Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-28
The Chaplain of
the "Cressy" Tells
of the Sinking
of the British
Cruiser, and
HoU He sFCheered
Heartily" When One
of the Gunners
Put a 9-inch Shell
Into the German
: Submarine
BY the Rev. G.. H. Collier.
Chaplain Board the British Cruiser
"Cressy."

A YOU KNOW. was on the cruiser
~ Cressy on September %, when In com.
pany with the cruisers Atoukir and
Hogue she was torpedoed by German sub
marine. My life has been spared in most
miraculous way.
About 6:15 a. m. was awakened BY some
marines waking their comrades. Get up
quick. the Ahoukir is sinking"
tumbled out of my bunk. pu, on my shoes
and slipping my big coat over my paiamas
fastened up TO the sheltered deck. ! should
tell YOU that we were proceeding in line for
nation, the Hogue leading, our ship, the
Greasy. bringing up the rear. We were steam
ing between six TO nine knots. and al a dis.
lance Of about mile apart When 7
got deck the IIogue had fallen back on
the starboard side Of the Aboukir while we
stood by on the port side, both OF us a good
distance off.
The Aboukir had sisnallcd asking for boats
which OF course were sent off TO them. Their
ship gradually began TO turn turtle and II
was an inspiring sight to see the ships COM
pany lined up on one side OF the ship await
ing the order Every for himself" After
while went down TO the quarter deck and
began with the others to throw panks Of
wood, etc, overheard.
>torSdo from German submarine and very
quickly settled down. Indeed, no sooner was
she hit than her quarter deck was below
water. She then listed, turned turtle. and
in about ten minutes had disappeared
Our captain sent word to take photo
graphs, and | had taken five when l saw
the white line of torpedo approaching us
in the starboard side, in line with the aft.
bridge.
A few shouts heraded her approach, but
EothnG could be done. as our engines were
not going, and she bored her hole in our
side.
The impact was not so great or so terrible
as ] should have thought indeed II was n
dull thud, and did not even throw mo off my
feet. Previous to this the order TO close
watertight doors had been given. an order
which prevented this torpedo doing so much
serious damage.
We listed to siarboar.' about 40 degrees,
and after a time the ship righted herself to
about 80 degrees. Everyone on the
lookout for submarines and guns were fred
at every suspicious looking object that looked
like a periscope. am not going TO make any
assertions, as am much too inexperienced. |
was standing by when three guns were fired
The first was fired at what | thought to
be mans head. Al any rate the shell hit
something, for it exploded.
Unfortunately, I was called down from the
boat deck then, so did not what ensued,
but the gunner says he two men pop
M from the spot after he fired second shot,
and the torpedo lieutenant supports his as.
sertion Of having hit the submarine.
The second shot ! saw (of course other
guns were fred was AZ what feel sure was
a submarine. She came up, and il was
plucky thing TO do, amid n mass OF strug.
Cling men. ] do not know if she was hit
hut admit ! felt a spasm OF horror at the
damage to own men in the water
The third shot went right home. and did its
work, and ] cheered heartily with the rest
The Germans evidently attacked us under
n a .ra vi ha nut
flag. This traw!er. after We had all been
hit made no attempt at rescue work, heart
less act that reused anger and the cap.
tain Of the after 90 gun trained his gun on
her and fired. The shell hit her in the stern
and she at once took fire.
While this going on the German had
hred another torpedo at us, but II missed and
went astern. Meanwhile several men had
s~un alongside, and helped them aboard
rubbed them down. pumped water out OF
them and wrapping them in blankets gave