Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-12
Chief Officer on Oil Steamer
at Time She Was Torpedoed
Says He Personally Saw to
Display Of Ensign.
STATEMENT is MADE
PUBLIC IN WASHINGTON
Graphic Description Given of
Circumstances Under Which
Vessel Was Attacked and
Captain Died,

Washington, May 1.-THE state de-
partment today made public a sworn
statement by Ralph T.. Smith, former
chief officer and now master of the
American steamer Gulflight, describ-
ing the torpedong of that vessel May
/, off the Scilly islands. When tor
pedoed, The master says, the Gulflight
was flying a large American ensign,
six by ten feet in size. He said he
saw the submarine. but could not
distinguish or see any flag on her.
Master Smith further says that short
~ he fore the submarine was sighted
two British patrol boats, the lago
and Filey took positions on either side
of the Gulflight and ordered her to
follow them to the British lighthouse.
81 personally observed that our
flag was standing out well to the
breeze" the officer stated.
Smiths statement.
The text of Captain Smiths state
ment follows;
MAY II, 1915.
Il am Ralph Smith, now master of
the steamship Gulflight' At the
commencement of the voyage / was
chief officer. The ship left Port Ar
thur on the 10th day of April, 1913,
about 4 p. M, laden with a tank OF
gasoline and wooden barrels of lubrl-
eating oil. The voyage was unevent-
full. When about half way across the
Atlantic the wireless operator told
mo there was a British cruiser in our
vicinity and that he had heard mes
sages from this ship, the whole time
since leaving Port Arthur but she
made no direct communication with,
or to our ship. From the sound OF
the wireless messages given out by
the British ship she seemed to main
tain the same distance from us until
about three days before we reached
the mouth of the English channel.
"On the first day of May, about IL
O'Clock in the forenoon, we spoke TWO
British patrol vessels named lago ana
Filey. We were then about twenty
two miles west of the Bishop light
house. The patrol vessels asked
where we bound. After informing
them we were bound for Rouen, they
ordered us to follow them to the
Bishop. The Filey took up position
of a half mile distant ON our port
bow. The 1ago off our starboard
quarter close 10 us. We steered as dl-
rected ana at about 1929, the second
officer being on watch, sighted SUD
marine on our port bow-steamlns at
right angles to our course. The SUP
marine was in sight for about flVe
minutes when she submerged flSht
ahead of us. ] saw her but couid not
distinguish or see any flag flying on
her.
Steering True Fast.
"rrbe Gulflight was then steering
about true east, steaming about eight
miles an hour flying large Ameri-
can ensign, six feet by ten. The wlna
was about south, about eight miles an
hour in force. I personally observed
our flag was standing well out 10 tne
breeze. Immediately after seeing tne
submarine / went aft and notified the
crew and came back to the bridge ana
heard the captain make the remark
that that must be British submarine,
as the patrol boats took no notice OF
IL About 1850 an explosion TOOK
Mace in the Gulflight on the bluff or
the starboard bow, sending vast
quantities of water high in the ar,
coming down on the bridge and smut
ting everything off from our view.
After the water cleared away our snip
had sunk by the head so that the sea
was washing over her fore deck anu
the ship appeared to be sinking,
Immediately after ! went AT "
see to the boats. ON my way l SAW
one man overheard on the starpoaru
side. The water at that time was
black with oil The boats were low
cred and the crew got into thehl
without delay or damage. After as
certaining there was no one lett oi,
board the ship I got in my poat anu
We were picked up by the patroi ves-
sci Iago and were advised by her crew
to leave the scene. We proceeuea
towards st. Marys but the dense loss
which then came prevented us getting
into the larbor that night.
Death of Captain.
'About half past in the morning
following saw Capt. Alfred Gnntner,
master of the Gulflight, VINO had peeh
sleeping in the room OF the sklpPei
of the Iago, standing in the room WIN
a queer look on his face. asked MN
what his trouble was and ne nlaue
no reply. Then he reached Tor .he
side of the berth with his hands pul
did not take hold. | went in the room,
but he fell before l reached MN. ne
was then taken on deck as the caoll
was small and hot. After reachii5
the deck he seemed to revive anu |
said. 4 am cold After that ne nav
apparently two fainting attacks anu
then expired in a third one--this pc
ing about $40. e.,,.,
I'VE arrived at st. Mary's, sciiiy:
about ten O'clock in the morning VI
May 2. The Gulflight was toWeu 70
Grow Sound. Scilly. on the secohu y,
May by British patrol vessels anu
Commander Oliver. senior naval OIL