1
O A
MANY DROWNED IN HASTE LEAVE BOAT
MALTA, Xov. 11—As far as can be learned from tin* sur
vivors the story of the sinking of the Ancona places a great
deal of the responsibility for the loss of life on the
officers of the vessel for not controlling the passengers who
became panic stricken when the submarine commenced firing in
the direction of the vessel. The survivors have been landed
here and they state that the submarine overhauled the Ancona
after a long stern chase, and that after the vessel hove to in
answer to the command of the submarine master of the Ancona
was given but a brief respite to get his passengers and drew!
into the life boats. The resulting panic caused the loss of'
many lives as the passengers became wild with fear and in
the mad rush for the boats which followed many women and
childern were forced overboard and were drowned. The scene
was terrible in the extreme, the women shrieking with fear
and the officers of the boat vainly trying to resore some semb
lance of order.
Many of the boats were overloaded and were overwhelmed
when they struck tin* water the people crowding into them
despite all the attempts made to launch the boats in an order
ly manner. While the life boats were being launched tin*
1 submarine continued to fire shots around the steamer but not at
it, apparently for the purpose to hasten the loading of the
boats. The shell fire had exactly the opposite effect as it in
creased the panic among the passengers, most of who were
| Greek and Italian emigrants with large families bound for the
lTnited States.
The submarine was sighted by the Ancona at a great dis
tance almost as soon as she came to the surface. She pursued
'the* Ancona and fired a shot across her bows immediately The
! wildest panic at once broke out on board the boat, the men
passengers participating, the women screaming and the chil
dren crying and clinging desperately to their mothers. The
submarine continued its shelling of the vessel and gained
rapidly upon it. On the fifth shot the chart house was carried
away and the engins immediately stopped and the ship awaited
until the submarine drew within hailing distance. The sub
marine commander at once gave the captain orders to abandon
his ship, and the submarine withdrew a short distance- con
tinuing at intervals to fire shells around the vessel while the
fateful attempt to launch the life boats was going on. ,
MALTA, Nov. 11—The rescued passengers on the Ancona
say that the passengers were in a pandemonium while the boats
were being lowered, and that the women and children, mostly
ignorant Italians and Greeks lost their heads completely some
of them acting as if they were insane. The pandemonium was
increased and the women further frightened because of the con
tinued shelling in the direction of the Ancona by the sub
marine while the officers were trying to get the boats away
The officers say that if it had not been for this shelling that a
great man ylives would have been saved, as the panic of tin
people could have been controlled and the boats got away in
a more orderly manner. They say that the only reason why
these shots were fired could be to increase the apparent terror
of the passengers. The Ancona was torpedoed after all the
boats had been lowered, and sank within a short time, going
down by the stern.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II-'The officials of the State De
partment are refusing to give expression to any views regard
ing the sinking of the Italian liner Ancona, and all that they
will say is that no action will be taken until the facts are fully
ascertained. No information regarding the nationalty of the
submarine which torpedoed the liner has been received, and
no official information has been received regarding whether
any American citizens perished on the boat or not.
NAPLES, Nov 11—The torpedoed’ steamer Ancona car
ried a total list of passengers and crew when she left here two
days ago of 496- Of this number 347 have been saved, leaving
149 who perished on the boat- Some of the Americans who
took passage are listed' among the missing, but full details an
not vet available.
•i,
TRENTON, N. J.. Nov. 11—The
rope mill of the Joihn A. Roebling
I • . .1
Sons Co., covering two city blocks
in area, was totally destroyed by fire
last night. The loss to the company
is over a million dollars, and the
cause of the fire is a mystery there
being a strong probability that it was
incendary in origin. The fire rs men
tioned as one in a sinister list of con
flagrations which have destroyed
factories engaged in filling contracts
for war materials for the allies. This
rope factory was working three shifts,
seven days a week, and practically
its entire output at present consisted
of iron chains and barbed wire Tor
England, France and Russia.
-:o:———
t % e % zu tt':., i4
I I
DITBUQE, la., Nov. 11—George C.
Perry, formerly United States Mar
shal for the Fourth Division of Al
aska, stationed at Fairbanks, died
here today. Perry will be remem
bered as the marshal that preserved
order at Fairbanks during the stormy
days of the strike in 1908.
-:o:
BARRY IS STILL
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 11—The tC
S. Collier, Premethues arrived here
yesterday, coming direct from Cordo
va with the exception of a slop at
Sika to pick up the working crew
which was making repairs to the
wireless station there. The men in
jured at the explosion at the Cape
Whitshed wireless station at Cordova
are in good condition with the ex
ception of David Barry, who is not
yet out of danger. Barry will be tak
en to the hospital at Vallejo.
