Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-07-22
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 600 ton freight ship Niagara was
sunk by the British submarine Ell
in the sea of Marmora the other day.
The crew was saved.
"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. 81 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:
"Pingr came the sound of peculiar
explosion.
We could not see the submarine from
our shelter, but several times we heard
that ominous "Ping!"
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
a position about fifty yards away, di-
rectly beside US. One of the men on
her was shouting unintelligibly. 1 ran
to the rail.
Have we time to get into the boats?"
yelled. Then 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 splashed into
the water Prov first. swung out by
the ropes and was halfway down be-
fore l noticed that the boat had
swamped and one man was sitting In
her frantically bailing with his fez.
wait minuter' l shouted to the
submarine, waving my arm like q
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.
1t lasted an eternity, and returned
to the rail to ask an extension of time.
"Can you wait minute?" l shouted
again.
EYES," he said quietly, 81 shall give
you time"
"GIad to Meet You," Is the Word.
With landlubber's conceit thought
he was interested In me, so l introduc-
ed myself, adding, with an excusable
flourish, that l was charmed to make
his acquaintance. He bowed and said:
Il am glad to meet you," as thoughl
the acquaintance Of 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, suppliegY'
Il am only newspaper correspohd-
ent," l said apologetically, ''and can't
be expected to know the cargo the ship
carries"
What are those sailors, marines?i
Il don't believe SO. This Is only AIN
ordinary freight steamer"
"Better See to That Boat"
you'd better see to that last boat,T
called the blond lieutenant. cor shelf
be swamped too"
The sailors had the boat at LAST
swung loose but were taking care, SO Il
went hunting for a 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 naturedly, and went to the
rail.
How the Vessel Was Sunk.
The Ell was gliding away, the
blond lieutenant at the wheel slowly
cranking as though it were an automo-
bile. He directed his ugly craft about
$50 yards off,
The Niagara lay lifeless. The men
on the submarine were watching her
intently. None of us stirred. SUDDEN
ly the Niagara burst open, the entire
midship unfolded powerfully and a
mass of orange smoke rolled upward.
intersected by darting flames The re-
port, somewhat muffled, followed.
Burning timhers showefed into the wa
Ter. The ship began sinking quickly.
In half minute the stern disappeared
The Prov turned skyward and slipped
rapidly under water. The orange cloud
OF smoke hung over the place where al
minute before the Niagara had IainI
The submarine likewise slipped under,
the water with demoniacal magic and
we with our three boats were left
alone on the sea of Marmora. we andI
the orange cloud-and distant linad
OF black smoke which evidently hadt
urged the blond lieutenant to expend Al
torpedo and disaDpear. TT uas q n$,~st