The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-11-09

New York; have read good deal
shout the doings Of the U-53 in the vl-
entity Of Nantucket lightship, and mo-
tlced that very little has been publish
ed regarding the movements Of our ne
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 un-
til our return, writes Quartermaster
Nathan Levy, U. S. ~, Of the u. ). >
BcDougal, in the New York Times.
As the world now knows, the lrst
indmntion 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 - 80, while on
watch, the Birmingham, our flagship
sent q semaphore message TO all de-
strOyers, including our mother snip.
the Melville, to prepare 70 get under
way and TO report when ready Then
began one Of the most wonderful races
known TO the United States navy, a
race 20 see which ship would be ready
first and which would be the first 90
leave. Almost instantly boat recalls
were holsted heavy black smoke be-
gan 20 pour ont Of numerous stacks
so thlckly 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 a speed OF 20 knots. The Won
derful work Of the Jarvis viii long be
remembered as breaking records for
getting under way.
Now the race was on. In q short
time there came a toot from the tor
pedo station. This was the Drayton
under way. Almost Immediately an
other. the Ericsson, moved out; then
another. the OBrien.
Thrilling Race.
Out the ships steamed. / cannot re-
member the exact order of leaving, be-
fng on watch, and very busy, but l do
know, on account Of the return Of our
small boats, we were fifth from the
last TO leave. We then commenced
eur pursuit Of the destroyers ahead.
Ny what a beautiful and thrilling
race it was
About two miles away, Off our star
hoard bow, was the destroyer Conyug-
ham, and dead ahead, about three
miles, the limit Of visibility, due to
heavy haze, two other destroyers. Slow
ly we gained on the Conyngham, but
lost our advantage In few minutes
on account Of slight trouble IN the for
ward lrcroom. Soon we were 0t it
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 few over the wa
ter. Tho Nicholson was soon left he
hind and the ConynCham was rapidly
being Overtaken.
Soon we passed her. The ship ahead
drew nearer 20 us, the captain at this
time sighting q destroyer bearing on
our port bow. With the aid of power
full glasses I made her ont TO be the
Mccall Sweeping around I made out
two more, which We're soon passed by
us. -Four destrOyers were now passed,
u-53 Is Sighted
An told we passed at least ten de-
str0yers 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 0yeruken within sight of the
Hight vessel OF which we were now
nbeam, just three and onc-half hours
after taking our departure from New
port. A remarkable run, you must adj
NIT, q distance of 100 miles covered in
the time mentioned above. from q cold
start and with half the crow and ofl-
GERS ashore.
With the light vessel abeam, we had
the first opportunity TO witness par,
OF the tragedy A short distance Ca
the eastward OF the liehtshID was o
large Dutch steamer. the Boomers
diJk. She had beautiful lines for d
freigh,er. Flying from her stern was