The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-23

New York; have read good deal
about the doings of the U-53 in the vi
cinity of Nantucket Hghtship, and no
ticed that very little has been publish
ed regarding the movements of our de-
stroyer force and the part it played In
the rescue work. / therefore take this
means of telling what actually oc-
Cured from the time we left port I'M
I'll our return, writes Quartermaster
Nathan Levy, U. S. N, of the q. s. 5.
McDougal, in the New York Times.
AS the world now knows, the first
intimation we received Of activity on
the part of the U-53 was a radio re-
ceived at the naval radio station on
Goat island. At about II 80, while on
watch, the Birmingham, our flagship,
sent semaphore message to all de-
stroyers, including our mother snip.
the Melville, to prepare to get under
way and to report when ready. linen
began one of the most wonderful races
known to the United States navy, a
race to see which ship would be ready
first and which would be the first to
leave. Almost instantly boat recalls
were hoisted; heavy black smoke be-
gan to pour out Of numerous stacks
so thickly 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 at the
start q 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 a foot from the tor
pedo station. This was the Drayton
under way. Almost Immediately an
other, the Ericsson, moved out; then
another, the O'Brien.
Thrilling Race.
Out the ships steamed. 1 cannot re-
member the exact order of leaving, be-
ing on watch, and very busy, but 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 destrOyers ahead.
NY! what a beautiful and thrilling
race 1t was
About two miles away, off our star
board bow, was the destroyer Conyng-
nam, and dead ahead, about three
miles, the limit of visibility, due to
heavy haze, two other destrOyers. Slow
Nv we gained on the COnyngham, but
lost our advantage in a few minutes
on account of slight trouble in the for
ward fireroom. Soon we were at 1t
again, while in the meantime the Win
slow had passed us and the Nicholson
was now close off our port quarter. No.
2 boiler was now cut in, and as our
speed was by this time almost maxi
mum we practically flew over the wa
ter. The Nicholson was soon left be-
hind and the COnyngham was rapidly
being overtaken.
Soon we passed her. The ship ahead
drew nearer to us, the captain at this
time sighting q destroyer bearing off
our port bow. With the aid of power
fui glasses I made her out to be the
Mccall. Sweeping around, I made out
two more, which were soon passed by
us. Four destroyers were now passed,
U-53 Is Sighted.
All told, we passed at least ten de-
stroyers which had left Newport be-
fore us and were capable of making as
much speed as the McDougal under or
binary conditions. The last three ships
were overtaken within sight of the
light vessel, of which we were now
abeam, just three and One-half hours
after taking our departure from New
port. A remarkable run, you must adj
init, a distance of 100 miles covered In
the time mentioned above, from a cold
start and with half the crew and Off
GERS ashore.
With the light vessel abeam, we had
the first opportunity to witness part
of the tragedy. A short distance to
the eastward of the lightship was a
large Dutch steamer, the Boomers
dix. She had beautiful lines for
freighter. Flying from her stern was