South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-12
TORPEDO BOAT IS
SUNK IN DARING
RAID BY GERMANS
Grim Realities of War Brought
Home to inhabitants of Brit
iSh CoaSt--PaniC ReignS as
Vessel Sinks.

DEAL England, Nov. 12.-By the
destruction OF the British torpedo
boat Niger which was torpedoed and
sunk By a submarine in the Downs
this afternoon. the realities OF war
were brought home TO the inhabitants
Of Deal and Warner.
A loud explosion was heard from
the gunDOat as she lay OF the Deal
pier ana great volumes OF smoke en-
veloped the vessel. When the smoke
cleared the Niger was observed TO De
setting down forward. Men, women
and chiluren Tusned 10 the sea front
exclaimIng that the vessel had been
tOrpedOed or mined. They soon real
lied that the Niger was doomed. Inc
Deal and kingsdOwn HE boats, as Wen
as boats from other parts of the Deacn
were launched in an effort 10 save the
sailors.
CONSERVATION and almost panic pre-
vailed among the hundreds VINO stood
watching the CHASTITY sight from the
beach. Fortunately the North Deal
galley Hope commanded by Capt.
John Budd, lay It anchor near the
spot waiting TO land the pilot from
London steamer which was going
down the channel. When the boat
men realized that the Niger had been
a
their own expression, they rowed ike
the very devil
we saw the sailors" said Capt.
Rudd, jumping from the VesseFs side
IN dozens. As we neared the fast dis
appearing vessel we came upon
swarms of men struggling in the sea
and heroically helpiI to support
each other. Some were fully dressed,
others only partly so. they were
clnging to pieces of wreckage and
deck furniture and some were IN life
boats
Grasp for Oars.
1T was a heartrending sight The
men were so thick in the water that
they grasped at our oars as we dipped
them in the sea. We rescued so many
and our own boat get so chOked that
we couldn't move. With our own gun
vale only just out of the water We
were in danger of sinking ourselves.
we called to the men that we
could take no more in or we ShOuId
sink ourselves, but they continued TO
pour over the sides and some hung TO
the stern of our boat. We had about
80 on board. Never had there been
so many in the boat before. one
burly sailor whom we told TO wait
until the next boat came along, laugh
ingly remarked while he was in the
water: All right cocky, L will hold
on 10y my eye brOWs, and he drifted
to another galley. Another Deal boat
then came along and relieved US OF
some OF our men.
Suddenly we heard a shout and
looking around saw the commander
OF the Niger waving and reckoning 10
us from the stern of the sinking snip.
We couldn't go to him because our
craft was so heavily loaded. Another
galley then came along and after tax
OF
with those who were hanging on TO
our sides, we went closer to the sink
ing gunboat and took off some more
men and at the captains special re-
quest we waited until he took final
look around TO see if there were any
more men left on board the vessel
Captain is Saved.
by this time the ship was very
nearly under water and we shouted
TO him to hurry up as the Niger had
turned over on her side and was like
IL TO go down at any moment. That
brave captain only just managed to
Jump in time when the gunboat gave
a lurch and sank on her side in eight
fathOms Of water. We were proud 10
rescue that captain, for he was true
sailor"
The other boats which picked up
men were the Maple Leaf. the motor
boat Naru, the Annie. the May and
the Deal life boat.
The rescuing party saw one dead
sailor floating by.
The majority OF those rescued re-
ceived first aid on being landed at
North Deal and when they were taken
in ambulances to the marine hospital
at Walmer.
One survivor replying TO a question
as 10 whether the Niger was tOrpedoed
or mined. replied:
''Torpedoed, sir. With the excep-
ton Of the watch and the gun crews
all were below at the time. The first
order we received was to close the
water tight doors"
sank With Tragic Swiftness.
The sinking OF the Niger came with
tragic swiftneSs. IL was comparative
IN a fine. peaceful day and the people
were resting on the promenade en-
loving sea and fresh air. Anglers
men and women-were calmly fishing
from the piers. one angler said:
~ had just baited my line and cast
il out when I heard two reports like
an explosion. 1 looked seward and
saw the Niger, only a mile away, en-
veloped in smoke or steam. When IL
had cleared away ] said 10 my fellow,
anglers, oh, he is shutting off steam
When / looked at her again I was
startled TO notice that she was lower
in the water Fortunately l had
slung across my shoulder a pair Of
glasses and on looking at the vessel
through them. / noticed that they
were attempting 10 lower the boats.
while the remainder OF the crew stocd
at attention on the deck. We could
see that the vessel was sinking and
the life boats and other boats were
Fastening 10 the rescue.
The vessel then gradually disap-
peared bow first and after about 5