Evening star., 1918-02-08

AN IRISH PORT. February S.-A
mass Of swirling wreckage on the calm
neck Of the sea along the Irish coast
marks the grave of the Tuscania, the
first American troop transport sunk by
German submarine.
The bodies Of forty-four Of the MISS
ing 1o1 victims OF the Tuscania disas-
ter were washed up yesterday on the
rocks fifteen miles from the scene OF
the torpedoing.
All were Americans and their bodies
were mutilated beyond recognition.
A pathetic feature is that although
all the victims wore tags, no identifi-
cation numbers had been put on them.
because these Americans had not yet
been assigned to definite Army Units.
Therefore, there is no way to Identify
them and they will be buried in one
grave.
Some of the injured now in hospitals
are expected to succumb.
The survivors. numbering 2.sss. are
auartered in hotels. homes and hospi-
tails along the north Irish coast.
Black Night Hides Foam.
Two groups left yesterday clad in
misfit clothing for Belfast by rail, ana
thence by boat to England. The sur
yivors are agreed that no one saw the
wake OF foam as the torpedo came to-
ward the vessel.
It was a black night and no alarm
came from any one of the fifteen look
outs. The torpedo struck the Tuscania
a vital blow arnidships. in the boiler
room, and there was mumed crash,
which told every one what had hap
pened.
The possibility of being torpedoed
was discussed almost daily since the
eral hundred young lumberjacks from
the southwest And Pacific coast states
were eating their evening meal at the
time the disaster occurred. Hundreds
of other American troops were waiting
for theirs when the general alarm
sounded.
False alarms had been sounded for
boat drill every day of the trip. but all
knew that this one was genuine. Of
1cers shouted Instructions to the men.
Many of them were husky youths. and.
despite their brief military training,
they displayed wonderful GOODNESS as
they marched to their boat stations.
There was no running about, nothing
a panic. In few isolated
cases there were signs of nervousness
on the part of some OF the youngsters
as the ship took a heavy tilt to star
board and they slid to the railing. to
which they chung for dear life. But
that was all. Veteran British officers
in the crew who had been torpedoed
several times marveled at their cool
ness.
Remained Afoat Two Hours.
Survivors do not agree as to whether
the submarine emerged after torpedo
ing the steamer. Several of the ships
officers said they saw the periscope and
coming tower once. The Tuscanla, de-
spite the great hole in her starboafd
A white-bearded member of the crew,
who was one of the last to leave the
vessel. told Lieut.. A. l.. Chamberlain
Of Washington, D. c., that he had
aoated on in lifeboat.
II heard" he said. "a single cry of
anguish come from the hold as the
waters closed over the vessel"
A tiny trawler, which remained with
the Tuscania to the last. saw a small
Are break out anidships as the vessels
back appeared to break In two. With
! kissing sound she disappeared be-
meath the waves.
Most Of the crew who lost their lives
were killed in the explosion in the
boiler room. One OF the survivors of
the engine room force said the second
engineer checked the speed of the ves-
sci after the simpact by throwing the
engine lever over to full"
Drink Saves Life.
This probably saved many lives, as
ot therwiSe the vessel would have n1owed