On February 10 1914 my
Cousin Frank Easley and his wife Elizabeth left Bermuda on the SS Arcadian and
arrived in New York 2 days later.
The Arcadian was built in
1899 and christened the SS Ortona. She launched July 10 1899 and was built as a
passenger liner for travel to Australia. She could carry 620 passengers.
In
December of 1902 she was used to carry troops back to England after the Second
Boer War. On September 21 1910 after being sold and re-serviced she was renamed
the SS Arcadian. She embarked on her first world cruise in January of 1912 as
the world’s largest dedicated cruise ship.
In 1915, near the
beginning of World War I the SS Arcadian was converted to an armed merchant
cruiser by the British Admiralty. As the war continued she was put into service
as a troop carrier ship in the Mediterranean. On April 15 1917 with 1335 troops
and crew members on board the Arcadian was hit by a torpedo from a German
submarine known as SM UC-74. She sank in 6 minutes with a loss of 279 lives. Most were kitchen staff and stokers who were working below decks at the time.
Yes, that actually is her sinking. If you look closely those are men hanging on to ropes and scrambling down her sides.
I have included the story of events as told by
Trooper Reginald C. Huggins. http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htm
Dining Salon Arcadian 1913
On January 29 1914 Cousin
Frank had married Elizabeth Tyler. They had gone to Bermuda on their Honeymoon.
The Arcadian which was marketed as the most palatial liner ever in the Bermuda
service, made this trip along with a sister ship called the Tagus every week.
Frank worked for the American
Smelting and Refining Company which would later go on to have a very gruesome tale
of its own.
Because this is a
pet-peeve of mine I must share that the people that just named their new baby
Madison Lane just named their baby Son of Maud’s Road. Pay attention people!!!!!
Maybe tomorrow I will share
my shark attack theory.
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