THE TORPEDOED PERSIA

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 561, 22 February 1916, Page 2

THE TORPEDOED PERSIA

The torpedoing of this fine P. and O. liner, following as closely as it did on the piratical destruction of the Frencli liner Ville de Ciotat (6.390 tone) and the Japanese Yasaka Mam (10,932 tons) created a profound sensation throughout Great Britain. All were premeditated acts, and, as usual, the doomed vessel's passengers and crew received, no warning whatever. The Persia was sunk at 1 p.m. on December 30, and only four boats escaped. The ill-fated ship left Ticbury Dock, London., on December 18, carrying about 231 passengers. Her crew would number about 300, iucluding a good many Lascars. She was very heavily laden with parcel post and mails, but there >vas very little cargo on board, and no war material. Tlie Persia* called at Gibraltar and Marseilles, where it is probable that some passengers disembarked, but it is believed that other passengers were taken on board. She leftMarseilles or December 26, and arrived at Malta two days later. Other passengers left the ship afc that port, and the same day Ashe left for Port Said. According to information which reached the Admiralty, the Persia- was sunk off Crete. The four boats which got away were picked up by a steamer bound for Alexandria. The communication added : "It is feared the loss of life among the passengers and crew has been heavy." It is believed that at the time of the disaster there were about 500 or more persons aboard the vessel all told. The passenger list includes 86 women and 36 children — a total of 122. Among the women on board were two lady doctors and four nursing sisters. Ea-ofi of the four boats would carry about 60 people when fully loaded. THE PASSENGERS. The names of a considerable number of •naval and military officers appear m the list, including Colonel Lord Montagu. Lord Montagu, of Beaulieu, who was to join the Persia at Marseilles, is well known to the general public for his <rreat interest m motoring. Ho is the elde&t eon of the first Baron Montagu, of Beaulieu, and the Hon. Cscilv Susan Montagu Strart-Wortley. Born m 1866, he married m 1889 the eldest daughter of the 9th Marquis of Lothian, and succeeded his father m 1905. From 1892 to 1905 he was Unionist M.P. for the New Forest Division of Hants. He owns about 10.000 acres, and his heir is his brother, the Hon. R. H. Douglas-Scoft-Montagu. His elder daughter, the Hon. Helen Douglas-Scott-Montagw, created a sensation m 1911 by appearing on the musical comedy stage as " Mjss Ellaine Cecil," one of six dancing eirls m 'Tlie Girl m the Train' at the Vaudeville Theatre. The following is a.- list of the passengers booked, some of whom left the Persia at Gibraltar, while others may have disembarked at Marseilles- — Sister C. Adens, Captain H. L. Ainsworth, Mr J. P. Baehmanh, Mr M. N. Banaji, Miss F. Barratt, Captain M. G. Bean, Mr W. Beer, Mr Behari Lai, Mr P. Behran. Master R. T. Benns, Mrs Benson, Misses Benson (2), Captain E. R. \ Bern-man, Miss I. Bilbv, Miss Birch, Mrs D. Boileau, Miss C. C. Bowden-Smith. Mrs E. Brierley, child and infant, Petty Officer Brown Mr L. J. Brown, Mrs Browne, Miss Bull. Mrs M. Bundy, Mrs R. Burcorr.be, child and infant, Mrs E. I/. Burgess, Mr* G. Burgess, Mrs Burgess, Mr T. Burns. Mrs Burns, Miss G. Busk. Mr T. A. OaTlaw, Mr, E. Cannula, Mrs G Castellan, Mr A. Clark, Mrs H. de B. Codnneton, Mr A. M. Coleman, Mr F. M Coleman, Dv 'Miss) L. Cook, Mr G. M. Cooper, Lieutenant W. C. Cooper. Matter W. Cooper, M aster K.