Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1918 — “13” FIGURES IN SINKING [ARTICLE]

“13” FIGURES IN SINKING

Fateful Number Plays Prominent Part In Connection With Loss of Oransa. Pittsburgh, Pa. —The figure 13 was very prominent in connection with the sinking of the steamship Oransa, on which were the 57 Y. M. C. A. war workers. The following Is part of a letter received at the Metropolitan headquarters of the Pittsburgh Y. M. C. A. from one of the secretaries in London. “The sailors said they were not superstitious, but — “The passengers went on board on a Friday. “The Oransa left America on April 13. “Thirteen vessels were in the convoy. “Thirteen preachers were on board the Oransa, also thirteen Methodists. “It was the thirteenth round-trip for the commander of the convoy and the thirteenth trip for an escorting warship. “R. C. Bennett, of New York, assigned to berth No. 13, was the only seasick passenger. He moved out. Thomas B. Dawson of Providence, R. 1., who -took on No. 13, had the narrowest escape. “The torpedo struck at 1:03 a. m.. sinking the Oransa In thirteen minutes. “Lifeboat No. 13 alone was destroyed by the explosion. “Upon reaching short a conference was called In Room No. 13, and one man received hat check No. 13. “On the thirteenth day out a black cat on board Increased the passengers by three black kittens. Aside from that there was nothing connected with superstition.”