Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-02-15
WERE GIVEN TINE
TO GET AWAY
The Tuscanla Remains Afloat
Two Hours
BUT SHE IS BADLY LISTED
Makes K Hard To Lower Boats-Son'e
Jumped Into Sea, Others Thrown
Out-Wards In
Hotels.

London-There was sufficient time
for removal of all those on board the
Tuscania, as she remained af1oat fol
about two hours after being torpe-
doed. The Tuscania was one OF a
convoy of troop and provision ships
which, after a long passage across
the Atlantic, was entering what until!
recently were considered comparative
ly safe waters. The ships were with.
in sight of land, which was just dis
tinguishable in the dusk Of evening,
when a torpedo hit the Tuscanla
amidships.
Tae steamer took heavy list,
which made proper lowering of the
boats impracticable. Some men
jumped into the sea. Others were
thrown into the water when the boats
were lowered.
Two Torpedoes Fired.
Survivors report that two torpedoes
were fred. The first passed just astern
of the vessel. The second struck in
the vicinity of No. ! boiler.
The behavior of the greater part
Of the soldiers and members of the
crew was splendid. A few Of them
became excited, hindering the lower,
ing of the boats. In some cases the
entire crews were thrown out while
The boats were being lowered. Other
BOATS were let down hurriedly on
men who were swimming around the
liner. Many casualties were occa'
Toned in this way.
Women volunteer nurses at Larne
attended to slightly injured men
Wards were inprovised In hotels
Thirty seriously injured men were dis
patched to local hospitals, where they
are receiving careful treatment The
resources of Larne were taxed to the
utmost to provide food and clothing
| for the survivors.
One of the men, who swan about
for two hours before he was rescued
jokingdy said he had had enough swim
ming to satisfy him for the rest OF
his life.
Many Jumped Over.
Thomas Smith, of Glasgow, boat
| SWANS mate on the Tuscania, said
| the steamer was proceeding to an
English port under convoy.
"At 5.45 O'Clock on Tuesday even
ing" he continued, II was in No.
room talking with fellow boatswain
when ] heard a terrific explosion and
felt the vessel heelins over. ! said
to my mate: They've got her now.
1--WE commenced lowering boats on
| the starboard side. The soldiers were
lined UP on deck waiting for the boats
Unfortunately many jumped over,
| board.
~ found the boat at No. 9 station,
to which proceeded, had been blown
to pieces. I then helped to get boats
ga, 9-B and &C away with full com.
plements and the second officer got
boats 1 to 7 safely away. =
after seeing these launched pro
ceeded to the other deck where I
launched raft. I picked up IA sol
diers and two of tbs ships company
who were swimming about. We had
no oars and had to paddle along with
our hands. We were picked up at
9 o'clock in the evening and landed
Wednesday morning."
The first survivors were landed at
4.30 o'clock Wednesday morning.
From then until 7 A. M. many patrol
boats arrived, each bringing full
complement Of survivors, the number
of whom by that time had reached
$50, including 40 members of the
crew.
Hard To Lower Boats.
James Alison Huntington, of New
Hampshire, college student, said:
81 was on the upper deck when the
torpedo struck the vessel on the star
board side. There was a terrific ex
plosion. I went to the stairs to reach
my station.
"The dynamo was blown up by the
explosion, but the auxiliary plant was
PUT into operation Immediately.
There was great difficulty in low
oring our nfeboat, the chains being
broken and the tackles entangled.
Several boats capsized and the strug-
gle in the water Of the men thrown
out added to the tragedy.
IT entered the boat with 40 others,
but 1t became filed with water and
we had to jump out. caught two
oars which had been lashed together
and held on. was In the water for
three hours before was picked up"