^Cresswell. Miss E. M. Davidson, Major W. O. C. Dawson. Mrs C. Deacon, Mr J. Deßenzy (Auckland), Miss M. R. R. Derogez, Miss A. P. Devonshire, Mr J. B. Dickie, Lieu-tenant-commander W. H. Dickson, Mr 8. M. Dikshit, Mrs Duncan, Mr J. Dyke. Mr W. E. Edgecombe, Mrs Edgecombe. Master Ellicott. Captain E. A. Fell, Lieutenant G. T. Fisher, Miss Fladgate, Mrs H. P. Fletcher. Second-lieutenant J. M. Gardner, Mr L. W. Gascoigne, Mrs P. Gaskell, Madame S. Gaudillon, Miss F. Gibson, Captain J. P. Gilbert, Mrs Gilbert, Mr G. R, Gok-' harker, Lieutenant O. Gough, Mrs C. T. Graham, Rev. A. C. Grant, Mrs Grant, Mr C. H. Grant, Mr A. Graves, Mr P. Gribble, Mrs Gribble. Miss M. L. Hall, Second-lieutenant J. M. Hallett, Miss Halloran, Miss Halpin, Sergeant F. Hancock, Mr R. A. Harkness, Mr Hasluck, Mr R, W. Heans, Major W. Hesketh, Mr A. Hilmy, Mr Gr. Hoggan (Sydney), Mr H. A, Hopkins, Lieutenant-colonel E. A. Howell Mrs E Hoyle and infant, Major G. Hutchison, j Mrs Hutchison, -child, infant, and nurse. Dr (Miss) E. S. Impey, Mrs Innes and two infants. Mrs S. Jarvis, Mr A. H. Johnson, Mr J. R. Jonaja. Staff-sergeant G. H. Kcddy. Mrs Keddy and two children, Mr H. King-, Mrs King Mr E. Knight. . °' 6 " x,r Ml \9* If 1 ' Lieuten ant H. R. Lawrence, Mrs ME. Leather, Miss Lees, Mrs D. Let-ley Mrs M. H. Limonds, Captain J. T. Lodwick Captain A. G. Lyell," Master C. Lyons, Master J. Lyons. Miss G. E. Macdonald, Miss E. Maclean, Mr B. Maffesanti, Miss M. Marker th > p«P fcail * E. W. Marsh, Miss Mason, ¥/* F^ m ? aT \ d infant ' Mr J- M'Hardy, Mr A. M'Leod, Mr R. M'Neeley, Sublieutenant Merton, Mrs J. A. Minnitt and infant, Miss E. F. M. Mitchell, Sister M. J. Molhout, Colonel Lord Montague, Master A. Montgomery. Mrs Negus, three children, and infant, Captain J. J. Nelson, Colonel Nethersole, Miss A. Nicholle. ™ Ma -i°, r £' M ' O'Reilly, Mrs O'Reilly, Miss H. Ormrod, Mr H. W. Orr Orr Mrs H. Page, Mr G. B. Papasian, Mrs D. Paul], Lieutenant A. F. Pegg Mr S Peterson, C. E. F. . F. Pickard, Mr N. S. Pudumjee, Mr J. .Purchase. Mrs W. F. Quinnell and' infant, Miss Quinnell, Mr Quinnell, jun., Master Quinnell. Mr S. Ram, Sister M. Raulin, Mr W. H. Rigg, Lieutenant J. A. Robertson, hecond-heutenant W. A. Robertson, Mrs D. M. Robinson, Lieutenant A. T. Rocli, Mr E. Rose, Mrs Ross and infant, Mr 'h £* S 0 xb vr gh. Mr Russ, Mrs Russ, Mr R. V. Russell, Mr F. -Russi. Mr J. N Sahai, Mr H. R. Salisbury, fcister S. Scholer, Second-lieutenant C W Scott, Mr T. M. Scrini, Mrs Scrini! P. R. Settle, Mrs Shanks, Mr V. G. Slnlston, Mrs Sbilsfcon, Mr B M Singh, Mr B P. Singh, Miss E. Smith, Lieutenant H. Smith, Mr M. Smith, Mrs Smith, Mrs M.. E. Smith, Mr William Smith, Mr W. -E. Smith, Mrs H. A. Smyth Lieutenant A. F. Spreckley, Mrs bpreckley and infant, Mrs K. Stoehr, Colonel E. R. Swinfey. «r MrS m, F - ThoI ?* as and child, Mr L. E. W. Thorston, Second -lieutenant R. A. Tibbs, Mrs EM Tidgett ' and. child, Captain J. E Torkingfcon, Mrs Tresham and infant, Mr R. Q. Turner. Mrs W. Walland, Mr- R. Waller, Mr R. Warmer, Miss M. Wesley, Miss S. H. White. — Officers and Crew. — The following is a list of the European members of the crew : — Commander W. H. S. Hall, R.N.R., Chief Officer G. Clark, Second Officer H.

