Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-27
AMERICAN VESSEL
STRUCK EITHER BY
MINE OR TORPEDO
Steamer Nebraskan Meets
With Mishap Fifty Miles
West of Fastnet.
CREW TAKES TO BOATS, BUT
LATER RETURNS ON BOARD
Armed Trawler Answers Call for
Help and Stanos BY Dis
abled Ship.
TURNS BACK TO LIVERPOOL
Name and Nationality Painted in
Large Letters on
Side.
CREW TAKES TO BOATS, BUT
LATER RETURNS ON BOARD
TURNS BACK TO LIVERPOOL
Name and Nationality Painted in
Large Letters on
Side.
Especial Cable to The Times-Dispatch.

lSPSN'ai ~fpie 10 1 ne 1lmeS-DiSpatch.1
LONDON. May 26.-The American
steamship Nebraskan, owned by the
American Hawaiian Steamship Com
pany OF New York. was either tor
pedoed or struck a mine forty-eight
miles off the south coast of Ireland at
o'clock last night.
NO lives were lost. and the steam
ship. listing badly at the bow, Is pro
ceeding to Liverpool under her own
steam at eight knots an hour. She ia
conveyed by n fleet of small ships. and
expects to make Liverpool tomorrow
night.
Captain J. S. Green her commander.
this afternoon sent the following wire
less to the company's Offices in New
York
Struck by either mine or torpedo
fortyeight miles west of Fastnet Am
steaming under convoy to Liverpool.
Water in lower hold. No one injured.
fSigned) GREEN"
1t is declared here the Nebraskan
was outside the zone Of mines, but it
Is also admitted she might have en-
countered floating mine.
According to dispatch from Liver
pool, the name and nationality of the
Nebraskan was painted in large letters
across her side. and she flew a large
American flag
CONSUL-GENERAL SKINNER
REPORTS TO WASHINGTON
Consul-General Skinner, stationed
mere. sent the following message to the
| State Department in Washington
earlier in the day:
Admiralty reports American steamer
Nebraskan. Liverpool to Delaware
breakwater. torpedoed forty miles
south by west of Fastnet Crew and
boats standing by. Weather fine. No
| direct reports"
The Nebraskan left Liverpool on
May "a. in water ballast for Delaware
breakwater. She was proceeding nm
der full steam last night in a smooth
sea- The weather was clear, and
twilight giving away to n bright moon.
suddenly there was a terrific explo-
sion' which shook the ship from bow
| 10 stern She began to list almost
Immediately. and Captain Green, be-
| neVlng she had received a mortal blow.
| ordered the lifeboats lowered. Mean
| time, the wireless operator began send
ing out the rs. Q. S." call There were
no passengers aboard and the boats
We're filled with the members of the
| crew. forty-seven in all. who rowed
away some distance, expecting to see
the steamship go to the bottom within
| a few minutes.
me Nebraskan remained afioat. how
| ever ana when Captain Green saw
there was no immediate danger he re
turned TO the ship. a hurried investi.
cation revealed n great hole in the
DOW below the water line. The bulk
heads held tight. combining the flood
10 the forward part of the ship.
oIL-BURNING SHIP. AND FUEL
| SUPPLY IS NOT DAMAGED
Although the steering gear had been
damaged Captain Green was able to
turn around. Within a short time a
large number of trawlers and several
tugs were on the scene Captain
Green refused the offer of a tow. The
Nebraskan is an oil-burning ship. and
| her fuel supply was not damaged
accompanied by the fleet of small
ships. the Nebraskan started for Liver
pool hugging the coast. Weather con
| ohtions are ideal. and 1t is believed she
! Will have no trouble in reaching the
port from which she departed. She
passed the Old Heao of kinsale. the
scene of the Lusitania disaster, at IL
! O'Clock this morning, and Queenstown
about o'clock this afternoon. She
appeared to be in no immediate dis
tress. but was flying the signal II am
not under control"
| telegram received this afotrnoon
| from Crookhaven. Ireland, says a sub
marine was seen shortly after 9 o'clock
| last night near Galley Cove, about ten
miles from Fastnet, and thirty miles
from the scene OF the mishap to the
| Nebraskan. No connection, however
| has been established between the two
| incidents.
Several fishermen sighted the sub
marine, which was close to the shore
near the mouth of a creek. One man
| with a rifle fired two shots at an officer
standing on the coming deck. The
| submarine dived immedfat tely, but soon
reappeared on the surface further out.
| More shots were fired, and IL again
| disappeared.
APPARENTLY OCCURS
| EARLY IN NIGHT
The torpedoing of the Nebraskan ap-
| parently occurred before o'clock last
| night. All foreign vessels leaving
| Liverpool recently have had their
names and nationalities painted in
| large letters on their sides and have
flown large flags. Yesterday evening
was clear. and the period between 8
and o'clock Is the twilight hour in
the British Islands at this season. A
| message to the Lloyd's says an armed
| trawler went to the assistance of the
| Nebraskan. and stood by her all night.
a message to the Star from Liverpool
| says that the name and nationality of
the Nebraskan were painted in large
| letters on her sides.
l The German submarine campaign