Evening journal., 1918-06-05


battered to the extreme limit OF huma
endurance after many narrowing hour
in open boats, forty-nine men an
women, the remnant OF two boatload
containing originally sixty-one survi
vors from the Porto Rico line steam
ship Carolina, which was sunk by
German submarine cruiser on Sunda,
were landed here yesterday.
Their faces lined and still colorles,
In mute testimony Of their fearful ex
perienoe. yet smiling brayely Will
whispering their gratitude at their saf
delivery, they revealed the details 0
the shelling and sinking OF the biz
liner with its human load OF $50 souls
They related simply and without EN-
belllshment how they had been orderel
into the boats, how early The mex
morning the fotilla OF frail craft from
the Inflated liner had been caught b.
A furious gale and separated and how
several times they had despaired OF
ever reaching shore alive when their
boat capsized in the heavy seas.
Wreckage OF every conceivable kind
les held upon the surface by lifebelts,
were the means OF preserving life until
some Of them succeeded in rightng the
launch and bailing the water out OF IL.
Finally. Monday afternoon they were
sighted by the rescue vessel, the Brit
fish steamship Appleby, after twelve OF
their number had gone down. The
survivors landed here at the naval
base. near Cape HenlOpen. They were
given every comfort and encourage
ment by the commandant. Captain
Landrey, and his fellow-officers. and
afterwards were taken to the local
offlce OF the line. while the townspeo-
pie hocked 10 the place and upon learn
ing OF their scant attire hurried to their
homes and quickly returned with warm
clothes for those most in need.
Later the entire party was taken to
the station and departed on the after
noon train for New York, their original
port Of destination.
One OF Greatest Sea Tragedies.
For dramatic effect the entire recitnl
as told FIRST by one, and then supple
mented by another, places the sinking
Of the Carolina in a class with the
worlds greatest sea tragedies.
From a peaceful voyage on an un-
armed and defenseless steamship with
the prospects OF reunion with their
dear ones within a comparatively short
span OF hours, the scene in one instant
was transformed into one OF utter con-
fusion and fright at the appearance OF
the Hun raiders, only TO be followed
subsequently by an agony OF terror
when the hurricane struck them In the
bIackness OF night while adrift on a
trackless ocean in a small boat.
Altogether the vessel carried 2if
passengers. Of whom 1856 were in the
nrsi cabin. according TO the narrative
Of George Howard, OF No 225 Wesl
Forty-third stdeet. New York, one ol
the cabin stewards
''It was about 6.i5 o'clock in the even
Ing and dinner was being served wher
there was the report OF a shot, followed
closely by two Others Howard said
ihey were shots Of warning fired by
tile J-boat which VAS steaming alone
In plain view when we reached the
deck. At the sound OF The first shot
everybody got up, Of course, hui
though nervousness Lad been caused
by the uncxnected firlne, nOne / be-
lie1c. had even thought OF finding a
submarine close by.
The Carolina did not carry any guns
which was undoubtedly ascertained by
the U-boat commander, because the
submarine soon drew closer and when
at hsiling distance, gave orders TO
abandon the ship within thirty min
utes.
einstantly the ten lifeboats were
launched, the U-boai in the meantime
circling around the Carolina. Before
the half-hour had elapsed they were all
bearing away from the doomed ship
AZ this point one man who had
been overlooked in the general haste
was shouting at us from the top Of
gangway and the u-boat held OF
while one Of the boats returned TO
pick him up.
"The submersible then approached TO
within some two or three hundred
yards Of our ship and opening up with
her deck guns, fired seven incendiary
shells into the waist and bows. BY
the time the last shell was fred the
vessel burst into flames In several
places. the sight OF the blazing ship
adding to the fright Of the survivors,
especially the women.
"A little later. water pouring through
the holes on the ships hull made by
the shells, caused the Carolina TO settle.
slowly at first. and then more rapidly
until the huge craft settling by the
head shot down, bow foremost
I don't know when the submarine
disappeared as I was busy at the oars,
but night found ms alone, the various
boats being scattered over a wide