.
rugged coast.
A number Of the troops on board
were from the interior Of the United
States and were without experience at
sea. They chose to remain on the big
ship rather than jump to the destroyer
Monchy, which gallantly came to the
rescue. and they seemed to be cheered
by the sight of land
Told to "Swim For IT,"
The hope Of the men that they could
make safe landing was dkpelled
when the captain shouted from the
bridge:
"Well, boys. we will have to swim
for it."
About that time the troop ship slid
on shelving rock. which, as a wave
reccded. bit it's teeth into the ships
timbers and held her in a vice like
grip. After that the tragedy moved
quickly to its climax.
The fury Of the storm seemed GEN.
tered on the pinioned and helpless
vessel and in league with the vicious
sea began to tear her to pieces.
The steel deck house was wrenched
bodily from it's fastening and hurled
into the breakers, sweeping many men
away with IT..
Struck Mile From Shore.
The ship had struck about mic
from shore and on the cliffs STOOD
groups Of islanders eager to send aid,
but which 1t was impossible to attempt.
Owing to the terrific waves it was I'M
possible to get line to the ship.
Scores Of men began to Jump and
many were seized by the waves and
hurled against the sides Of the ship.
TIVE ship was\l lifted on
high cornher and dashed against the
rock so violently that the vessel broke'
in two.
Men Thrown Into Sea.
One section Of the hull turned side
ways, emptying all hands still c'ingins
to the deck into the boiling surf. The
other section was a playthng for the
waves and speedily was ground to
pieces on the rocks.
The remaining members OF the
ships company now were struggling
In the water. The slim chance they
had of getting ashore was dissipated
by. the wreckage Of the ship. .s
Three hundred ten Of the survivors
were taken to- Belfast by the British
destroyer Mounsey the only vessel
which made an attempt at rescue IN
The terrific gale when the Kashmir,
another vessel III the convey "!sH the
rammed the Otranto amid
ships.
The other seventeen survivors were
picked UP on the Scottish coast
Leap Forty Feet Into Sea.
O>the survivors landed. according
10 the latest news. fifty are hospital
cases.
Captain Dawson, master OF the
otranto, told a stirring story of the
conduct of the Americans
aboard. He said Lieutenant Simmons
II the Otranto sang out to the Ameri-
cans: Cast of your heavy boots and
,ycrcoats, boys. and jump"
The men jumped forty feet. Some
and never came up again.
Captain Dawson saw rhrec Americans
crushed between the two vessels. the