DEATH CLAIMS
GRAS. TABER
—
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11—Charles
Taber Martin, a son-in-law of Secre
tary of the Treasury M'Adoo, died in
the residence of the secretary today
from pneumonia. President Wilson
called on M'Adoo this afternoon and
extended his sympathy, to the family
of the deceased. Martin married
Harriet M’Adoo, who is now in Los
Angeles.
s
' -
The residents of Cordova were naturally indignat when
they learned of the apparent successful attempt of Inspector
Neil to practically destroy the efficiency of the postal service
not only here, but throughout this section of Alaska. Through
the recommendations of this individual the clerical force in
the Cordova postoffice has not only been reduced, but the sal
aries also slashed until it looks as though the laborer is no
longer worthy of his hire. Not only has the local service been
crippled, but it remains to be seen how far-reaching an effect
it will have on the dispatch of mails from here to all interior
Alaska points- So thoroughly aroused have some of our citi
zens become over this parsimonious action that it would not
be surprising if the matter were taken up with the Department
at Washington, in the hope of not only rectifying a great in
justice that has been done to the public, but also to place the
proper stamp of disapproval upon the acts of this man Neil,
who is either not acquainted with actual conditions in Alaska
or has deliberately attempted to make a record for himself to
the sacrifice of the service. In either case he is totally unfit
to occupy his present position and the Department will be
made fully acquainted with all the facts, in order that it may
judge of his competency.
While in Alaska Neil also made a number of fool-hardy
recommendations to the local postmasters, which demonstrated
beyond any question that he did not have the good of the ser
vice at heart, but fortunately those holding federal positions
paid little or no attention to him, preferring to work overtime
gratis sooner than deprive the public of the present excellent
serivce it is receiving. But these matters will be fully gone
into later and expose made of the inefficiency of this inspector,
whose principal aim seems to be hold down his own job at the
expense of the postal service in Alaska.
HEAVY RAINS BOON TO ALLIES
Special to The Times By Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 11—From Petrograd comes the news that
the Russians have broken the Teuton lines west of Czartorysk
and have taken two thousand prisoners. The region has been
turned into a swamp by the rains, and' many of the retreating
Germans were drowned in the morasses of the forest- The
wounded were unable to raise themselves to the drier ground
and died here they fell .The Russians are pursuing their advan
tage and are pressing the Germans hard.
LONDON, Nov- 11—Both wings of the Bulgarian forces in
Macedonia are menaced by the Anglo-French advance, and' the
enemy will either have to retreat to a new line of defense or
risk the capture of a large portion of their forces. The Ser
bians have resumed their offensive in the Brabuna pass re
gion and are pressing the Bulgarians hard.
BERLIN, Nov. 11—The German troops have evacuated the
forest district west and southwest of Slilok, west of Riga, be
cause the entire country was changed into a swamp by the
heavy rains. The evacuation was conducted in an orderly
manner, and' without confusion or loss.
BERLIN, Nov. 11—The war office issued an official bulle
tin today stating that the Bulgarian troops under General Boy*
adjieff had crossed' the Morava river in Serbia in several places,
capturing over four thousand prisoners and practically con
trolling the whole region north of Nish fro mthe Morava to the
Bulgarian border- Further advances were made in the moun
tains south of the Morava, and the Teuton forces in the north
are also progressing forcing the Serbians to steadily retire,
LONDON, Nov. 11—The war committee having charge of
the operations for this country during the absence of. Lord
Kitchener is composed of Premier Herbert Asquith, Balfour,
Lloyd-Geor&e, Bonar Law, and Chancellor Reginald McKenna
TORNADO PLAYC
HAVOC KANSAS
CITY
KANSAS CITY. Nov. 11—Two per
1 sons were killed a.id thirty-six In
\ jured in a tornado which devastated
the great bend section of Kansas City
! last night. The roofs were torn otr
i many houses, and others were en
| tirely demolished. while a large
I amount of live stock and domestic
fowd were killed. The property loss
I is estimated at a half million.
I
| The home of Mr. and Mrs. C. P.
I Mickelson was last night a scene of
j great festivity. The friends and as
sociates of Mr. Salyer E. Reed and
Miss Olive Blanche Briggs witnessed
their marriage at 8.30 o’clock. Tl^
rooms having been tastily decorated
land the guests having assembled, the
jceremony solemnized by Rev. E. P.
! Zeigler which was followed by a
isumptous repast, proceeded with all
grace and decorum.
The number of gifts, the attitude of
j those present, the complimentary ex
pressions set forth in the various,
; formal speeches by friends present, to
j the bride and groom, were a great tri
j bute to the popularity and high es
j teem in which they are held.
We do not hestitate to say that
their many friends here in Cordova
join us in best wishes and heartiest
congratulations.
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JArARtot UUTh LLLtbHAIt
CORONATION OF EMPEROR
The Japanese residents of Cordova
last evening fittingly celebrated the
coronation of their new Emperor by
holding appropriate exercises in the
Red Dragon Club House, which was
j tastily decorated with American and
jjapanses flags and bunting. Portraits
of the Emperor and Eempress also
graced the wall, and everything that
was done was commemorative of the
festive occasion in their home coun
! try: a regular service was held and
| speeches made in Japanese relating
i to the importance of the coronation.
Mayor H. A. Slater had been invited
j to attend, but as he had a previous
j important engagement, he asked Geo.
C. Hazelet, president of the ShanVber
of Commerce, to represent him, which
he did in a most fitting speech, re
viewing the wonderful growth of
Japan, and in closing paid a deserved
tribute to the loyal and patriotic
boys who had assembled to do honor
to the ruler of their country. H. G.
Steel, of the Daily Times, rt preseit
ing the press, also mace a few re
marks.
After the exercises a lunch was
served, which included many deli
cious Japanese dishes, which were
thoroughly enjoyed by all present.