Mr. William H. Harkness, Assistant Purser
William Harkness, 25, was an assistant purser on Lusitania.
He assisted many passengers to safety, including second cabin passenger Barbara
Anderson. Mr. Harkness was saved.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Tuesday, 11 May 1915, page 2:
“W.H. Harkless [sic] an assistant purser, busied himself helping
others off the Lusitania was about to get beneath the water. Then,
seeing a lifeboat striking the water that was not overcrowded, he made a
rush for it. The only person he encountered was little Barbara Anderson
of Bridgeport, Ct. who was standing alone, clinging to the rail.
Gathering her up in his arms, he leaped over the rail and into the boat[,]
doing this without injuring the child.”
Harkness and Barbara Anderson were saved in lifeboat 15.
References:
“Snatch Up Babes, Leap Into Boats as Liner Plunges.” Cleveland Plain
Dealer, Tuesday, 11 May 1915, page 2.
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