Dr. Silvio de Vescovi, 28, was an Italian doctor returning home from Chile aboard Lusitania. He was rescued by the Westborough (Katrina) where he amputated the badly injured arm of Owen Slavin.
When the torpedo hit Lusitania, Silvio was near the verandah café. He felt a shock and water and debris were thrown into the air. People around him rushed about and then the ship sank from under them. He went down with the ship. Silvio was in the water for several hours before reaching an upturned boat upon which there were several women.
They were picked up by the Westborough, disguised as a Greek steamer named Katrina. Aboard, he amputated Owen Slavin’s badly injured left arm, and dressed the injuries of another man who had three fingers crushed. The doctor also gave restoratives to Lady Allan and other women aboard the rescue vessel.
Contributors:
Senan Molony, Ireland
References:
“Arm Amputated With a Penknife.” Irish Times, 10 May 1915, p. 8.
Molony, Senan. Lusitania: An Irish Tragedy, p. 90. Mercier Press, 2004.
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