Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-03
HEROIC NEGRO
SAVES 4 LIVES
IN SH|P WRECK
Woman Tells OF Her Rescue
After Sinking of Atlantic
Steamer.
FRENCH CRUISER
RAMS CRAFT IN FOG

An Atlantic Port, May 2.-survivors
Of the coastwise steamer City OF
Athens, which was sunk in collision
with French cruiser in fog of the
Delaware coast yesterday with a loss
of sixty-six persons, related here to-
day many tales Of heroism on the part
Of the crews OF the two vessels. All
praised the efforts Of the French sail
ors who launched small boats within
a few minutes after the accident. and
aided by the cruisers searchlights
picked up many of the survivors from
pieces of wreckage.
VESSEL SINKS QUICKLY
The survivors agreed that the
speedy sinking of the steamer-with.
in five minutes after being rammed
by the warshi pAwas responsible for
the heavy toll of life. although some
claimed that the City of Athens life
saving apparatus failed to work prop
erly. There were 1876 persons, includ.
ing twenty-four United States marines !
on. board the steamer, which was
bound from New York~for Savannah
with 3 100000 cargo of cement
rope, foodstuffs and general mer-
chandise on board. Mrs. Florence
Pickhard Harrison, wife of New
York real estate agent today told how
her life. that Of her 2-year-old baby
and two others were saved through
the bravery Of negro fireman on Tho
City Of Athens.
Awakened from her sleep Mrs. Har
rison barely had time to put coat
over her night dress and hurry to the
deck with her child.
Il saw life boat" shesaid but no
one was paying any attention to 1t,
except a United States marine who
lifted the baby into the boat. l was
able to climb in with his aid when the
steamer toppled and my grasp on the
gunwale slipped.
NEGRO REscUEs FOUR
INcaught up the baby as the ship
sank under the swirling waters. When
scious from the water, with the little
one in my arms, we were directly
under the bow Of life boat.
"A man whom afterward learned
was James Wallace of Savannah
] regained Consciousness, l found my 4.
oViA 4A t1AO AAkC pOdLs VOSCIOu Will
piece of canvas which wrapped
around the baby My coat and night
gown were torn in the struggle to
drag me In. After that Wallace res.
cued one marine and civilian. That
brave negro deserves a hero's medal
1--WE were in the life boat for about
two hours before we we're picked up
by the crew Of the French cruiser
NET DEATH IN SEA
The following passengers are believ.
ed to have been lost:
M. G. Green, Astoria, N. Y; James
J. Kastle, Morristown, N. j.; Richard
Bonbeiner, Mobile, Ala; E. G.. Stiles, i
New York City; Jean Cadron New
York City; Rev. y. P. Reynolds, New
York City; Isaac Dalzell, Paterson,
N. j.; Mrs, F. D., Holthan, Hyde Park,
Mass: Edward Clug, Savannah. Ca;
Cav Donk, Brooklyn; R. A. Young.
N. Y.
Known survivors among the passen.
gers are:
Mrs. r. Harrison and baby. New
York. City; DR.. A. ]. Kemp, New York
City; Mrs. Richard Bonzeiner, Mobile,
Ala; Alden McClaskie, New York
City; DR.. e. L. Brooks, Atlanta, Ca:
John Green. Paterson, N. j.; ]. F.
O'Brien, Jr., Savannah, Ca: Mrs. Eta
Levy, Bridgeport. Conn.,; Mr.. and Mrs.
Gewahr and child, Brooklyn, N. ";
H. Mcmillan, Port Royal, N. C.
MARINES ARE DROWNED
Among the members Of the crew be-
lieved to have been lost are:
Claude Lewis, second officer; Chas.
Cooke, assistant engineer; James
Pool, oiler; Dick Salmos, water
tender.
The following United States ma
rines were reported drowned:
F. r. Dixon, P. Van flanagan. S. H.
Tynge, H. Rosenfeld, w. ]. Mack, S.
Ginsberg, H. E. Wetmore.