The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-12
ADVENTURESOME VOYAGE
OF TWO NAVAL VESSELS

German sea-raiders are not the
only craft reporting adverturesome
voyages on the high seas and men
aboard warships of fighting European
nations do not have a corner on ex-
element by any means, for the tor
pedo boat destroyer Macdonough and
the submarine Ks of Uncle Sans
fleet went through a little game of
hide and seek off the Florida coast
last week that furnished plenty of
excitement to the sailors. AS a re-
suit of the experience the Macdonougn
ran short of coal and ran into the
Miami harbor last evening to replen-
ish her bunkers. The destroyer tied
up at the Terminal docks, but was ex-
pected to leave about midday.
The submarine K-6 and the Mac
donough left Charleston navy yard
last Wednesday afternoon, 4 o'clock
bound for Pensacola. Both boats had
been under repair at Charleston. The
Macdonough was conveying the sub
marine on her trip to Pensacola.
Engine Trouble Started Trouble.
On Thursday morning at s, o'clock,
VIXEN the K-6 was about 80 miles
south Of Brunswick Lightship, she
began having trouble with her en-
gines. This trouble continued all
along the route until at 1920 O'Clock
Thursday night the submarine was
averaging nine knots per hour, run
; ming under one, engine. Although the
/ Marlborough is not fitted out as a tug
boat, the commander made prepara-
tions to take the submarine in tow,
and at 9:30 Friday morning the line
/ was fastened and the Macdonough
/ started down the coast towing the sub
marine. Then came more trouble At
| ] o'clock Friday afternoon the tow
/ line parted and it took the destroyer
/ two hours and a half to get the sub
marine back in tow. However, the
/ line was finally secured at $3.50 in the
! afternoon. At this time a hard wind
was blowing and this increased to a
/ gale at l o'clock Saturday morning
when the tow line parted again.
Both boats were drifting before the
/ sea at this time, the gulf stream set
| ting the destroyed north and the wind
setting her south. The powerful
lights on the K-6 enabled the Macdon-
ough to keep sight of her during the
night but at daylight Saturday morn
ing she disappeared from the sight
of the men aboard the destroyer.
Submarine Lost Whole Day.
The submarine was dissh'-' -
that time was adrift in the c--..cr OF
the gulf stream. The Macdonough
steamed all day Saturday trying to
get in the lee of the Jupiter inlet
where the tow line could be taken in.
The rough weather made it an ex-
ceedingly hard trip, but at five
o'clock Saturday afternoon the de-
stroyer anchored off Jupiter where she
cleared the tow line. On Sunday
morning at FIVE o'clock the Macdon-
ough went ahead north from Jupiter
Inlet IN an effort to pick up the sub
marine again. All steamers in the
gulf stream were communicated with
and asked to report if they caught
sight of the submarine. The steamer
Lampasas reported at 10 o'clock that
she had talked with the KS. The
/ steamer Radiant and Saratoga also
reported.
At this time the navy tug Peoria
and the coast guard cutter Tampa
were steaming up the coast to assist
in finding the ks. At 1855 O'Clock
Sunday afternoon the Macdonough
sighted the ks and at 2:45 had her in
tow again, starting for Cape Cana.
veral. At 1915 with the submarine
still in tow the Macdonough anchored
Is miles southeast of Canaveral. Al
1890 Monday morning the Peoria
came up and took the K-6 tow from
the Marlborough. The Peoria is COM
ing down the coast at the present
time, towing the submarine. The two
boats viii probably pass Miami about
noon today. The Macdonough was
short of coal and steamed on to Mi
ami ahead of the other boats in ordel
- onaI ,,r Che will Iao--1 +,J1-- -