The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-03-07
kenoshans on Board the I'LL
Fated "Tuscania' Send
Detailed Account of
the Tragedy.
AMERICANS WERE CALM"

Kenosha bit by bit through letters
from survivors of the catastrophe now
stationed somewhere in England, Ire
land, and Scotland. On Friday the
first dispatch from "over there came
in the form of letter from Lieuten-
ant Asbury Vale. Today the officer s
report is ably supplemented by COM
munications from Privates James Me-
CHM, Henry Werner, and Henry Huet-
ten
The messages are interesting not only
because they confirm earlier reports
but also because they add revealing
side-lights on the recent atrocity in the
Irish Sea. In this respect the note
from Private McGinn is especially
worthy of mention. 1t is addressed to
someone in Kenosha and reads as
follows:
Ono doubt you know all about our
mishap by now-how we were attacked
.anG torpedoed by German submarine.
GIVE were on the Irish sea and it
was just after tea. We were down in
our quarters. ! was in my bunk when,
suddenly, the lights went out and the
ship trembled from bow to stern Right
away there was a clamor for the up
per deck but no panic. AS luck would
have it | was using my life-belt to
write OH and the pass-ways were clear
then. But dark - We gods! AT that
| made dash for the deck and got
there with my cap on but my coat off.
There / was in my shirt sleeves and
with the sea breeze anything but
warm.
"There were few overcoats around
so / grabbed on to one and thought
was all set. / was, too, until / saw
some of the sick fellows with less
on than I had. / eouldn't stand to
see them shiver like that so / gave
them the overcoat and picked up any.
thing else / could find.
All this happened at about $40
?. M. At 7:15 I got into a life-boat.
We roughed it on the open sea for
several hours and were finally picked
up by patrol boat at 1o:45. 1t was
none too soon either The sea was
calm when we were wrecked but the
wind rose steadily until by ten o'clock
there was something of squat. Did
We works We sure did but the ex-
citement of it was great. With so
much happening it only seemed a lit
tie while until we were picked up and
safe ashore.
cat ZOO o'clock the next morning
We landed at Tarne Island. There
were cars and rigs at the port to
meet us and almost before we knew it
we were in the dining room Of the
hotel enjoying a regular feast.
sSThe Irish people certainly were
good to us. They turned over hotels
and homes to us and we went where
we pleased and did what we pleased
mostly for nothing too. Each after
noon we were there they gave us tea
party and they had vaudeville and
moving picture-shows for us most of
the time. When we left they took us
to the station with brass band and
all of them cheered as far as we could
hear them. 1t was something [ shall
never forget if I live to be hundred.
cit WASH t so bad after all. When
they got everything checked up they
found that out Of 1897 men on board
only 210 were missing. For submar-
inc disaster that was good and it
speaks well for the nerve and calm
ness of American soldiers"
Equally enlightening but hardly so
detailed in its account is the letter
received by Mr.. and Mrs Lamb from
Henry Werner. It reads as follows:
tThis is just few lines to let you
know that I am o. K. / am now in
Ireland not Of my own volition but be-
cause the subs got our boat and sent
it to Davy Jone Is locker All that
owned went up with it but we will
soon be equipped again. Ireland has
done more for us thar words can ex-
press. Wen never forget the hospi-
tally of these people They have
treated US like kings and shown us
how very much they appreciate what
we are trying to do for you, them, and
all humanity.
The letter from Private Huesten is
addressed to his mother, Mrs. j. Huet-
ten of SIS Rowland avenue. In most
of itsAnfcrmation it repeats the things
already recorded in earlier dispatches
but the following bits of information
are new and interesting.
The most Of the men who were
lost were those who got excited and
jumped into the water rather than
wait for the destroyers and patrols.
The bunch I was with decided we
wait till help came or go down with
the ship. We did and consequently
all Of US were picked up and saved
while others who thought they could
lgo it alone held up a ittl- -hila and