Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-09
In Disaster to the British
Submarine Boat A-8.'
Three Explosions Noted--4 Of
Grew Of 10 Perished.
Survivors Unable 10 Explain Cause. Similar
Accidents Have Occurred.

Plymouth. Eng. June S.-Submarnc
boat AS was lost off the breakwatcr
here, Thursday morning Three explo-
sions are said to have occurred on
board before she foun1c,eo.
She had on board IS officers and men,
including her regular crow and men
who were in training. Fourteen of tn"
number were drowned, the others We're
picked UP.
The disaster occurred while the AS
was proceeding to sci Tor practice t.
Companied by another submarine b "a.
and torpedo boat. Three eXp.osio rs
were seen from the shOr, to occur on
board the AS which suddenly ii APP
peared. Tugs and divers imnled ate )
proceeded to the scene.
Diving parties Immediately proceed.
ed to the scene. Those who We're - ve'i
were standing in the vicinity OF the
coming tower at the time of the disas-
ter and We're picked mp by a passing
trawler. They were Lieut.. Candy, com
manGeI of the boat; sub-Lieut. Muir
dock, Z, petty officer ana Il seaman.
The lost boat was of about 800 tons
displacement and WAS launched in 1901.
A heavy explosion occurred over the
position where the submarine boat sank,
and there is no hope of saving any of the
men who were carried down with her.
The explosions first reported are be
lieyed to have been caused by the escape
of gasoline similar to the case of the "A
s."
One of the survivors said he was unable.
to explain the cause of the accident to the
"A s." She suddenly dipped while her
matches were open, and after that the
boat Immediately filed and sank. The
man added:
Lieut.. Condy came to my assistance
when l was almost exhausted and kept
me af,oat until were we picked up by
the trawler"
The sinking of the british submarine
boat AS off Plymouth, Thursday
morning recalls the sinking Of suhma-
rine boat Al off Queenstown. Feb. lG.
as the result of explosions on bnLrri
that vessel and the sinking of the sub
marine beat Al off Portsmouth, March
IS, last year. as the reSul. of being run
down by a steamer while the subma :
rine boat was submerged.
TIE first explosion on board the A.
was described as beng SC violent that
it was heard ten miles away. When
rescuers finally reached the lower part
of the boat they encountered a terrible
spectacle. OF the wounded and dying
crew only one man was able to spCl K
and he WAS begging to be saved. Whit,
the rcscucrs were forcing the manholc
forward open a second explosion &C
CURED blowing one of the men 20 feet
upwards. He fell i'm the water and was
rescued. Six men lost their lives and
Il were seriously injured by this disas-
ter. The A. WAS a new boat which Ia Il
only just left her builders. All the crow
We're volunteers
The disaster to Al was even moro
appalling She WAS submerged near the
Nave lightship off Portsmouth. when
she was run down by Il steamer of the
Donald Currie line anil al. on board of
her. II officers and men. were drowned.
At the time the Al was struck Sht.
WAS engaged in manoruvre.> and WAS
lying in seven fathoms of water await
ing the approach of Il EattleShip. 1t
was presumed that The steamer in
striking the submarine boat upset her
trim, spilled the gasoline in the tanks
and rendered her helpless. The crew
We're battencd down and met their
fate from suffocation amid the fumes
of gasoline.
The submarine boat lies in Is faith
oms of water. The first intimation Of
the disaster came from the boat her
self signalling that sh. was submergc |,
and could not come to the surface. "A
signal was re ,cived shortly before noon
ent.''