The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post. [volume], March 30, 1917, Page 4, Image 4

About The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post. [volume] (Seward, Alaska) 1917-1918

Image provided by: Alaska State Library Historical Collections

                
r
American Newspaper Man Describes
in 4 parts Sinking of Laconia by Sub PART FOUR I
i
An American newspaperman,
Floyd P. Gibbons, was the first cor
respondent to experience the crash of
war as the result of the submarine
blockade. He was a passenger aboard
the Cunard liner Laconia when it was
torpedoed, resulting in the death of
several Americans, and his story of
the rush for the boats is intense and
thrilliug. It will be printed in four
parts.
PART FOUR
A score of hands reached out, and
we were suspended in the husky, tat
tooed arms of those doughty British
jack-tars, looking up into the weath
er-beaten, youthful faces, mumbling
thanks and thankfulness, and reading
in the gold lettering on their pancake
hats the legend “H.M.S. Laburnum.”
We had been six hours in the open
boats, all of which began coming'
alongside one after another. Wet and
bedraggled survivors were lifted
aboard. Women and children first,
was the rule.
Reunion
The scenes of reunion were heart -
gripping. Men who had remained
strangers to one another aboard the
Laconia wrung each other by the
hand, or embraced without shame.
The frail, little wife of a Canadian
Compare the Cost
Count the Saving
Crescent
Baking
Powder
U used by countless housewives who
have determined that they must have
the best at the lowest cost. C rescent
is a perfect leavener, its price is
reasonable.
AT ALL GROCERS
2.>c per Pound
C RESC ENT MEG. CO.
Seattle Washington
HALLETT & SCOTT
MILLINERY
DRY GOODS
; chaplain, who had found one of her
missing children, delivered up from
l another boat, smothered the child with
i ravenous mother-kisses, while tears
! of joy streamed down her face.
Boat after boat came alongside.
The water-logged craft containing
the captain came last. A rousing
cheer went up as he landed his feet
on the deck, one mangled hand hang
ing limp at his side.
The jack tars divested themselves
of outer clothing and passed the gar
ments over to the shivering members
f' *
of the Laconia’s crew.
The little officers' quarters under
the quarterdeck were turned over to
the women and children. Two of the
Laconia’ stewardesses passed boiling
basins of navy cocoa and aided in the
disentanglement of wetted tresses.
The men grouped themselves near
steam pipes in the petty officers’
quarters or the gratings of the en
gine-rooms, where new life was to be
had from the upward blasts of heated
air that brought with them the smel!
of bilge water and oil and sulphur
from the bowels of the vessel.
The Injured
The injured—all minor cases,!
sprained back, wrenched legs, or;
mashed hands—were put away in
i
bunks under the care of the ship sj
doctor.
i
Dawn was melting the eastern
ocean gray to pink when the task was !
finished.
In the officers’ quarters, now in-j
vaded by the men, somebody happen-j
ed to touch a key on the small wooden
organ, and this was enough to send i
some callous seafaring fingers over'
the keys in a rhythm unquestionably!
religious and so irresistible under
the circumstances that, although no
one knew the words the air was taken
up in a serious humming chant by all \
in the room.
At the last note of amen, little
i Father Wareing, his black garb snag
»
gled in places and badly soiled, stood
before the center table and lifted his
head back until the morning light
filtering through the open hatch above
him, shone down on his kindly, weary
face. He recited the lord’s prayer, j
an dall present joined the simple, im- ]
pressive service, ended as simply as I
it had begun.
Two minutes later I saw the old
Gcrman-Jew traveling niAn limping
about on one lame leg with a little
boy in his arms, collecting big, round
British pennies for the youngster.
Survey
i
A survey ami cruise of the nearby |
area revealed no more occupied boats,
1 and the mine sweeper, with its load of
survivors, numbering 267, steamed
away to the east. A half an hour's
steaming and the vessel stopped with
in hailing distance of two sister ships,
(towards one of which an open boat,
manned by jackies, was pulled from
the bridge of the Laburnum.
I saw the hysterical French-Polish
actress, her hair w*et and bedraggled,
j lifted out of the boat and handed up
the companionway. Then a little boy,
his fresh, pink face and golden hair
shining in the morning light, was
A GREAT BARGAIN
Rooming House for Sale;
Clearing $300 per month
llllllllllfllllllllllllli Terms miiiitiiitfttintmn
DOUGHERTY & ROMIG
AUGUSTINE & KYER CANDIES
A fresh supply arrived on last boat, also a big shipment of
EL FIRMA CIGARS
Clear Havana. Special attention given mail and phone orders.
