River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-07-29
HOW SUBMARINE
SANK TRANSPORT
British Commander Gave Cor
respondent Time to Get Off.
HELPED SAVE ENTIRE CREW


Stole Out of the Sea of Marmora.
The GOO ton freight ship Niagara was
sunk by the British, submarine ELL
in the sea of Marmora the other day.
The crew was saved.
1.-The Niagara, tidy little freighter.
was lying off the Galata pier awaiting
sailing orders when | made her ac-
quaintance" says the correspondent of
the Chicago Daily News. Il flourish
ed my Turkish pass before the eyes OF
the captain to prove my right to ac-
company him to Chanak Kalessi-"
After telling of his fear during the
first night of the trip the correspond
ent continues:
Ping" came the sound Of a peculiar
explosion.
We could not see the submarine from
our shelter, but several times we heard
that ominous 'Pingv
We were huddled there for perhaps
five minutes, though it seemed an hour.
Our fear was not Of death, but of the
unknown. What was it like. this hor-
rible torpedoing? Was there chance
of escape? The anguish of suspense
was terrible.
Finally our boat stopped. The lieu
tenant leaned over the bridge and call
ed on me to conduct in English what
ever conversation was necessary. BY
that time the submarine had glided to
position about fifty yards away. di-
rectly beside US. One Of the men on
her was shouting unintelligibly. ! ran
to the rail.
''Have we time to get into the boats?"
yelled. Then l clearly and gratefully
heard:
Yes. but you had better be quick
about it,"
Lifeboat Is Quickly Swamped.
Electrically the scramble began. The
boat in front of me was spIashed into
the water Prov first | swung out by
the ropes and was halfway down be-
fore | noticed that the boat had
sWamped and one man was sitting in
her frantically bailing with his fez.
'Wait a minute!' | shouted to the
submarine, waving my arm like a
brakeman signaling his engineer to
stop. The commander of the subma
rine responded with the same signal,
and / went back to help with the boat.
It lasted an eternity. and l returned
to the rail to ask an extension Of time.
Can you wait minute?' | shouted
again.
Yes" he said quietly, Il shall give
you time"
"Glad to Meet You," Is the Word.
With a landlubber's conceit thought
he was interested in me. so | introduc-
ed myself, adding. with an excusable
flourish, that | was charmed to make
his acquaintance. He bowed and said:
Il am glad to meet yOu," as though
the acquaintance of 4 correspondent Of
the Chicago Daily News thus made
upon the sea of Marmora was the at
tainment Of a long social ambition.
But what ship is that?" he insisted.
The Niagara"
Where bound?'
"Chanak."
what have you on board, supplies?"
II am only a newspaper correspond
ent." l said alphabetically, land can't
be expected to know the cargo the ship
carries"
What are those sailors. marines"
81 don't believe so. This is only an
ordinary freight steamer"
"Better See to That Boat"
You'd better see to that last boat"
called the blond lieutenant, 'or she'll
be swamped too.''
The sailors had the boat at last
swung loose. but were taking care. so l
went hunting for rope.
Never mind the rope" said the lieu
tenant. "Your boat is launched. Bet
ter get in
/ thanked him, saluted the other four
on the submarine, who waved their
hands good naturally, and went to the
rail-
How the Vessel Was Sunk.
The Ell was gliding away. the