The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
SINKING OF A SUBMARINE.
EYEWTTNESSS STORY or THE
"A 8" DISASTER.
Says He Saw or Heard No Explosion Craft
Thrown Broad on Her Side and Cap.
sized by Sudden .IamiUins Over OF
Ilelm--HOw Four Men Were Rescued.

A"O"u bTOuu vi Sluc Auu W.
sized by Sudden .IamrUins over OF
Helm--HOw Four Men Were Rescued.
The Plymouth trawler Chanticleer, the
crew OF which rescued the four survivors OF
the recent subma rine disaster, has returned
from her fishing cruise. having been absent
since the work of rescue was so admirably
carried out. The crew consists of the master,
Richard Johns. and the two deck hands,
Edward Knox and James Phillips. In an
interview at Plymouth with representa-
tive of the London Standard the master
gave his account OF the disaster 1t con-
tains much that is both new and striking.
when first saw the submarines, said
Mr.. Johns, "the two OF them we're follow
ing the torpedo boat in a line on end,
the three vessels being about hundred
fathoms apart How fast they were going
shouldn't like to- say, but it was certainly
at high rate Of speed. The torpedo boat
was kicking up a white smother under her
counter. and the subma rncs we're tearing
through it in a perfect suice Of foam.
when | first took notice of these craft
they were heading away from us, but very
soon after this they took long sweeping
curve, and came bearing down directly
our bows, and so did the first submarine,
which had the figures A I" painted on her
topside. But we were going through the
water all the time OH rselves. and reckoned
that If the second submarine tried to cross
us in this fashion she would be cutting it
rather too fine. was following the rule of
the road by merely holding steadily to my
own course. There were people on top Of
a. r
allowed they had their eyes open and knew
what they were about.
There was a Lieutenant on the cone of
this sternmost submarine. No. A 8. l could
spot him by the two gold rings round his
cuff l take it that he saw he could not
cross our bows, and decided to change
direction so as to pass under our stern,
Anyhow, he called something down below.
These boats, you must know, are steered
10y wheel placed down close under the
coming tower. The helmsman cannot see
where he is going, hut can only obey in
structions, The craft was so close to us at
this moment that We could plainly hear the
quick champng OF her motor and the
noise of the water parted by the thrust of
her hidden bow.
ave three men, who saw the accident
happen under our very noses, are all agreed
as to exactly how it came about. The sub
marine was going very fast as | have told
you. She looked well trimmed, and was
going along on a level keel, though perhaps
just little deep. which I am told was due
to her carrying double crew. When the
Lieutenant shouted below to change course
30 as to clear our vessel, as | allow-the
man at the wheel must have spun his helm
hard over. The boat came curving round
in hiss of white froth and began instantly
to heel over. You must have noticed that
if the helm of steam launch or any high
speed small craft is suddenly damned over,
it will throw her broad on her side. | have
several times seen naval picket boats
almost capsized in Plymouth Sound by
this same cause.
well, as | say, the submarine came
swerving round in way that brought my
heart into my throat. The Lieutenant
saw what was going to happen: never
doubt of it. ! heard him roar out in
startled voice. Oh it, man, what are
you doing? You'll have us all over Then,
second later. a voice that sounded a s
shril as a woman's, shrieked out, oh,
she's gone
her cone was fiat on the water. and her
bow rose up till we could see the stem The
four men were simply flung OF her deck
as she went rearing on: then there came a
strange, sobbing sound, and all of sud
den she had vanished, You may believe
tina every word am telling YOU is Heavens
truth when I say that the subma rine was
no more than fifteen yards away from our
say there was an explosion as she went
down. There may have been; but all |
can tell you is that neither | nor nv two
mates saw or heard anything of the kind.
1t was shocking job for the suddenness
of it; one instant big cleaning boat buzz
2lng through race of foam, the next a
blank sea with four men struggling in it.
"Our punt, great heavy boat l6 foet
long, and weighing three quarters of n
ton, if an ounce, lay on her blge along the
fore part of the deck, up against the bull
wark To have unshipped the gangwav
and slid her out in our usual fashion would
have meant time. I dropped the helm
and ran forward, crying out to my mates.
who were silent and pale a. death, ont
boat to save life, for Gods sake" How
ever we did it shall never understand
to my dying day, We must have had the
strength of giants given us for the occasion.
But in less time than it takes me to tell YOU
about it we had shouldered up that heavy
punt until her keel rested on the buwark
rail, and then ran her sheer overheard.
We were we'll nigh being in too much hurry,
for nobody thought of making her fast
Luckily, l saw that the end Of her chain
painter ira wlers always tow their boats
with n chain painter-was hanging over
her bows, and just managed to grab hold
of it as she soused ahoat.
Knox and Phillips jumped sprawling into
the boat and flung the oars over like n
brace of madmen. ! ran aft to the helm |
and put it hard down, so as to bring the
vessel up head to wind. We were only just
in time, My mates had to row about n |
hundred yards to reach the spot where the |
four men lay. One Of them. a petty officer,
had heavy sea boots and oilskins on, drag |
ging him down and the Lieutenant was doing |
all that mortal could to support him. They .
picked him up last, II took four men to .
pull the poor fellow in. and he went all
of heap in the bottom of the boat. sobbing
out God bless You fishermen for saving
my life.
by this time the torpedo boat had seen
what had happened, and stopping her
en- ines. lowered her little cocklesheil of
boat. But for some reason which | cant
explain this craft filled with water at once
and was useless Perhaps the speed Mt
which the torpedo boat was going lowed
her under when she was lowered Our
own boat now came alongside, and the
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