SEWARD DRUG COMPANY
passed upward, followed by some
other survivors, numbering fourteen
in all, who had been found half
drowned and almost dead from ex
posure in a parti ally-wrecked boat
that was just sinking. This was the
boat in which Mrs* Hoy and her
daughter lost their lives, and in which
Cedric P. Ivatt of New York, who was
the manager of the act’-ess, died. It
has not been ascertained here whether
Mr. Ivatt was an American citizen or
a British subject.
One of the survivors of this boat
was Able-bodied Seaman Waller, who
was transferred to the laburnum.
Boat Smashed
“Our boat—No. 8—was smashed in
lowering," he said. “I was in the
bow, Mrs. Hoy and her daughter were
sitting toward the stem. The boat
filled with water rapidly. It was no
use trying to bail it out—there was a
big hole in the side and it came in too
fast. It just sunk to the water’s edge
and only stayed up on account of the
tanks in it. It wus completely awash.
Every swell rode clear over us and
we had to hold our breath until we
came to the surface again. The cold
water just takes the strength out of
you.
“The women got weaker and weak
er, then a wave came and washed both
of them out of the boat. There were
life belts on their bodies and they
floated away, but I believe they were
dead before they were washed over
board."
With such stories ringing in our
ears* with exchanges of experiences
pathetic and humorous, we came
steaming into Queenstown harbor
shortly after 10 o’clock at night. We
pulled up at the dock lined with am
bulances and khaki-clad men, who
directed the survivors to the various
hotels about the town, where they are
being quartered.
The question being asked of us
Americans on all sides is: “Is it the
cavsus belli?"
American Consul Wesley Frost is
forwarding all information to Wash
ington with a speed and carefulness
resulting from the experience in han
dling twenty-five previous submarine
NOTICE OF ELECTION
Notice is hereby given that on the
3rd day of April, 1917, there will be
held in the Town Hall in the Town of
Seward, an election for the purpose of
choosing City officials.
The polls will be opened at eight
o'clock, a. m. on that day, and will
close at 7 o'clock p. m. on the same
day, and all qualified electors of the
Town of Seward who have registered,
as in this ordinance provided, will be
entitled to vote at said election.
Dated at Seward, Alaska, March
1st, 1917.
0. H. POEHLMANN,
Municipal Clerk.
March 1, 8, 15^ 22, 29. J
| disasters in which the United States
has had an interest, especially in the
survivors landed at this port.
His best figures on the Laconia
sinking are: Total survivors landed
here, 2G7; landed at Bantry, 14; to
tal on board, 294; missing, 13.
The latest information from Ban
try, the only other port at which sur
vivors are known to have been land
ed, confirms the report of the death
of Mrs. Hoy and her daughter.
— ■
I am leaving on the Alameda on
business. All parties owing me,
please call and settle before tho Ala- j
meda arrives.—Mrs. Jessie Ellsworth.
We carry Symphony Iiawn Station
ary the Seward Drug Company.
FORFEITURE—NOTICE ;
To M. IMHOFF, C. J. IMHOFF, A.;
M. IMHOFF, HARRY V. MILLER, H.
D. THIELE, ESTATE OF H. D. I
THIELE, Deceased, and AUGUST
MELHORN, your respective heirs and
assigns:
You are hereby notified and will
take notice that we, the subscribers, i
H. P. Salisbury and A. A. Hein, have
expended, during the year 1914, the
sum of Three thousand, forty-six dol
lars and twenty ($3,046.20) cents,
during tho year 1915, the sum of
Six hundred ($600.00) dollars, during
the year 1916, the sum of Two thou
sand, five hundred and sixteen dollars
and seventy (2,516.70) cents in labor
and improvements upon each of the
following described mining claims, to
wit: OPHIR QUARTZ MINING
CLAIM, COLUMBIA QUARTZ MIN
ING CLAIM, BESSY PLACER MIN- i
ING CLAIM, MILL SITE and WA
TER SITE OR LOCATION, all of:
which said claims are situated and lie;
in the Moose Pass Mining District,
Kenai Recording District, Third Ju-!
dicial Division, Territory of Alaska,
The notices of location thereof are of,
record in the office of the United:
States Commissioner and District Re- j
corder for Kenai Recording Precinct
and District, at the Town of Seward,
Territtory of Alaska, to which office
reference is hereby made for a more
particular description of said mining
properties. Said expenditures were |
made for the purpose of holding pos
sessory rights and title to said min
ing claims under the provisions of
section twenty- three hundred and,
twenty-four of the Revised Statutes
of the United States and the amend
ments thereto, section one hundred;
and thiry-six of the Compiled Laws of j
Alaska, 1913, and the Session Laws of
the Territory of Alaska, providing for
the annual labor upon mining claims.
