(S25 woop, VALLANCE & co.” . HAMILTON, ONTARIO of the Ihave no doubt but you will have full repor Lusitania vefore thie reaches you. It in certain thet the circum- stances of each individual are different so that apparently conflict- ing stories may be true. I was stretohed ont on a couch in the Lounge. The impact wis anffietent to make the ship tremble and the listing so quick that I had to get ‘dp by grenping the arme of chaira and tedles. The room was full, the most of the inmates throw: down or stumbling to the low aide or starboard, getting oute I concluded that the damage was too severe to be overcome so concluded not to attempt to go to ny room for either belt or anything else so went through what roome I could | looking for a belt. I finally got upper side. The ship righted slightly. There was no definite attempt Wt wee to lower boats, in fact I wae endeavoring to help when stopped by an e and then made for the port or Officers At this time possibly a gouple of Cozen men jumped. One boat was lowered which opened up at the ficw another collepeible was pushed over. It sank ag there was no plug in it. Another was lowered and cot 4 sailor neer urged the poople tp fj tb; wot The ship had taken so decided « list that the side was about the save the top deck. ‘The boats which had been wang out ready to 4rop, swung back and crushed a number of people against the saloon, then 11 @rawn down with hers I 8 - I had just atepped clear, that is over the angle the ship suddenly dived down and we vere being @ fairly good swimmer was not afraid but thought that I would“ pmancnes ee ESTABLISHED 1049 ‘Toronto Orrice, woenvauence ume WOOD, VALLANCE & CO., Woo, VALLanee & Lesent, mere, WHOLESALE jancouven B.C. woos, vaLiance Hanowane EO sire, HARDWARE MERCHANTS, woos, VALLANCE @ AoA, ces HAMILTON, ONTARIO ae never get up, have no ides of how far down we went but upon getting up saw two or three small boats and waving arms. 1 then looked around for something to cling to, got an oar then a small block of wood, then a plank. ‘This was big enough gor me to straddle so I quiet- ly rested until I had regained some atrength. Somehow I had got a long wey from the smell boats and caw a box with a boy in, possibay 16 years of age, and commenced to work towards it when I was ‘pumped into by a man osrrying a child. These I gave my board to - shortly after another young man came along dn some wreckage and we then finally, atter perhaps an hour, got to the vex. 1 get one ond, the saéhewd boy got the other, the man and child with me at either side, oar statay got the child on tope This box would probably be 6 ft. long by 2b aquare. There were of course plenty of dead bodies bumping into us all the time but no signs of any boats near but by some lack of judge- ment or ome desire to try to clanber into this vox 1t started rolling. he boy at the other end and myself kept the others for quite « long time by replacing their hands on the edge, but becoming exhausted the nan with the child finally slipped eway. The other man, who by some means had got a firm grip, went around several times, we slwaye trying to steady the thing with the mouth up 90 that we could get the 148 ed, oo have more surface in the water, but this man in taking another turn sino @leappeared, 90 that the boy ant I were left. Pebling myself getting exhausted I urged the boy into the box, got the 11d opened out flat in the water then I got him to give me his hand so got up onto ny stomach across the end, when I balanced myself and got refreshESTABLISHED 1040 | BRANCHES: WOOD, VALLANCE & CO., WHOLESALE, HAROWARE MERCHANTS, Se HAMILTON, ONTARIO we were up and down several times as, sltoughS it was calm, it was not calm as our Surlington Bay, and a slight wave would come along sufficiently strong $o set our box rolling. ‘Ther it was a struggle to got it righted ‘ana the 144 opened. However, I was considering it was about the finish, also ny friends eyes said distinctly that a very Little nore and I will be in control and you will be gone. when he commenced to shout, he was agile enough to clamber up and got his legs into the box and helped ne up onto my stomach several @imen. Kowever, he kept shouting and waving his arms, then called to me to shout that there was s boat coming our way. I got a renewed xtxengt sense of strength then, and after considerable tiwe felt myself being thumped and Fubbed as apparently 1 had not quite lasted out. Anyway a I was able to look around there wore at least nt Gireotions. Pheiz smoke was all eight steamers coming from aif: that we could I had been pulled into a collapsible by some sailors ngers. There were possibly a dozen women and about the same and pai number of men and I think thie was the last boat around. I sav no others. This boat, ao most of the ones