Liner Sunk by Torpedo

Levin Daily Chronicle, 15 August 1918, Page 4

Liner Sunk by Torpedo

SKKIXJjIKCr SXPEIiIBKCB OP HONEYAIOON* COUPLES. Iu the early hours of the morning the Pacific Steam Navigation Company's liner Orcnsa, a t win screw steamer of 5075 tons., was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. There 'were 200 persons on board at the time, including .110 passengers, <5/ being American ei\ilians on their way to Francs ub Y.M.C.A. workers; but happily all we re saved -with the exception of on? of the crew a junior engineer named Stone. The 'commander of the Oronsa, O.ptain l- 1 . Holt llobson, said he was. on the hr. b r o at the time of t-ie attack. lie l" r .■ l li.'.* '< sv/ci". e a:; though s.ie i:a<i been heavily struck, but though lie l; it ,l seen nothing he imur-diat.oiy gave orders for the lowering of the- boais. Tli'*re was no excitement or puinc. In live minutes all the ship's boats had Lc- n safely lowered and filled. Ten minutes after the boats liad left the vci'scl rhe sank. All behaved with the utmost. cooI:.TSR, osi:ee'.nl:-y live ladies, all nurses, aboard. Bout drill on the vee'Jg'e e.nd line we; t! ; . r at tiio ii:.ie ox till- disaster were the causer, tail so r.ianv of t'-.e passengers e.-.d crew were paved. 'The most eiivlov.s tale I've liei'.vd in connection with the affai". raid ill' Hungerford, who was in charge of the American year workers, "was that we started with 'bad luck.' We had 13 parsons on board; it was the 13Hi trip made by the conunsnder in ch-'i-'i-e.'' Another curious and humorous incident related by Mr Hungerford was connected with n member or a party named Downer. "He was a regular camera fiend," lie said, the voyage was continually talking snapshots and developing tliem, which earned a colleague to remark that if over the f.V'P did get Downer would bo sure to be found sitting oil a lifebuoy taking a snap of the scene., When 'inquiries were made regarding Downer's safety, it wr.rs d-scovrrca that he was coiv.fortaVly encircled by a lifebelt, with his camera coekcd anxiously, WAITING FOB. ANOTHER FLASHLIGHT

to apieai' to ev.a'ole h.'m to taice the picture." "The night was lovely ' continued Mr Hungerford, "and we had not long retired to our cabins after a minstrel enteriainmoul, \shcn me exploaioii cteu.red. Iho pas;;cr.gcvs and enw showed gre.it prcjenec of ni:r.a, and came up mi deck in ora.'rlv fash:on withcv.t rush or hysteria. The boats were quickly lowered —the Americans "••ik'.iig an active part in t.lio and everyone was got off safely. \VIiOU we readied port tho pee.plc who .iad gathered to weleo-io us b-.'gr.n to cl eer. and ve sang 'The S'arßp:.ngled Banner' and 'Cod »3a.ve tlie Jving.' Immediately after the party were lined up and the roll wa.s called, ami when the last man answered his name it the Irggest relief I have ever c.\-p rienccd. All of ii" v.'ere truly thankful for our ;UK | spontaneously sang the ' jJoxologv,' thanking God with all c:nceritv for our safely." Speaking of the little personal incidents of the affair, Mr Hungerford related how a Member of the party named Vickerv, a Methodist preacher, who had travelled the world, came to him after the ship had sunk, and asked if he could the transport service. "I)o you still want to go in for it?" asked the leader. '■ You. bet," he replied, "they dill not get me wet this time." Mr Samuel Downer, to whom reference has been made en leave of absence from his post of stutior.;:iaster in New Jersey, said: "I was down in my bunk almost amidrli'ps, within abr.u't Ift of Uic waterlevel. when I heard the '-opoit and felt a severe jar. I had- on>y time to get together a few of my effects, including some iiu-f.ortant papern, but I carricd mv se. v "c uiiifovi'i and up on to the sccrmd deck, an - maeic v.iy way to l'.fcbor.t No. 0, to which I'had been fVott-d rhv.-ing the vo.v?g\ I teok vz\ place iu the boat. Th«v« was a delay ef .•< f w moment- 1 ! :n getting the boat c.T, and thi-; resulied in the saving of the oldest member of the party, Mr raw Ecu. Y'e g..t saf.ly awa;--, and we v e picked up by a destroyer about 400 vp.f l s from iho vessel and wore takoii to jiort." There were two honeymoon couples e:i board. One of tnese couples, who were in their berth when the torpedo ei-ipVded, were throAvn clean out en to t';e upper deck. The j lady escaped unhurt, but the husband i received rather severe injuries to the j face and head. American Y.M.C.A. workers expressed disgust at the in-h-uuau fondiiet- of tlie submarine crew, which fired on the open boats. One ef the. portv said "We have now see;* what ire have been readuig about for the pa ,: t throe or four, years. I only wish T could get back to the States. J would stir up the country from end to end. Tlie cowards! I might have shown them some mercy; but now, if I meet any of them I will give them no ouarter."