Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-21

Washington, D. c., Aug. 1S.--It has
been said that il a man stands at
Forty-second street and Broadway he
will see more interesting people in a
stated length of time than anywhere
else in the world. It is possible, how
ever. that the National Press club at
Washington can run q close second
York corner in the number Of curious
and interesting visitors.
Only yesterday Fred Gauntlet was
at the Press club. Many people know
Mr.. Gauntlett-but not too many. He
is as interesting as almost any private
citizen for many reasons but for two
in particular which are we'll worth
mentioning. H..
Fred Gauntlet is one Of the COM
paratively few men who went down
on the Lusitania-and came up again
to tell the tale. Also he is practically
the only man In the world who ever
owned a modern navy al his personal
property.
Both stories deserve reciting.
Mr.. Gauntlet has for years been
Washington representative Of the
Newport News Sh1pbuilding and Dry
dock company. He is an expert in all
matters pertaining to shipbuilding and
as the company with which he is con-
nected Is engaged chiefly in con-
structtng warships, he is especially an
expert In mon o. var When. Ger
luany was pressing the allies particu-
larly hard, not many months before
the United States entered the struggle,
Great Britain needed some special ad-
vice in the matter of naval armament.
Mr.. Gauntlet, Mr.. Knox president
of the New York shipbuilding com-
pany. Mr.. Ferguson, president Of the
Newport News shipbuilding and Dry
dock company, AND n or two other
experts were invited to go to London
to discuss naval matters. Whey sailed
on the Lusitania.
Mr.. Gauntlet say he was having
lunch about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
when there was = dull thud aft. He
did not know what the cause was. 1t
was 80 slight he finished his lunch.
noticed some signs OF excitement
the crew. Discovering that a
torpedo had hit the great liner, he
took stock Of the situation. Being
old shipping man, he knew instinc-
lively what every aspect Of such a sit
uation would be. He realized that,
the day being warm, every port was
open. He attempted to get the stew
ards foroe to- assist him in closing
them, but the shysteria was increasing
momentarily and he was u~nsuccess-
full.
: Menace 81 Open Portfolios.
Long afterwards. in relating the
tale he said It was obvious what was
about to happen. The Lusitania was
q tall ship. Shs had three tiers Of
cabin ports. al, open TOR ventilation.
The torApdo haf struck In such a way
that the ship filled on one side and
listing perceptibly. Mr.. Gaunt-t
lett knew that as soon as the ship had
heeled over sufficiently, the water,
would begin to pour into the port
holes. This would accelerate the in-
flow Of water ana hasten the flooding
Of the ship.< He made i hasty mental
aid arrived ut thu conclu-
sion that II the portfolios once started
filling, this ship was lost, because
there were on the listing side Of the
great Liner more than six hundred
admit a large stream. AZ the, first
tier filled, the ship would list more
rapidly; this o o would bring down
the second tier. and shortly after the
third. The result would be q yerita-s
BILE Niagara Of water pouring into the
ship.
when 1t was apparent he could rally
assistance to close the portfolios
he went on deck. Already the husi-
tanta was listing sharply. He took OF
Portable. angie. Hs waited. A. cry
came from alongsids. A woman and:
child hadss slid into the water. With
the aid of q s6il6as ~ 1tkempted 10
rescue them ana did speGaed In drag
gtng n into i IifeboRt only IN tine
for II TO become fouieAs ana s1nk.
Then came m especially sharp list
ard the deck tiltsd at such an agile
that he could hold on no Longer, and
He Sid Into the .
Mr.. dAuntlett says thst the n1ryew.
ct escaps he ever had IN his life