GALESBURG MAN SURVIVES DISASTER
FRANK KURUN AND NIECE WERE TRAVELERS ON ILL-FATED TITANIC.
ESCAPED ON A LIFE RAFT
Is Now In New York Hospital and Will Return Home Soon.
His Brother-in-Law Perished.
Galesburg, April 23—Frank Karun, a member of the Austrian colony in this city, will have some stirring things to tell his fellow-countrymen when he returns to this city, of the loss of the big steamship Titanic and his rescue later by the Carpathia. Just at present Mr Karun is at the St Vincent’s hospital in New York City recuperating from the nervous shock which the accident caused to all of the survivors. A message from the hospital, however, announces that he is saved and also that his niece is also a survivor. A sister's husband, who was returning from Austria with Mr Karun, went down with the boat, although his daughter was saved by her uncle.
According to the meagre information received by Galesburg relatives Mr Karun must have been a member of the little crew of thirty who caught the life raft constructed of canvas and cork and floated around in the icy water until the steamship Carpathia arrived. These men fought others away after the raft had her full quota and stood for five hours in the icy water knee-deep until day-break and relief. The lower extremities were benumbed and one by one the men were falling from exhaustion when the relief came. One man went hysterical when the announcement was made that there was a steamer in the distance. So close were the thirty crowded together that they could scarcely move.
A Labor Contractor
Mr. Karun is a labor contractor and makes his home with a large family at the old Lindell hotel. Mrs Karun stated that her husband was on a raft for five days but she clearly meant that many hours which places her husband on the same raft with Col. Gracie.
Mrs Karun was fearful for the safety of her husband as she knew that he had sailed on the giant Titanic from England. For several days she had been almost hysterical and sent two telegrams in an effort to learn something regarding her husband. On Sunday the following message was received from her husband:
"Mary and I safe; Kovac lost"
Comment and discuss