Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-13
BRITISH TRANSPORT SUNK.
2,179 u. s. TROOPS ABOARD.
Some Victims Died of Iniuries-S0me
Killed by Rats.

! the Tuscania, said the steamer was
proceeding to an English port under
| convoy. at 5.45 o'clock on Tues
day evening"" he continued, II was
| I'm No. | room talking with fellow
boatswain when | heard terrific ex-
plosion and felt the vessel heeling
over.
I'VE commenced lowering boats on
the starboard side. The soldiers
were lined up on deck waiting for
the boats. Unfortunately, many
jumped overheard.
II found the boat at No. 8 station,
to which | proceeded, had been
blown to pieces. | then helped to
get boats ga, 9-B and &C away with
full compliments and the second Of
ficer got boats one to seven safely
away. After seeing these launched |
proceeded to the other deck, where |
launched a raft. Il picked up II
soldiers and two OF the ship'y COM
pany whr were swimming about. We
had no oars and had to paddle along
with our hands. We were picked up
at O'Clock in the evening and land
ed Wednesday morning.
Survivors Picked Up.
The first survivors were landed at
l.30 o'clock Wednesday morning
From then until Z a. m. many patrol
boats arrived, each bringing a full
complement Of survivors, the num-
ber of whom by that time had reach
ed $50, including 40 members of the
crew.
All the medical men at Larne, on
the eastern coast Of Ireland, where
some Of the survivors were landed,
were renuisitioned.
There was sufficient time for re-
moval Of all those on board the Tus-
cania, as she remained afloat for
about two hours after being torpe-
doed.
= The Tuscania was one Of a convoy
Of troop and provision ships which
was entering what until recently
were considered comparatively safe
waters. The ships we're within
sight Of land, which was just distin-
guishable in the dark Of evening,
when torpedo hit the Tuscania
amidship. This was at about 7
o'clock.
The steamer took a 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.
The survivors are receiving every
attention.
Rats Thrown Overt Killed Many.
Sergt. f. G. Dubuque and Sergt.
Muller, both Of Brooklyn, We're res
cued from raft by a coasting
schooner.
Sergt Dubuque said the boat to
which he had been assigned was
shattered by the explosion. He clam
bered over to the port side and was
placed in boat with ten or twelve
other men.
When they had been lowered half |
way down the ropes became disar-
ranged. All were thrown into the |
water. There was a rather heavy |
sea, but the sergeant was able to |
swim to the stern Of the liner and |
on raft. There he found |
Sergt. Muller.
Sergt. Dubuque said he saw many |
men in the sea. Collapsble RATS
were thrown overheard to enable |
those who were struggling in the wa
ter to save themselves. Some Of |
these RATS struck loaded boats. The |
sergeant said he believed quite a |
way
The sergeant and the others on the
raft were at the point Of collapse |
when picked up. but they soon recov-
cred.
Fifth Ship Lost to LINE. |
New York, Feb. 7.-According to |
the records of the Anchor Line here,
the Tuscania carried crew Of 220. |
under command Of Capt. Peter Nc |
Lean, the majority Of the crew being |
subjects Of Great Britain.
The loss Of the Tuscania, which |
was under charter to the Cunard !
Line, completes the destruction by |
submarines of fleet of five passen- |,
ger ships, aggregating 57,S1S tons |
gross, owned by the An, hor Line at |
the beginning Of the war. The other
ships were: Caledonia, sunk in 1915;
April IS, 1877; Tran
sylvania, May 4, 1917; California,
February, 1917.
All Soldier Victims Insured.
Washington, Feb. 7.-Every Amer
lean soldier lost on the Tuscania,
having dependents, was protected by
government insurance. Many had
applied for voluntary insurance
which is issued In amounts up to
$4,000, and all are covered by gov
ernmclt compensation, payable to/a
widow, child, or widowed mother
This automatic insurance aggregates
about $4,000 and Is paid at the rate
Of about $25 a month for 20 years.
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