Show American Survivor of Persia Describes Describes' Sinking g of Liner ALEXANDRIA Egypt Jan 4 via Charles London London Charles Grant of Boston oston one of the two wo Americans known to lo have been on board the British steamer Persia when she was torpedoed in the Mediterranean last Thursday has arrived in Alexandria Grant so far as is known is the tile only American from whom can come the story of the Persia's sinking He gave to the Associated d Press today the most detailed account yet received of the tile disaster I was in the dining saloon of the Pe Persia sia at 1 05 p. p m. m he said I had just finished my soup and the steward was asking what I would take for my second course when a terrific explosion oc oc- oc- oc The saloon became filled with t Smoke moke broken glass and steam from the boiler which appeared to have burst There was no panic on board We went on deck as though we were at drillI drill and reported at the lifeboats on I the starboard side as the vessel had listed to port I clung to the railing The last thing done was to tie on Captain life life- belt As the vessel was then listing list list- lug ing so badly that it w was s impossible impossible sible to launch the starboard boats I slid down the starboard rail into the tho water I got caught in in a rope which pulled off a a. a shoe but I broke loose and climbed oh on on some some floating wreckage wreck age to which I clung I The last I saw of the Persia she had her bow in the air ir five minutes after the explosion After floating about on the wreckage until 4 o'clock in the morning mornin saw I-saw five boats I was pulled into one of them We rowed about looking for 9 lers The boats became overloaded and the occupants were redis redis- Four boats were tied together by their painters and the fifth followed some distance away My boat left the others in order to search the more f frequented frequented fre fre- steamship channels for help We rowed for three hours Then we saw a cruiser and called out We are arc English We explained that we were surVivors survivors sur- sur of the Persia and gave directions to the cruiser as t to where the other boats were They were soon found and the occupants were taken off immediately immediately im immediately im- im mediately by the English sailors Robert McNeely American consul at Aden sat at atthe the same table with me on the voyage He was was not seen probably because his cabin was o 0 on the port side It was a horrible scene The water was black as ink Some passengers were screaming others oth ers era were calling out goodbye Those in one boat san sang hymns |