Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-12


mates early today placed the number
,of soldiers lost when the British steam
ship Otranto, acting q an American
transport, was sunk in collision with
the Kashimer, at $50.
The Otrant0 was dashed to pieces
on the rocks of the Scottish coast ear
ly Sunday morning after she had been
rammed by the Kashmir during Fierce
storm.
Captain F. s. Heimer, army medical
corps, unattached, whose home is at
HamdeA, N. " arrived here today
with 250 survivors of the crash.
Three hundred and seventeen sol
diers. and $50 members of the Otpantos
crew were rescued by a British de-
tstroyer, he said.
Captain Tells Story
Captain Heimer, interviewed by the
United Press, said the collision occur
red at nine o clock Sunday morning.
" A raging storm was in progress, -
he stated, "with high seas sweeping
across our decks, when the Kashmir
hit us amidships. The coolness and
eaimness of the soldiers are wonderful.
They jumped TO attention at their
appointed places, awaiting commands
without panic.
"There were 100 sick cases below
and | believe they were all lost. We
floated an hour and a quarter after
the collision. When a British destroyer
drew mp alongside our boys began to
jump. There were 700 soldiers aboard.
OF those left aboard many must have
been lost
Others declare there were 900 sol
diers aboard Unstnted praise is being
heaped ON Lieutenant Commander Cra-
ven, who commanded the British de-
stgoyer Mously and rescued more than
200 men.
Most of the soldiers on the transport
were Georgia men, all casualties (prob-
ably meaning replacement units.J
Red Cross workers met survivors of
the lost ship as they landed, supplying
them with cigarettes, hot coffee and
food and other necessities.
Miss Jane Rider of Tucson, Ariz.,
Red Cross nurse, who was aboard one
of the vessels in the convoy, with
which the Otanto was proceeding, said
to the United Press
"The first we knew of trougle to
the Otranto was when we picked up
s o S messages from both the Otranto
and Kashmir. The storm was so bad
we couldn't turn, but had to put back
to sea.
couldn t see thing Then we heard
the Otranto was trying to put lifeboats
over the side, with some Of the men
drowning as they tried to enter"
Miss Ruth Gibbons of Ardmorc, n.
Y, another survivor. said there were
many conflicting stories regarding the
number of missing. Latest reports from
Belfast, she declared, said there were
900 unaccounted for, while others she
had heard placed the loss at 400.
Men from the lost ship who talked
to the United Press correspondent de-
ecribed spectacular scenes as the Brit
ish rescuing ship came alongside the
damaged transport.
The men were told it was every man
lef nlHlsttl. otdHuiHB on inc top ueCh,
men began to leap aboard the destroy
er, some Of them as far as twenty
feet.
They Were Not Scared
Corporal J. j. Doherty of Brooklyn,
who was among those rescued, was
asked if he was scared.
"Hell no., he said, Hnothing scares
u.s.
Private R. S. Appleby Of Knoxville,
Pa, said:
Man, the weather was awful The
waves came over as the ship listed
it was difficult to stand still. =
Priyates C. W. Allen Of Moxen, Pa,
and o. J. Holman, Boston, jumped to-
gether.
Everybody was calm, " declared
Sergeant R. j. Donohue Of Columbus
Ohio. "We knew we were doomed and
didn t think of rescue. Boyl When we
saw that destroyer we felt fine. saw
fifty soldiers swimming at the side Of