BX September 8, 1915

Sergeant James Turner of the Dufferin Rifles yesterday received a cablegram that his wife and two little children who were passengers on the Liner Hesperian, torpedoed and sunk by the Germans, had been landed safely at Queenstown Ireland.

Mrs. Turner and the children were making their first trip to Canada, Sergt. Turner having sent for them to make their home in this city. Sergt. Turner is employed at the Verity Plow Works.

BX October 1, 1915

Survivors of S.S. Hesperian, Sunk by a German Submarine Have Reached Their Home – Mrs. James Turner Was Thrown Into the Atlantic, Separated From Her Two Children, Exposed in an Open Boat, and Then Rescued by a British Man-o’-War, When the Great Atlantic Liner Was Torpedoed Children Were Saved Also But All Possessions Were Lost

Struggling in the cold waters of the Atlantic ocean for half an hour, separated from two of her children for several hours, exposed in an open boat in wet clothing for over three hours and finally rescued by a British man-of-war – these were a few of the harrowing experiences which Mrs. James Turner suffered after a German submarine sent its deadly missile into the bow of the S.S. Hesperian several weeks ago. Mrs. Turner, whose husband is employed in the checking department of the Verity Plow Company, was proceeding to Canada with her three small children, whose ages range from four to ten years, when by one fell stroke, panic and fright were flung into the passengers and some of the crew of the Hesperian, causing the loss of several lives and the sinking after 30 hours of the great ocean liner.

Household Goods Lost

Mrs. Turner, who is a woman of middle age, set out from her home near Manchester to join her husband in Brantford, here to take up residence permanently. She brought with her the nucleus of a happy home, not only in the members of her family, but also in goods and chattels. Five pieces of baggage and all of her worldly goods, with the exception of the meager clothing which she still had on her body, were lost with the boat.

Mrs. Turner is now residing at the home of Mrs. Thompson, on Sterling Avenue, in the Holmedale, and though bereft of many of her possessions, is happy in the fact that she and her three precious little ones have been spared to join her husband in Canada.

In talking to The Expositor this morning Mrs. Turner vividly described the story of her experiences as well as she could remember, pointing out that in the mad excitement which followed the report of the explosion of the torpedo, she could scarcely recall just what happened.

Having felt the effects of the rolling of the boat, Mrs. Turner and her three children decided to retire to their bunks early in the evening. Shortly after 8 o’clock the little tots had been tucked carefully into their cots, and Mrs. Turner was preparing to retire also, when a deafening, sickly explosion was heard, causing the great limber to shudder, plunge and steady itself again. In a second the three children were out of their berths, and the mother and her tiny flock were clambering through the aisles onto the deck. Many of the women, said Mrs. Turner, were hysterical and for a few moments a real panic threatened to burst out among the third-class passengers. Boats were quickly lowered and with little order they were filled and lowered to the water. Women and children were hustled into the boats, and many of the little ones were separated from their parents. The two youngest of Mrs. Turner’s children, aged four and seven years, were separated and placed in the arms of women or men in different boats.

In being lowered to the water; the ropes holding one end of the lifeboat caught in the tackle, the other and reaching the water’s edge first, and the boat being held partly in mid-air and partly in the water in an upright position. Mrs. Turner and most of the occupants were thrown into the water, some of the unfortunate victims being thrown to a watery grave. Mrs. Turner was forced to hold on at death’s grip to the side of a boat for one-half hour before assistance came to her and she was drawn into another boat. Her little daughter, who had got into the same lifeboat, which had met with the mishap, was caught among the oars and did not fall into the water, she being later rescued from her perilous position by a wounded Canadian soldier who was among the survivors.

It was a calm, clear moonlight night, and the black silhouette of the Hesperian could be seen by the occupants of the puny lifeboats which dotted the waters around the ill-fated ship. In the distance, the lights of a British warship could be distinguished, the latter appearing, however, at great distance. Many of the cold and shivering survivors wanted to return to the Hesperian; since it seemed possible the boat would not sink for some time, if at all. However, the officers insisted that the lifeboats make their way towards the lights of the warship and after three hours and a half during which time the passengers who had been saved were clothed in scanty apparel and were exposed to the cool evening breezes, the survivors were being carefully taken care of on board H.M.S. ----, a cruiser doing patrol duty. Hot drinks, blankets and a warm fire were in readiness for the unfortunate passengers of the Hesperian, and to the delight of Mrs. Turner she found that her two youngest children, who had been placed on different lifeboats, had also been picked up by the warship.

At this juncture, Mrs. Turner, with tears creeping into her eyes, related a few of the sad sights she had seen on leaving the boats. One lady had been crushed against the side of the Hesperian by one of the lifeboats, and had met her death. Another passenger, a soldier, had met a similar fate, he being jammed between two of the boats, while several little children had been seen floating in the water with no one able to rescue them from a cold watery grave.

Landed At Queenstown

From the scene of the terrible disaster, the British cruiser carried its precious cargo of human lives in a round-about course to Queenstown, where Red Cross nurses were waiting to render every possible assistance. One of Mrs. Turner’s children had had the end of a finger crushed between the lifeboats, and her injuries were attended to. The survivors were also allowed to send cablegrams free of charge to their friends, acquainting them with the good news of their safety. From Queenstown the journey was continued to Dublin, where after a short stay the Irish Sea was crossed to Holyhead, whence the trip to Liverpool was made by rail. After a few days in Liverpool, where tickets were furnished to the survivors and where on arrival they were greeted with cheers from hundreds of sympathetic spectators, embarkation was made on the Allan Liner Corsican and the return trip completed to Montreal without incident, Mrs. Turner and her flock reaching Brantford last week.

When asked by The Expositor if the liner had taken precautions against attack by submarines, Mrs. Turner declared that she personally had seen a gun, mounted on the ship’s deck, despite the fact that its presence had been denied by officials. Mrs. Turner also stated that the windows and port-holes had not been blanketed to conceal the presence of the ship, and this, in addition to the fact that it was a clear and moonlight night, probably accounted for the accuracy with which the German submarine officers were enabled to direct their destructive missile.

In connection with the above Rev. H.C. Light, rector of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, and who resides at 305 West Mill Street, has written to The Expositor, and a portion of his letter, which is self-explanatory, is appended.

Although, by God’s good Providence, their lives were saved, yet they suffered the loss of all their clothing and household linen, etc. Now, many of our citizens have helped, and rightly so, the Belgian sufferers because they were innocent victims of German deviltry, I feel that these people who have landed at our doors are just as much innocent sufferers at the hands of the same merciless barbarians.

If any of your readers would be willing to help in the case I have mentioned I shall be glad to receive any subscriptions, however small, and will see that suitable goods are purchased for our new citizens. If any would prefer to give gifts of clothing, material, etc., would they kindly phone (2142), or write to Mrs. Light at the above address and arrangements could be made for collecting any parcels.

Whatever success attends this appeal will be made known to your readers and individual receipts sent to all subscribers. 

Yours faithfully,

Henry C. Light
St. Paul’s, Brantford