The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-29
COULDN'T HAVE Been
MORE COURTEOUS
IGNORANT or --LATEST NOTE
German Submarine Commander Had
No Idea of President wilson's Last
Comrnunication With Berlin Over
Lusitania Sinking

They could not have treated us more
courteousIy than they did, was the
unanimous verdict of Captain Eugene
De1k and the members of the crew OF
the American steamer Leelanaw. when
questioned regarding their encounter
with a German submarine. They
Travelled about sixty miles on the deck
of the submarine and became well
acquainted with its crew, several or
whom had been in America.
One member of the Leelanaw's crew
remained aboard the submarine at his
own request. He was one of the mess
boys of the American ship and as he
was of German nationality preferred
Joining the crew of the underwater
craft 10 the probability of internment
In England. At Kirkwall another of
the Leelanaw's mess boys was found
to be a German and was detained.
Captain Delk, resident of Phila-
delphia. made a matter-of-fact state
ment regarding the sinking Of his ship
and was not inclined to add details to
the main facts as he outlined Them.
There is no story in It," he said.
we stopped when q shot was fired
behind us. and then we had to leave.
Our ship was shelled, bombed and tor
pedoed. but 1t took an hour and a half
to sink her. The Germans took US
aboard the submarine, carried us
about sixty miles and then gave us
directions for getting to Kirkwail.
which we reached safely in about
twelve hours
The members of the crew, of whom
there are thirty-two, besides the cap
tain explained that the German COM
mander apologized for the necessity of
sinking the ship, but said 1t was
forced upon him by the fact that the
la Rva n
throwing overheard the contraband
cargoes. The crew of the German
boat conversed affably in good Eng
| lish with the Leelanaws' men.
Ignorant of Latest Note.
The Germans had no idea OF the
contents of the latest American note
on the sinking of the Lusitania, for
their newspapers were two days old
The Leelanaw was the sixth vessel the
submarine had sunk that day, and It
started in pursuit of two others when
the Americans had been returned to
their boats after their long ride on
the submersible's deck.
The sailors from the Leelanaw were
cold and wet when they landed after
| their twelve hours row in lifeboats
as they had been almost swamped sew
| eral times in cross tides off the Ork-
! ney Islands They will leave today
will be taken by the United States
| consul. ,s
! story of Captain Deik.
we were on our way from Archan-
| gel to Belfast Sunday afternoon with
I a cargo of flax and tow" said Captain
/ Eugene Deik in describing the destruc-
| ton of his ship. when ! observed
! two steamers to the north and heard
shot fred. We were then sixty-five
/ af q
saw a submarine heading toward ons
of the vessels. Immediately afterward
! one of them sank The submarine fred
another shot and started in pursuit of
the Leelanaw.
Il altered my course and decided to
run for IL. but the submarine made
good Roadway and fired shot which
fell only 800 yards short. Thereupon
1 put the helm over and headed toward
the submarine, which signsled to us
{ 10 send our papers aboard. This / did.
The officers and crew then were told
I to abandon the ship.
"A boat was sent out by the com.
mander of the submarine who told us
to take time to get our effects into
our own boats. He informed US also
that we would be put on the proper
course to Orkney.
| sunk by a Torpedo.
We got into the boats and rowed
away. after which tho submarine fred
| FIVE shots at the starbosrd side. None
/ of them took effect, as they struck
above the waterline. The submarine
then fred torpedo which hit the
steamer amidships and she began 10
sink at once.
Our crew afterward was taken
aboard the submarine with our boats
in tow. AS tho Leelanaw still was
ahoxe water, more Sh0ss. were fred sfsty
the port side. the second of which set
the steamer Attire. The German COM
mander stood by until he saw the yes
sci disappear. We were taken TO a
point eight miles from the coast of
orkney, where the crew was ordered
into our boats and the submarine dis
appeared beneath the surface The
commander showed us every cou ftess.''
Crew VIII Sail Saturday.
London, July 2S.--The crew of the
American Steamer Leelanaw will sail