Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-14
WHO SUNK THE eULFLIeHT7
Testimony Of Master Thomas Strong
Presumption Against British.

Presumption Against British.
Washington, May 1.-THE state
department late today made public a
statement by Ralph E. Smith, chief
officer of the American steamer Gulf
light, describing the torpedoing Of
that vessel May /, off the Scilly is
lands. When torpedoed, the officer
says, the Gulflight was flying large
American sign 6x10 feet. He said he
saw the submarine but could not dis
tinguish or see any flag flying on her."
Former Chief officer Smith, now
master, further says that shortly be-
fore the submarine was sighted two
British patrol boats, the Iago and the
Filey, took positions on either side of
the Gulflight and ordered her to fol-
low them to the Bishop lighthouse.
"I personally observed our flag was
standing out we'll to the breeze" the
officer stated.
The text of Capt. Smiths statement
follows:
"I am Ralph E. Smith, now master
of the steamship Gulflight. At the
comm encement Of the voyage I was
chief officer. The ship left Port Ar
thur on the 10th Of April, 1915, about
4 p. ln., laden with a tank cargo Of
gasoline and wooden barrels Of lubri-
eating OIL The voyage was unevent-
full. When about half way across the
Atlantic the wireless operator told
me there was a British cruiser in our
vicinity and that he heard messages
from this ship the whole time since
leaving Port Arthur. She made no
direct communication with our ship.
From the sound Of the wireless mes
sages given out by the ship she SEEM
ed to maintain the same distance from
us until three days before we reached
the mouth Of the English channel.
"On the first day Of May about II
o'clock in the forenoon we spoke two
British patrol vessels named Iago and
Filey. We were than about % miles
west Of the Bishop lighthouse. The
patrol vessels asked where we were
bound. After informing them we were
bound for Rouen they ordered us to
follow them to the Bishop. The FL
ley took up a position Of half mile
distant on our port bow. The Iago
off our starboard quarter close to us.
We steered as directed and at about
1922, the second officer being on
watch sighted a submarine on our
port bow-slightly on our port bow
steaminy at right angles to our course.
The submarine was in sight for about
five minutes, she submerged right
ahead OF us. saw her, but could not
distinguish any flag flying on her.
1.-THE Gulfight was then steering
about true east, steaming about eight
miles an hour, flying a large Ameri-
can ensign Immediately aft
er seeing the submarine I went aft
and notified the crew and came back
and went on the bridge and heard the
captain make the remark thar that
must be a British submarine as the
patrol boats took no notice Of 1t.
About 1850 an explosion took place In
the Gultlight on the bluff Of the star
board bow, sending vast quantities OF
water high in the air, coming down on
the bridge and shutting everything of
from our view. After the water clear
ed away our ship had sunk by the
head so that the sea was washing over
the fore deck and the ship appeared
to be sinking.
Immediately after I went aft to
see to the boats. On my way saw
one man overheard on the starboard
side. The water at that time was
black with oil. The boats were low
cred and the crew got into them with
out delay or danger. After ascertain
ing there was no one left on board
the ship I got in my boat and we were
picked up by the patrol vessel 1ago
and were advised by her crew to leave
the scene. We proceeded towards st.
Mary's, but the dense fog which then
came on prevented us getting into the
harbor that night.
About 2.30 a. m, following, saw
Captain Alfred Gunter, master Of the
Gulf1ight, who had been sleeping in
the room of the skipper Of the Iago,
standing in the room with a queer
look on his face. I asked him what
his trouble was and he made no reply.
Then he reached for the side of the
berth with his hands, but did not
take hold. I went into the room, but
he fell before I reached him. He was
taken on deck as the cabin was small
and hot After reaching the deck he
seemed to revive and said: I am cold
After that he had apparently two
fainting attacks and then expired in
third one. this being about three
forty.
1--WE arrived at st. Mary's, Sicily, at
about 10 o'clock on the morning Of
May 2. The Gulfiight was towed to
Crew Sound, on the second Of May. by
bTltlSn pdlTOl VESSELS anu SOHlITldHueI
Oliver. senior naval officer of the port
of Scilly, sent for some one to come
on board the Gulflight, and I went,
and the ship was anchored about 6
p. m. I again left the ship that even
ing-she being then in the charge Of
the admiralty. I visited the ship on
Monday. I went out again on Tues
day, but it was too rough to get on
board. To the best Of my knowledge
there was no examination made of the
vessel by the divers until Wednesday,
when members from the American
embassy were present. The divers at
this time made an external examina-
tion only, of the ships bottom and
left the ship with me at $40 p. M"
Printing for the BIind.-One Of the
noblest works of man has been efforts
to lead his blind brother, and especi-