Tensas gazette., 1916-12-01

New York; have read good deal
about the doings of the U-53 in the vi
cinity of Nantucket lightship, and no
ticed that very little has been publish
ed regarding the movements of our de-
strSyer force and the part 1t played In
the rescue work. i therefore take this
means Of telling what actually oc-
Cured from the time We left port un-
til 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 radio re-
ceived at the naval radio. station on
Goat island. At about II :55, while on
watch, the Birmingham, our flagship,
sent a semaphore message to all de-
stroyers, including our mother ship.
the Melville, to prepare to get under
way and to report when ready. Then
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 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 Drayton
under way. Almost Immediately an
other, the Ericsson, moved out; then
another. the O'Brien.
Thrilling Race.
Out the ships steamed. l 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 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 destroyers. Slow
ly we gnined on the Conynghafn. 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 find the Nicholson
was bow close off o1r port quarter. No.
9bo(ler was now3 cut In, and as our
1De9d was by this time almost maxi
ppnm we practically flew over the wa
The Nicholson was soon left be-
J nd and IN Conyngham was rapidly
I67efrlxen.
tTSn we passed her. The ship ahead
n nearer to us, the captain at this
i sighting a destroyer bearing off
.fbrt bow. With the aid of power
III WSScS uiauc ucI out W De thc
Mccain, Sweeping around, made out
two more, which were soon passed by
US. Foyar destroyers were now passed,
EzGy-53 Is Sighted.
All tOfe.,}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 cur departure from New
port. A remarkable run, you must ad-
NIT, a distance of 100 miles covered In
the time mentioned above, from cold
start and with half the crew and Off
GERS ashore.
With the light vessel abeam, we had
the first opportunity to witness part
f-the tragedy. A short distance to
the eastward Of the lightship was a
large Dutch steamer. the BlOomers-
dix. She had beautiful lines for a
freighter. Flying from her stern was