Evening journal., 1916-10-10
WILMINGTON SURVIVOR.
OF THE lost STEPHANO.

Continued from flISL fdbe.
clothing. satchels. etc. would have
seriously interfored with our keeping
afioat.
No Panic 1.Soard Ship.
"Thcre was no panic. but some Of the
women were hysterical. ~ was not
long before the true situation was made
known TO us, and we realized that the
queer looking shape m the water, With
its two blinking ewes and reminding me
for all the world of the devil. was a
German submarine and that the Ste
piano had been ordered 20 lay 70 ana
Discharge her passengers ut the order
of the commander of the U-boat. We
were informed also that the fifteen OF
twenty war vessels surrounding rs were
our own American ships and that we
had nothing to fear.
"That was an easy 20 say, but some
of the timid women who were venturing
IN n small boat on the open sea for the
first time in their lives. did not con-
slider It such a light thing. While the
ocean seemed smooth enough from the
deck Of the Stephano, We found it quite
rough when we were hcaving about in
the small lifoboat. and some OF tue
women and children were badly fright
cncd
Not all the shapes surrounding us
were war vessels, however, as / af-
forwards found out Lying not far
away was another merchantmen
which the submarine commander
had stopped before he sent his shots
across the bows Of the StephanO and
ordered 10 lay by until he was ready
10 attend TO II. We had a mixed
crowd in our passengers Of
both sexes and members OF the crew.
We had rowed about only a short
time. though. when a vessel We at
forwards learned was the destroyer
Ericsson hailed us and bade us come
aboard
I'VE had entered our life boat some
while IL still hung on the davits,
scrambling over the side in a near
panic. and others descending a rope
ladder after she was launched. But |
we stepped up on the deck OF the |
Ericsson in a more orderly manner |
the rope ladder like vet /
Grams. The officers and crew stood
by to assist us in every way possible /
and began looking out for our welfare /
rs soon as we put foot Oh the deck.
The run OF the vessel was ours and
The men We'd with each other in maxi
Ing us comfortable. Bunks were made
up in-every available place, and lunch
con was served us Immediately
Those or us who had any appetites
left we're given an opportunity 10 fin
18Th Our interrunted dinner
when we we're safely on board the
Ericsson and had recovered our bear
Ings we had a chance TO look about
There Just beyond us lay the subma
rine. and with one OF her small boats
an officer and a few men
until every one had left the
Stephano. When the vessel was
cleared the small boat made for the
side Of the British ship. The crew
boarded her and secured her papers
and. we learned afterwards. opened !
the sea valves In an attempt TO sink
her that way. The valves refused &c
work however. so that attempt had !
to he abandoned.
Next the submarine commander
sought 10 sink the Stephano with
shells, but her hull was formed OF
thick iron and steel plates, and the /
shells did not take effect Finally a
torpedo was called into play and this (
brought about the desired result We I
did not witness the sinking OF the 3
however. az the Ericsson had I
steamed away before the final act in
The sea drama was enacted
81 don't know whether this is true,
but I was told by men on board the
Ericsson that the destroyer's guns