The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-04-26
WAS on THE TUSCANIA

The following letter from a member
fof the goth Engineer regiment, which
Twas on the Tuscania when that trans
Eport was torpedoed near the Irish
[coast, in which disaster several hun
[dred American troops lost their lives
Through the merciless activities of the
Submarine. is one of the most interest
ling accounts of that tragic incident Of
| the war that we have seen. 1t Is a
#plain, unvarnished story, brief but to
1.-THE point, of the experiences of one
Ewho passed through the terrible trial
land was savel as by miracle. The
Iletter and Introductory explanation is
<taken from the Okanogan Independ-
lent:
When the Tuscania catastrophe was en-
&acted there were a good many Okanog an
&people interested in the report that one
XE. T.. Harpman. a member of forest
xregiment was on the boat as many here
Iwere acquainted with V. V. Harpham,
[nogan forest and later supervisor of the
XOchoco forest in Oregon 1t later develop
led that f. Il. Harpham is brother of
~. ". and this paper has been furnished
with a letter written by the soldier to
his brother in Oregon which we take
pleasure in publishing as 1t gives an in
terestins ACCOUNT fnt of shtsa the disaster; 1918
'Dear Vernon:
would like to tell you more about
where / am. but feel that such informa-
Xtion would be held up by the censor.
II was unfortunate in being aboard the
Pruscania when she was torpedoed in the
North Channel and had not the slightest
idea of ever getting out of the mess alive.
kThey hit us about O'Clock dark in
the evening, and as the torpedo struck
the engine room the ship could not beach
land Ours was the last lifeboat to reach
The water, but did so in fine shape. We
nrifted about upon the rough waters In
the channel, dipping waterto keep from
oundering, at the same time keeping the
boat Alright with the waves. l saw the
pig ship go down., and one could have
heard the roar and rush of water upon
her upper decks for miles. do not be-
ieve there was living soul aboard when
bhe plunged, as all had previously taken
10 the lifeboats or been rescued by the
ifeboats realize what was ahead of us.
Ne drifted about for hours, thinking per-
haps we would be picked up; but it
boats to try to rescue us after dark in
waters where the submarine was lurking
DO we continued to bale water dodge the
POcks, and hope, until finally We sighted
what looked like an island with trees up
IN it.. We ,steered toward It but found
hat, instead of trees; the objects we saw
lway. but had drifted so near that the
breakers were taking us In faster than
Ee could row in the over-crowded boat.
lnd threw his electric flashlight against
he rugged shoals only a stones throw
head. and we could see the white foam
ashing high on the rocks. Each break
b took us nearer until finally our boat
truck with n terrible crash and broke in
dozen pieces. and after that 1t was each
pan for himself. Roy Muncaster. a rang
h from the Olympic. who enlisted when
did did not have on a life belt and
n, sure he. was drowned was taken
k aSd eS ihs finally SaYsy By some act assnis e Pr
ence was thrown high on e rock, where
managed to hang, until was able to
find just about finished me- but six OF
including a lieutenant managed to
nddle together under rock. where we
fore daylight day when hen sS Scotch t iHn Highland- -
living on plateau above rescued us.
was told of the disaster by a soldier
Pout sixty in ny lifeboat only seven
ame out alive We were treated royalty
the Scotch people; ami I went to 2
edical si; T' attention. s' amd e' kind nd attention n
sherwise. l was badly bruised in sew
fal places and had an internal bruse on
left side. but am getting along fine.
4 ll my personal equipment was lost when
be ship went down. excepting little
poney loose in my pocket. However. I
blink the Red Cross and army tog ether
THE American consul wac Just in to
zee me and anything ren1 hadly will
pe looked after l have TIE BEST Of care
Ind will be with my battalion before long,
III think. Will let you hear from me again
1Boon.
III "There are lots of fellows from the
West Coast (Pacific) in my battalion"
81 Statement of the ownership, manage
4ment, circulation etc, recutred by the
XAct of Congress of August "a. 1912, OF
EOroville Weekly Gazette. published week.
&ly at Oroville. Washington. for April,
State of Washing ton. County Of Okla
hogan, IS.
n Before me, Notary Public "a and for
1.-THE State and county aforesaid. person.
#ally appeared Frank NJ Dallam, who
n having been duly sworn according to law.
n deposes and says that he is one Of tho
publishers of the Oroville Weekly Gazette
and that the following Is, to the best Of
u his knowledge and belief, a true statement
of the ownership, management (and If n
daily paper. the circulation). etc, Of the
aforesaid publication for the date shown
In the above caption. required by the Act
4 of August a. 1912. embodied in section
4i3, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed
on the reverse of this form. to-wit:
II l. That the names and adddess of the
business manager are: Publisher. Frank
NJ. Dallam Oroville. Wash; editor. Frank
M. Dallam, Oroville. Wash
2. That the owners are: Frank NJ
Dallam, Sr Oroville. Wash; Frank M
Dallam, Jr., somewhere in France.
FRANK M. DALLAM.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this