G14 which hed been mpage} useful, float tr and piekes up whom they could but we were not half fillet. It required the deok as the ship went down, was got by some of the men, righted the most of the saved to keep the others alive. Some of the women were being forced a11 the time, by slapping and rubbing. If they were left for a minute they seemed to stiffen right out. However, shortly one of mine the large steamers got alongside and we were transferred. It was sweeper, Gare and cold,And now after five o'clock, I had for sonetine‘uiay noner vo cnanae mwowt nonce ESTABLISHED 1049 Toronto orrice, cccuee, WOOD, VALLANCE & CO., Woop, Vauuaner a LageAt, mime, WHOLESALE Wooo, Vatuance Hanowand C0. re. HAROWARE MERCHANTS, woo vague 8 Aone zie: HAMILTON, ONTARIO anne Acre moe Deen unable to stop twombling, felt terribly cold. Yas helped down into the engine room, then they took off my shoes and cooks, cost, vest and trousers and outer shirt, hung these up to try and put me in 0 hot corner. Very curdously I was covered by « cont of black tar, my heir, finger nails, ears, eyes and nostrils, even ny toe nailo, cant imagine where 1t came from unless it was ofl and conl which rose to the top of the water but I have been stendily scrubbing and fo not yet feel clean. We steamed to queenstown where we arrived sometime after nines There had been several died after rescue. These wore taken ashore first. I was helped up the gangway, asked my name, and e man assigned to help me to a hotel. I think I wa « litt stupid at this time as I recall the great crowds helé back on either side by Nilitery and Police, and they were cheering and clapping hands, vut 1 really could not make my lege work but getting to the hotel I was gi brandy, then put to bed detween hot blankets, could not sleep but the hotel people and Doctor were exceecingly thoughtful and kind, took away 11 ny clothes to give them a thorough drying, offered me food and hot drinks repeatedly all night. ell in the morning I was pretty well, slipped into the first shop, got a shirt, collar and cap, had breakfast, then tried to find out who were saved. I played cards with three of Zaton's men whom I knew very well and haé crossed with repeatedly. In fact every day we four played deck quoits, shuffle board or something, nice fellows 11 much younger than me, but they hi not yet been heard of so I expect they are all lost. Mr. and Mra. Young I conversed with frequently, havece ‘rts aonnr to cnen ormoet momen, ESTABLISHED 1000 ‘Toronto orrice, acer ss sr WOOD, VALLANCE & CO., ‘winnirea, Mas WHOLESALE, HARDWARE MERCHANTS, HAMILTON, ONTARIC o. pie heara or seen nothing of them or of Strauss of Coppley, Noyes & Randall. In fact I never renomber conversing with 20 many people whom I knew, but there are very few of them saved. 1 cannot understand how s0 many were saved as I believe about one third of the total have beens I am sure that not more than 26% had belts or had time to got them. I figure that we were struck say 10 to 15 minutes after two, went down in 15 to 20 min, and I was in the water say 2} to 2) hours. I gnve my Doctor several addressed to wire to a9 soon as I could say 1ten ovlock or half past. He sent these messages and I do not know yhet he gaid but I hope it vas early enough to save your feelinges To swbiefy myself about my friends I went through 011 the morgues, there were four of then, possibly 160 dead. The police were coing through their pockets Tooking for Adentification marke of some Kind and collecting their Jewellry. This was 011 in a little heap on eck body. I goulé see no face whom I knew but lots of very painful sights. I was still shivering so nade up ny mind to get right away, 90 took the first train to Dublin. This turned ont to be a mistake the crew of all kinds were placed in this train. te went to Dublin, put aboard at 6.30 ® boat for Holyhead, then a train to Liverpool where we arzi' Sunday morning. The station was packed with people, friends of the crew, so that the exoitement of looking for their Srieng, ths Learning of their than I Denaned- there kine crew poor women, many with babies being missed, ceused a not painful see: were lergely from tiverpool, tots of th: in their arms, were screaming terribly. I got away and got my train at 7.80 after four cups of good hot coffee but I could not face any foods45 bee cen WOOD, VALLANCE & GO., “ae HAMILTON, ONTARIO Arriving at Huntersfield about 12 and went directly to my friends, Spur, he put me into @ steaming bath and kept me there. I then found out that the inside of my legs were very much discolores, a11 iknkex black and bl 2 few gouges in the flesh which had to be bound up. My hands were elso = little torn, 1 am still wearing spur's clothing. I feel stiff yet but have gotten over the shivering and really feel pretty goods