The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-10-12

LONDON. oct. is-ConScrNauNo
estimates early today PLACED tho
number OF soldiers lost when the
British steamer Otfanto. acting as an
American transport. was sunk tn col
lision with the Kashmir, az $50,
The Otranto was dashed ~ pieces
on the rocks OF the scottish coast
early Sunday morning.. after she had
been ra-nmcd by the kashmir during
a fierce storm,
Capt +. :. Hcimer. army medical
corps, unattached. whose home Is az
Hamdcn. n. Y. arrived here with sao
survivors OF the crash.
Three hundred and seventeen sol
dlers ana $50 members Of the otran'
to's crew were rescued by a British
destroyer. he said.
Cant. Hcimcr. interviewed by the
United Press. said the collision oc-
CURED at 3 a. m. Sunday.
In Raging Storm
~ raging storm was In prog
ress.' he stated. with high seas
sweeping across our decks, when
the kashmir hit us anidShips The
GOODNESS and eainness OF the sol
Gers was wonderful They jumped
TO attention AZ their appointed
places. awaiting commands without
panic.
There were TOO sick cases he
low. and I believe they were all
lost. We ficatcd an hour and n
quarter agor the collision. when
a British destroyer drew up along
side. our boys began 10 jump.
There were 700 soldiers aboard. or
those left aboard many must have
been lost"
Others declare there were 300
soldiers aboard Unstinted praise II
being hcaped on Lieut.. Commander
Craven, who commanded the brit
ish destroyer Mounsley. and rescued
more than zoo men
Most OF the soldiers on tho trans
port were Georgia men. all casual
ties tprohahly meaning replace
ment unitsi.
Red Cross workers met survivors
OF the lost ship as they landed.
supplying them with cirarets. no,
coffee and food ard other necessi-
ties.
Arizona Girl Near Wreck
Miss Jane Rider. Of Tucson. Ariz,.
Red Cross nurse. who was aboard
one OF the vessels In the convoy
with which the otranto was pro-
cecding. said to the United Press:
The first we knew OF trouble
20 the Otranto was when we
picked W 8 o. s messages from
both tho Otranto and Kashmir.
The storm was no bad We could
not turn. but had TO put back to
sea-
II could not see a thing. Then
we heard the Otranto was trying to
put flfehoats over the side with somr
OF the men drowning as they tried
10 enter"
Miss Ruth Gibbons Of Ardnore. "
Y. another survivor. said there were
many conflicting stories regarding
the number OF missing Latest re-
ports said there were 300 unaccount.
ed for. she said. while others. she had
heard. placed the loss at 400.
Men from the lost ships who talked
to the United Press correspondent
described spectacular scenes as the
rescuing ship came alongside the
damaged transport
The men were tod IL was every
man for himself. Standing on the
top deck, men began TO leap aboard
the destroyer. some Of them as far
as 20 feet
Nothing Scares U.s.
Corporal J. J. Doherty. Of Brook
Iyn. who was among those rescued.
was asked IL he was scared. Hell.
no." he said. Nothing scares us"
Private r. s. Appieby. " Knox
VILE. Pa. said: Mani the weather
was awful. The waves came over
a. the ship listed and IL was hard to
stand STILL
Privates c. w. Alien OF Moxen.
Pa, and o. J. Holman. Boston.
jumped together.
Everybody Was Calm"
Everybody was cairn.' declared
Sergt- r. j. Donohue. OF Columbus.
Ohio I'VE knew we were doomed
and did not think of rescue. Boy
when we saw that destroyer we felt
fine. saw so soldiers swimming at
the side OF the destroyer and saw
that ship cut one in two. Another
who was hanging to a dangling lad