If you fail and refuse or fail or re
fuse within ninety (90) days from the
personal service of this notice, if per
sonal service be had, or within ninety,'
(90) days after the publication of this
notice, to contribute your proportion
of such expenditure as a co-owner,
your respcctice interest in and to said
mining claims, and each and every!
one of them, will become the property
of the subscribers, who are your co
owners, and who have made the ex
penditures and improvements as
above-mentioned on said mining
claims, and each and every one of|
them, pursuant to the provisions of j
the said statute, Compiled Laws and;
Sessions Laws.
A. A. HEIN
H. P. SALISBURY.
First publication, March 21, 1917.
Last publication, May 23, 1917.
I
>
with friends and the folks at home by
sending them
I
THE ALASKA
# I
Subscription price $8 per year in
advance. Subscribe now.
The choice news of the week is assembled for The
Alaska Weekly Post, making it a most desirable
publication fo rthose outside, who wish to keep in
touch with Territorial affairs.
I
Ladies’ and gents’ clothes cleaned
And pressed and repaired; next to Al
aska S. S. office. tf
Andy’s express, phone Madison 143.
The KEY
HOT and COLD
DRINKS
—at—
The KEY
PHONE MATHISON 115
HENRY FATHERS
KXCLUSIVK
Paint and Wall Paper Store
Ploturo Framing. Painting.'Tinting
and Paper hanging
Broadway Bakery and Coffee House
Open From 6 A. M. to 12 P. M.
Cakes, Pies, Cookies, Doughnuts
and the Best Coffee in the City.
D. C. BRYANT
Taxidermist - Tanner - Rugmaker
25 years practical experience
Animals, Heads, Birds, Fish set up
••auiraiiy and artistically
21.12 Westlake Ave. Seattle
PIONEER
HOTEL
F. B. CANNON. Prop.
Headquarters foi the
Prospector, Miner and
Farmer
KNIK • . • ALASKA
For a Good Haircut go to
JUNTE
Broadway Near Adara*
TRADE AT
The BAZAAR
5c to 25c Variety Store”
and over
Almost Seattle Prices
We Have
Hardy Northern Grown
Especially Adapted for
Alaska
Send for free catalog
SEATTLE SEED CO.
Dealers in seeds, poultry and
stork foods, fertilizers, etc.
. SEATTLE WASH.
DOUGHERTY & ROMIG
REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Houses for Rent Rents Collected
Lots for Sale Large Listing
Phone Red 147 Seward. Alaska
MILE 40 KOADHOliSE
G. W. ADAMS, Proprietor
Dog Mushers Made Comfortable
Ail freight and express forwarded
from end of steel.
Hotel Seward
Zbindeji Bros. Prop. *
Comfort and Hospitality at
Moderate Cost.
>11 Third A\<* Seattle Ml i**h.
ANTON JOHANSEN
Seldovia, Alaska
F'irst-class merchandise at rea
sonable prices, prompt service.
Courtesey Food Service
PACIFIC STEAMSHIP CO.
THE ADMIRAL LINE
I Admiral Evans, March 2d.
SAILINGS j Admiral Farragut, April 1.
FROM SEATTLE: ) Admiral Watson, April 9.
^ All boats go to Anchorage.
Admiral Evans sailing March 2C>, goes to Kodiak.
Through Tickets to Eastern Points at Reduced Rates.
All Boats go to Anchorage.
?or full information on sailings from Seattle to San Francisco, ad
dress Wayne Blue, Agent, Seward, Alaska.
HOTEL OVERLAND
E. L. WHITTEMORB}, Proprietor
Headquarters for Mining Men
SEWARD, - - • ALASKA
#
H. V. Horen A. F. Davis
ALASKA TRANSFER
H. V. HO BEN, Manager
Coal, Wood and Ice
General Transferring. Phones, Main IT and 41
_4
The Seward News Company
GEORGE PHELPS
Booksellers, Newsdealers and Stationers
CAPE-ROOMS
Pool and Billiards
li PALACE
Sherman Haynes
Proprietor
Best Liquors and Cigars
Lunch Counter In Connection