Thos. J. Clements Reported Saved.
for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!For the first time since the declaration of war, this community was last week forced to drink from its bitter cup. When the news was flashed over the wires that the transport Tuscania had been sent to a watery grave by a German outlaw of the seas, while horrifying, it was accepted as one of the fates of war, but when later the lists of soldiers not accounted for were published; a pall of great sorrow weighed down on the community and friend and neighbors, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, this moment realize more clearly and see the melancholy side more vividly than ever before, of German savagery; for the unwelcome list appears the name of Raymond Roessler, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Roessler who reside a short distance northwest of this city.It is not definitely known that he is among the lost but each succeeding day lessens the hope that he is among the survivors. Out of a total of 2,179 soldiers aboard the ill-fated liner, 340 are still unaccounted for, 113 of whom are now known to have perished.
Congressman Jouett Shouse is keeping close watch of every bulletin arriving from overseas and is keeping the family in touch with every new development, and it would indeed be a time for joy and devout thanksgiving if the wires might bring the glad message of his safety somewhere, "over there." So let us hope for these good tidings, but if the grim report must at last be adopted as the implacable truth, there shall be no alternative but to bow submissively to the cruel edict but with sacred pride that a hero of our own community has given that "last full measure of devotion" to the cause of humanity.
Meantime the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Roessler share their grief with them and await further news in almost breathless anxiety.
Homer J. Clements, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Clements of Sun City was one of the survivors of the ill-fated Tuscania. In 1916 he went to Idaho and purchased a home. When the call came for engineers he responded and was enlisted in Company F, 20th Engineers, on Dec. 2, 1917. This was the so-called "lumber jack" regiment it was destined to get out timbers for the Army. He was immediately transferred to Washington, D. C. and went over on the Tuscania. When the news came of the sinking of the ship, his parents and friends feared the worst, but on Sunday noon his parents received a telegram from the Adjutant General's office stating: "Officially reported that Homer J. Clements was saved from Tuscania."
Off-site links (will open in a new browser window):
Nera Don King of neighboring Comanche County, Kansas, also survived the sinking of the S.S. Tuscania by a German U-boat on the evening of February 5th, 1918.
The Final Voyage - Kansas
TSS Tuscania - An American History
HMS Tuscania: American Monument on the Mull of Oa
Map of the sinking of the Tuscania
History of the Sinking of the Tuscania
Thanks to Shirley Brier