Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-12
.OTRANTO COLL|DES
IN NORTH CHANNEL
WITH THE KASHMIR.
Failure of Steering Gear to
Work Properly Given
as Cause.
/ BRITISH DESTROYER COMES
TO RESCUE, SAVING MANY
Many Soldiers Hurled to Death
on Rocky Coast of
/ Scotland.
TRANSPORT COMPLETE WRECK
/ English authorities Place Number of
Dead I'm Sinking of Leinster by
Submarine at 500.
TRANSPORT COMPLETE WRECK
IBy Associated Press. !

By Associated PressI
BRITISH PORT. October 11-A
iGrse number OF American troops have
been lost as the result of the sinking
OF the transport Otranto in the Nort5
Channel between the Scottish and Irish
coasts. in u collision with the steamer
NaShmir last Sunday. Tfl5
The Otranto, after the collision was
dasned 10 pieces on the rocks Oft the
south Scottish coast, with a probable
loss OF Sl2 American soldiers
Three hundred and one men were
taken TO Belfast by the British Destroy
G: Mouhsey, the only vessel which made
sale when the Eashmir, another ves-
sci in the convoy with the Otranto,
rammed the Otranto amidships.
seventeen men were picked up alive
on the Scottish coast. si
or the 500 American soldiers on
board the Otranto. 80 were landed
Seventeen were rescued alive at Islay,
:eaving 372 unaccounted for.
The otranto and the other vessel.
heavy scns and high winds Sunday
morning. The storm was so severe
md ,, the visibility 80 bad that the KasllS
liner. crashed into tho Otranto square,
ly amidships. alsy ' ~
The Kashmir backed away badly
DANA ged, but was able TO make port.jr
AS the bows of the Eashmir were
pulled from the great 'holes In the side
OF the otrnnto the water rushed in, but
for a time II did not serve to stop the
engines. The Otranto tried to proceed,
hut made no Roadway against the gale
in her crlpped condition. Sas
AND SHIP nGGINs DRIFTING
Within short time the water put
and the roeaH
islay Island. where most of the Tus-
cania victims met their deaths. .tss
British destroyer Mounsey. ,ss herself M
damaged by the heavy seas, appeared
9u Of es the nsze n sba in 9 the dis
captain Davidson, OF the otranto.
attempt When it w was " seen cen that hat
Craven CT n, would make the attempt any.
their shoes and heavy clothing and try
to save themselves as best they could.
feet and then gradually came neareE
against aga st, the great odds S Of high waves
Mentality MI m to carry m1 her entireis away
from the otranto or dash her to pieces
against the side of the wounded vessel
Cay night south Of Saligo Bay, Islay
Island, an uninhabited section, where
the coast line in many places rises
peaks many feet above.
AS the destroyer neared the side of
the otranto the men began to jump
decks. The more experienced sailors
o. the crew of the steamer had better
success IMAM tie soldiers, many. oC
whom had never seen the sea untE,
his trip.
AS the destroyer steered toward the
side of the steamer many of the men,
leaped too quickly and missed their
reckoning and dropped between the
boats. Some Of these disappeared in
caught and crushed to death between
the boats and tho lifeboats which had
been lowered TO act as buffers The
de stroyer was badly battered. ,
the captain OF the destroyer, each
time II was brushed away from the
side OF the ,Otranto. again would push
jump on the deck of his vessel. Fe
described it as a veritabie rain the
number Of men landing on the de-
stroyer.
Many Of those who reached the decks
of the vessel suffered broken bones or
the deck of the destroyer Went TO
almost instant death.
-Four times the battered destroyer
previous scenes Mere repeated As
Americans. 2ss OF, the Grew. thirty
on board. The boat was full. and.
having done all possible, she started
Tor port.
DHfrHr TOWARD noCKs
The survivors saw the Otranto Drift
ing helpleasly toward the rocks as
they pulled away toward the Irish
TO send brief message when her
wireless was carried away. The little
overloaded vessel had rough tr:a to-
port.
one OF the American troops on board
the Otranto pictured the scene wncn
the vessels collided.
Soldiers lined the decks as though
on parade aud at the word OF coln-n
mard stood at attention like statues,
They mover wavtrcd. remaining there
in military formation, eNemplityinS
during the crisis the noblest traditions
OF the army for heroism and discipline,
The same thing. said the soldier. ap-s
piled to the Scalnen.
Numbers of bodies to-day were hes
ing washed up on the shore. II was re-
ported that lI5 had been counted at
noon and nearly all OF them had boon
identified
\ seaman on the Otranto described
tho most tragic moment OF the diSastar
as that MNeD~.Ihc order came for tho
mon TO jump ana save themselves.
The destroyer looked a Very small boat
alongside the former orient liner, ami II
many landsmen among the American
troops thought themselves safer aboard y
the larger vessel, This was fatal 10 "
many OF them. 80 n tl \, TX II i9t5
The victims are 20 be coliectea at tht ht y
most suitable place and buried there q