Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-05-07
SHIP FLYING j. 6.
FLAG TORPEDOED
OIL TANK STEAMER GuLFLlGHT
VICTIM OF SUBMARINE OFF
SClLLY ISLANDS.
FIVE OTHER VESSELS SUNK
French Steamer Europe, British Steam
er FuIgent and Torpedo Boat
Destroyer Lost-TWo German
Warships Are Destroyed.
WASHINGTON is STIRRED.

Washington, May 4.-Press reports
of the torpedong of the American
steamer GuIflight and the loss Of her
captain and some members of the
crew have created a stir in Official
circles here where the seriousness OF
the occurrence was everywhere admit
ted. II first reports are borne out,
the attack on the Gu!fIight constitutes
the first case of an American ship
struck by q torpedo with the conse-
Guent loss of lives.
London, May 4--Nayal activities
have come to the forefront again.
The American oil tank steamer Gulf
light bound for French port, has
been torpedoed off the Sicily islands;
the French steamer Europe was sent
to the bottom near Bishops Rock; the
British steamer Fulgent was sunk by
a submarine off the Skellig Rocks.
A German submarine has sunk the
British torpedo boat destroyer Re-
cruit in the North Sea. Two German
torpedo boats sank the trawler Colon
bia, II fishermen being drowned and
were in turn pursued and sunk by
British destroyers. Two German Of
ficers and Al men were rescued by the
destroyers.
Hits German Torpedo Boat.
The trawler Barbados has arrived
at Yarmouth after an engagement
with German torpedo boat, in which
both craft were hit The captain Of
the trawler turned his two small guns
on the torpedo boat when the latter
attempted his capture.
The American oil tank steamer
Gulflight, which sailed from Port
Arthur, Texas, April 10 for Rouen,
France, was torpedoed off the Scilly
Islands according to a dispatch re-
ceived by the Central News Agency.
A German submarine is believed re.
sponsible.
The captain of the Gulflight, &C
cOrding to the same advices, died Of
heart failure as result of shock. Two
seamen jumped overheard and were
drowned.
The other members of the crew were
taken off by patrol boat and landed.
The vessel was towed into Crow Sound
and beached.
GulfIight Was Steel Vessel.
The Gulflight was a steel vessel of
1902 tons net and was built at Cam
den, N. j., in 1914. She was owned
by the Gulf Refining company. The
vessel was 1888 feet long, 81 foot beam,
and 30 feet deep. She was equipped
with wireless apparatus.
An official announcement by the adj
miralty says:
"a series of small affairs have taken
place in the neighborhood of the Gal
loper and North Hinder lightships.
During the forenoon, H. NJ. De-
stroyer Recruit was sunk by submar-
inc, four officers and p men being
saved by the trawler Daisy.
"At p. M, the trawler Colombia
was attacked by two German torpedo
boats, who approached her from the
westward and commenced an action
without hosting their colors. The Col
ombia was sunk by torpedo, only one
deck hand being saved by the other
trawlers.
Sink TWO German Boats.
"A division Of British destroyers,
comprising the Laforey, Leonidas,
Lawford and Lark, chased the two Ger
man vessels and after a brief running
fight of about one hour, sank chem
both.
THE British destroycrs sustained no
casualties.
1.-TWO German officers and A men
were rescued from the sea and made
prisoners Of war"
The destroyer Recruit was on patrol
duty when the submarine sank her.
According to details received here,
she was struck amidships by the tor.
pedo and began to sink, the wounded
vessel signalled for assistance and
her call was answered by the trawler
Daisy, and 80 men out OF her compile.
ment of IS were saved.
It is stated that a torpedo was fired
at the Daisy, which was forced to
leave one of her rescue boats behind
and that the submarine chased this
boat and fired her gun at it, wounding
four men,"