The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-05-19
Tells OF LOST ship
DOUBT AS TO WHOSE SUBMA=
RINE SANK GULFLIGHT
Patrol BOATS ON GUARD

Dead Master Quoted as Saying "That
Must be British Submarine
Destroyers Directing Course Of
American Vessel Took no Notice Of
Attaching Diver.
The state department has made
public sworn statement by Ralph E.
Smith, former chief officer, now mas
ter Of the American steamer Gulf
light, describing the torpedoing Of
that vessel May !, off the Scilly Is
lands. When torpedoed, the officer
says, the Gulflight was flying large
American ensign six feet by ten feet
in size. He said he saw the subma-
rine, but could not distinguish or
see any flag flying on her"
Capt. Smith further says that
shortly before the submarine was
sighted two British patrol boats, the
Iago and Filey, took positions on
either side of the Gulflight and Or
dered her to follow them to the
Bishop Lighthouse.
81 personally observed our flag
was standing out well to the breezes, -
the officer stated. The text Of Capt.
Smiths. statement follows:
II am Ralph Smith, now master of
the steamship Gulflight. At the COM
mencement of the voyage I was CHIEF
officer. The ship left Port Arthur on
| the 10th day Of April, 1915, laden
| with q tank cargo of gasoline and
| wooden barrels of lubricating oil.
The voyage was uneventful. When
about half way across the Atlantic
the wireless operator told me there
was British cruiser in our vicinity
and that he had heard messages from
this ship the whole time since leay-
ing Port Arthur, but she made no di-
rect communication with or to our
ship. From the sound Of the wire
less messages given out by the Brit
| ish ship she seemed to maintain the
same distance from US until about
three days before we reached the
mouth of the English Channel.
"On the 1st day OF May about II
| o'clock in the forenoon we spoke to
two British patrol vessels named
Iago and Filey. We were then about
twenty-five miles west of the Bishop
Lighthouse. The patrol vessels ask
ed where we were bound. After in
forming them We were bound for
Rouen, they ordered US to follow
them to the Bishop. The >Filey took
up a position Of a half-mile distant
on our port bow, the Iago of our
starboard quarter close to US.
I'VE steered as directed and at
about 1922 the second officer being
ON watch, sighted submarine on
our port bow, slightly on the port
bow, steaming at right angles to our
course. The submarine was in sight
for about five minutes when she sub
merged about right ahead Of US.
saw her, but could not distinguish OF
see any flag flying on her.
THE Gulflight was then steering
about true east, steaining about eight
miles an hour, flying large Ameri-
can ensign, size feet by 10 feet,
The wind was about south about
| eight miles an hour in force. I per
sonally observed our flag was stand
ing out we'll to the breeze. Imne-
diately after seeing the submarine
went aft and notified the crew and
came back and went on the bridge
and heard the captain make the re-
mark that that must be British
submarine, as the patrol boats took
no notice Of it.. About 1880 an ex-
| plosion took place in the Gulflight on
the bluff Of the starboard bow, send
ing vast quantities Of water high in
the air, coming down on the bridge
and shutting everything OF from our
view. After the water cleared away
our. ship had sunk by the head so
that the sea was washing over the
fore deck and tie ship appeared to be
sinking.
Immediately after I went aft to
see the boats. On my way I saw one
man overheard on the 'starboard side.
The water at that time was black
I with oil. The boats were lowered
and the crew got into them without
delay or damage. After ascertainlng
there was no one left on board the
ship I got in my boat and we were
picked up by the patrol vessel 1ago
and were advised by her crew to
leave the scene. We proceeded to-
wards St. Mary's. but the dense fog,
which then came on, prevented US
getting into the harbor that night.
About 2.30 in the morning fol-
lowing, I saw Capt. Alfred Gunter,
master Of the Gulflight, who had
been Sleeping in the room of the
skipper of the Iago, standing in the
room with queer look on his face.
l asked him what his trouble was and
he made no reply. Then he reached
for the side of the berth with his
hands, but did not take hold. went
in the room, but he fell before l
reached him. He was taken on deck,
as the cabin was small and hot. After
reaching "he deck he seemed to re-
vive and said: I am cold After
that he had apparently two fainting
attacks and then expired in third
one-this being about $40.
1--WE arrived at St. Mary's Scilly,
about 10 o'clock on the morning OF
May 2. The Gulflight was towed to
Crow Sound. Scilly, on the End of
May, by British patrol vessels, and
Commander Oliver, senior naval Of
ficer Of the port Of Scilly, sent for
some one to come on board the Gulf
light and I went and the ship was
anchored about p. m. I again left
the ship that evening-she being
then in the charge of the admiralty.
l visited the ship on Monday. I went
out again on Tuesday. but it was too
rough to get on board. To the best OF
my knowledge there was no exami-
nation OF the vessel made by divers
until Wednesday about p. m, when
members from the American embassy
were present The divers at this
time made an external examination
only of the ships bottom and left the
ship with me at $40 p. m.'
AMERICANS ARE IN PERIL