The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-11-17
UNITED STATES SAILOR DESCRIBES
RESCUE OF THE U-53'S VICTIMS
ouatemaser of the NO0ouga Tells Of Swift Race Of American
DesOyers to the Scene OF the German Submarines Opera
onS Off Nantucket Lightship-Sees Dutch Steamer
Blown Up by the Giant Diver.

New York; have read good deal
about the d0ings of the U-53 In the VI
clnity of Nantucket lightship, and no.
ticcd that very little has been publish
ed regarding the movements of our de-
Atroyer force and the part IL played IN
ehe rescue work. | therefore tuFe THIS
neans Of telling what actually oc'
CARED from the time we left port un-
IN our return, writes Quartermaster
Nathan Levy, u. S, ~, Of the L, s. s.
McDougnl, In the New York Times.
As the world now knows, the first
mtimatlOn we received Of activity on
the part of the U-53 was II radio re-
ceivcd at the naval radio station on
Goat island Al ubnut - 30, while ON
watch the Birmingham, our flagship
sent semaphore message to all tie
stroyers. including our mother snip.
the Melville, 10 prepare TO get under
way and to report when ready Then
began one Of the most wonderful races
known 20 the United States navy
race To see which ship would be ready
first and which would be the first 10
leave. Almost instantly boat recalls
were hOisted; heavy black smoke he
gan to pour out Of numerous stacks
so thclily that the city of Newport
was almost hidden from view About
six minutes after the signal was made
the JARVIS stood out to sea, bound for
Nantucket light vessel, making Mt the
start speed Of 20 knots. The won
derful work of the Jarvis will long be
remembered aS breaking records for
getting under way.
Now the race was on. In short
time there came toot from the tor
pedo station. This was the Druyton
under way. Almost Immediately an
other, the Ericsson, moved out; then
another, the On}rien.
Thrilling Race.
Out the ships steamed. cannot re-
member the exact order Of leaving, be-
ing on watch, and very busy, hut | do
know, on account of the return of our
small boats, we were fifth from the
last to leave. We then commenced
our pursuit of the dcstrOyerS ahead.
My! what a beautiful and thrilling
race 1t was
About two miles away. off our star !
board bow, was the destroyer Conyng-
ham, and dead ahead, about three |
miles. the limit of visibility due to
heavy haze, two other dcStroyerS. Slow |
~ we gained on the Conyngham, hut |
lost our advantage in n few minutes |
on account of slight trouble in the for |
ward firerJom. Soon we were at It |
lgain. while in the meantime the Win |
slow had passed us and the Nicholson :
vas now close off our port quarter. No.
boiler was now cut In. and as our
speed was by this time almost maxi
mum we practically flew over the wa
er. The Nicholson was soon left be-
hind and the Conyngham was rapidly
,eing overtaken.
Soon we passed her. The ship ahead
lrew nearer TO us. the captain at this
ine sighting Il destroyer bearing off
,ur port bow. With the aid of power
III SltSStS 1 lllute lteI Out 10 ne llle |
Mccall. Sweeping around, made out
wo more, which were soon passed by
IS. Four destrOyers were now passed,
U-53 Is Sighted.
All told. we passed at least ten de-
troyers which had left Newport be-
ore us and were capable of making as
much speed as the McDougal under or
inary conditions The last three ships
we're Overtaken within sight Of the
ght vessel. of which we were now
heum, just three and One-half hours
fter taking our departure from New
ort. A remarkable run. you must adj
nit, distance of 100 miles covered in
he time mentioned above, from Il cold
tart and with half the crew and Off
ers ashore.
With the light vessel abeam, we had
ne first opportunity to witness part
( the tragedy. short distance to e.
le eastward of the lightShip was
lrge Dutch steamer the Boomers 5
ijk. She had beautiful lines for a 5
'Cighter. Flying from her stern was I
4. 4.