The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-09
SUBMARINE AND n MEN LOST.
british BOAT FOUNDERS AFTER
SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS.
Escaping Gasoline Apparent Cause OF
Disaster While Vessel Was Maneu.
yeriny-Lieutenan and Three Others
saved -Rescuers We're warned Away.

Fscaping Gasoline Apparent Cause OF
Disaster While Vessel Was MAneu.
yerins-Lieutenant and Three Others
{ saved -Rescuers were warned Away.
sD.etl Cable Despatch to THE SUN.
LONDON. June s.-The Admiralty to day
received from the naval commander In
chief at Davenport the following despatch:
u deeply regret to report that Submarine
AS went down under way outside the break
water at 1890 clock this morning while
exercising. A crew Of eighteen men was
aboard. Four were saved
Submarine AS was in charge Of Lieut..
Hall r. n, who was training her crew.
She went out to sea early this morning.
About 1890 O'Clock three explosions In
quick succession occurred aboard the boat.
Persons standing on the heights Of the Hoe
Jaw her thrown into the air and then dis
appear.
The explosions were heard aboard Sub
marine Al, which was accompanying the As
IN the evolutions, and the Al Immediately
went to the rescue. The matches Of the AS
we're open when she foundered. Lieut.
Hall and a eub-lieutenant and two OF the
crew we're standing near the coming tower
and we're washed of the deck. They were
picked up by a trawler.
It is presumed that the disaster was
caused by the explosion Of escaping gaso-
line. The Admiralty has ordered an in
quiry.
It is reported that the AS herself gave
An intimation Of the disaster. She signaled
that she was submerged and unable to come
to the surface. A signal was received from
her at 1l4o saying:
All right UP to the present
Divers were Immediately taken to the
scene to search for the wreck. The sea
was smooth and the tide low which would
have assisted the work greatly. But after
tugs had been searching for some time
around the spot where the submarine had
disappeared rumbling sound was heard
beneath the surface and the water was
very much troubled.
vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, the
commander in chief at Davenport, then
decided that it would be too dangerous for
divers from the salvage craft to descend.
The vessels therefore returned to the harbor.
The AS was sister Of the Al, which was
sunk by the British steamship Berwick
Castle Oh the Nab Light. Portsmouth, on
March IS, 1904. She arrived at Davenport
from the yards Of the builders. the Vickers
Sons Maxim Company, three weeks ago.
Submarine AS is the third boat Of this
type to be lost by the British Government.
submarine AS blew up of Queenstown on
Feb. 10 last, and submarine Al was run
down and sunk by steamship while
rnaneuvering of Portsmouth on March
is, 1904. In the case Of AS six Of the crew
we're killed and the remaining twelve
were seriously injured. The ramming OF
Al resulted in the drowning Of all hands,
eleven officers and men.
This third disaster only accentuates
the extreme danger in which submarines
crow stands at all times. In each case the
boat was taking part in maneuvers to ex-
emplify the mobility and usefulness OF the
type In actual warfare.
The AS on the fatal trip OF last February
was accompanied by her convoy, the Haz-
ard An explosion occurred that was
heard miles away, sent up great volumes
Of water and racked the Hazard as II by
the touching off Of mine. The cockpit
OF the submarine was above water. and
q rescuing crew forced their way through
the smoke and gases, to find every one on
board either dead or wounded and only
ono man able to speak. While taking
out the bodies a second explosion occurred.
wounding several Of the rescuers. The
total result Of the two explosions was six
killed and twelve injured.
The AS was Oh exhibition, fresh from the
hands Of her builders, and distinguished
military experts were present to see her
work of Queenstown. She was scheduled
to dive and a volunteer crew was drawn
for the occasion.
In the case Of the submarine Al It is
believed that the gasoline tanks were
overturned, rendering her helpless. The
crew must have met death slowly by suffo-
cation, with no means Of saving them
selves. 1t was only after long dredging of
the waters of Portsmouth that she was
brought to the surface and the bodies
recovered