G. S. Wood, Third Officer S. W. Boyd, Fourth Officer H. R. Parton; W. Everett, surgeon; G. Herbert, carpenter; C. W. - Anderson, boatswain ; G. Birchley, A.8. ; E. Price, A.8.: H. Doughton, A.8.; C. Petts; R. Reilly, A.8. ; P. Graham, A.8. ; D. A. Wilson, A.B. j J. Pinner, baggage master ; J. D. Thomas, joiner; A. Scrivener, A.8.; A. White, A.8. ; W. Allen, A.8. ; G. H. Dewey, Marconi operator; Chief Engineer E. Jeffrey, Second Engineer H. E. Eves, Third Engineer W. J. Hickingbotham, J. F. Ireland, supy. third engineer; E. Bellinger, electrician; W. M. Robertson, boilermaker ; R. W. Allen, refrigerator mechanic; E. Smith, hydraulic winchman; V. G. Berry, assistant engineer; T. W. Hazlewood, assistant engineer; H. E. Turnei, supy. second engineer: H. G. Matthew, assistant engineer; W. H. F. Mollon, supy. assistant engineer; F. Herbert, steward-in-charge; D. Coughlan, head steward; R. E. Perry, barman; H. Darlington, storekeeper; W. Preece, linen storekeeper; A. J. Butler, chef; J. Chant, baker ; R. Wells, assistant baker ; A. Burfoot, butcher; W. Dowling, head saloon waiter; W. Turk, second waiter; F. Fairchild, baggage steward; F. Clark, writer; F. Caulfield, printer; Miss C. Leishman, stewardess, Miss K. Gent, stewardess ; Miss M. Pennington, stewardess; Miss N. Stubbington, stewardess; Miss M. Bruce, stewardess; L. Henri, barber; J. Bengc, second saloon steward; G. "Walton, second saloon chef; F. Sargeant, second saloon barman ; F. Godfrey, cabin steward; W. Carrick, cabin steward; J. Lampon, cabin steward; J. J. Perry, cabin steward; F. Brown, cabin steward; F. Gasper, cabin steward; E. Cook, cabin steward ; C. Flim, cabin steward ; G. Stevens, cabin steward; F. Stevenson, general servant; C. R. Nelson, deck steward; A. E. Preston, G.S. ; W. Rocket, G.S. ; J. J. Alccck, G.S. ; W. Stabler, JG.S.; E Martin, G.S.; E. Perrin, G.S. ; Miss J. Coster, stewardess; F. A. Cotterell, G.S. and writer; A. F. Wall and L. V. Jones, G.S. ; J. Pinchen, deck steward. — Personalia. — Among the ladies w r hose names appear m the passenger list was Miss G. E. Macdonald, whose marriage was to have taken place early m January m Bombay to Mr Rowland Hatt-Cook, Public Works Department ; and Miss Gladys Enid, only daughter of the Rev. J. M. Macdonald, late H.M. senior chaplain, India. Another passenger was Captain A. G. Lyell, wh«>se parents reside at Putney. His engagement to Miss Dorothy Foy, the daughter of the Rev. C. B. Foy, vicar of St. Mary's, West Kensington, had just been announced. Mrs Tresham was the wife of Lieutenant Tresham, Indian Gun Section m East Africa, and daughter of Major Burch, Poppleton road, Leytonstone. Two Americans lost their lives. These were Mr Robert M'Neely, U.S. Consul at Aden, who was returning to duty, and Mr Chas. H. Grant, a salesman. — The Lost Liner. — The Persia was of 7,974 tons gross, built by Caird and Co., Greenock, m 1900. She had engines developing 11,000 indicated horse-power, and giving her a speed of 18 knots. Her length was 499 ft, and breadth 54ft. She gave her name to a type of mail steamers m the P. and 0. service. There' were five of them — the Persia, China, Egypt, India, and Arabia — all of about 7,900 tons, and all built between 1897 and 1900. The Persia was the third of these vessels to meet with disaster. The China was wrecked off Aden, while the India finished her career as an auxiliary cruiser during the present war. Before the appearance of the celebrated eight vessels of the "M" class — because their names, like Moldavia, Morea, Mantua, etc., all began with that letter — the Persia class were the largest of the P. and O. mail steamers. They have been generally employed m the Bombay mail service, though the Persia had several times been taken off that service to make voyages to Australia. Before the war the service to Bombay was a weekly one, passengers on alternate weeks travelling to Aden by the Australian boats, and transhipping there to the Sajsette, which conveyed them to Bombay, i The Persia, however, was ona of the through boats which made the voyage direct from London to Bombay. The most notable event m the history of the Persia was her grounding, m July, 1912, off Cape Couronhe, just outside Marseilles. She struck on a shingly sandbank about 150 ft from the shore, but luckily suffered no serious injury. After being lightened she got off, and was able to continue her voyage to Bombay. Since the war the P. and O. Line has, of course, been largely employed on Government work, and event-; m the Far East and Egypt have had a large influence on the company's service. Over 50 per cent, of their steamers are m Government service to-day.