The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-16
American Destroyers That
Went Out for Rescue Work
Were Armed for Battle
CREW ON BENHAM SAW
SEVERAL SHIPS SUNK
Lieutenant Lee Cummins Cal cy
Writes Letter to Father. Tell
ing Of German Submarine
Raid Sunday

washington, Oct. I5.-The Amsri-
can dsstroyers that went out on res.
cue work during the operations OF
the German submarine U-63 OF Nan
eucket Lghtship last Sunday had
everything ready for battle, 1t was
disoolsed today.
Tho destroyers carried war heads
On their torpedies. ammunition at all
guns. and were prepared for instant
cotton, presumably against the Ger
man submarines, according to let
tar from Lieut.. Lee Cummins Carey,
an oflcer Of the U. g. destroyer Ben
ham, to his father. w. Lee Carey. OF
Baltimore.
The Benham participated in the
rescue of persons from tho ships de-
stroyed By the U-53, and came within
a few yards Of ranrming the German
submarine. Lieut. Carey declared.
HIS letter follows
ION Saturday the German sub
marine U-53 entered Newport nar-
Dor. and passing quite near the Ben
ham, anchored only quarter mile
away. After playing the various Of
; ficial calls. her captain lieutenant
sent a signal inviting all American
officers aboard. of which invitation we
ali quickly and gladly awaited our
selves.
After being anchored about three
hours. she quickly got up anchor and
again was at sea in a few minutes,
lost In the haze. but proudly nyins
the Imperial German navy flag as far
as we could see.
Ordered 70 Get Under Way.
A, shout o'clock Sunday. while
we had several guests aboard Tor
luncho m, we received a signal: Get
under way immediateiy--procee as
sistance s. s. West Point, ten miles
south Nantucket LAghtship AT this
time only two officers were on the
ship, the other three being ashore.
and about half the crew also ashore.
We quickly put our guests in boat
and in ten minutes we were all wild
race for the West Point. On the way
out we got signal. Prepare for ac-
ton. Render assistance to all ships
attacked by German submarines. BY
this time we already had war heads
on our torpedocs. and ammunition at
all kuns. and everything In readiness
for action.
AT about 8 O'Clock we arrived at
the scene OF action and almost saw
the Holland American liner Bloomer-
dyke In trouble. and her crew getting
in small boats. We ran up near and
took her captain, officers and crew
4 III
for there was quite sea running. By
this time II was sunset and the lights
Of the steamer were quite bright.
About two hundred yards we could
see the submarine. In a few minutes
she came alongside the steamer.
placed q bomb aboard and then drew
away to watch the result But when
1t went of it did little damage.
Asked to Move Away.
hAr Nd
asked US to please get further away.
as she was going to blow the steamer
up. This We did. keeping on the st'e
away from the submarine. and In a
few minutes she hred a torpedo, opef.-
ing 4 great gap in the ships side, and
then gradually the ship began to MI
by the stern. Gradually the stern sct-
tied deeper and deeper. but still her
dynamos were going. for she went
down with all lights burning and four
Dutch nags proudly nying in tn, air.
Finally her bow was pointing almost
straight into the air and still her for
ward lights were burning. which mys-
t1iled me. and then one Wild plunge
and she was no more. We quickly
passed near her and pot a buoy er
! to mark her grave.
Tn the distance We could see q
great liner. and this the submarine
saw. too. for she Immediately cha ped
her course toward the oncoming ship.
We followed along in the wake Of the
4 U-53 to watch her In her work She
now sent q signal to the ship Sta
piano. telling her to put crew and
passengers in boats Immediately. Az
\, she did this the Balch took all her
people on board and hen drew away.
Y suddenly the submarine put all
lights out and disappeared and we
went ahead. at Is knots and ap-
preached near the Stephano. but sud
4 denly directly ahead, the submarine
turned on her lights and we Just
missed ramming her by few yards.
The submarine now went along
side the ship and took about an hour
taking what they wanted. while we,
8 only a few yards away watched her.
4 She then drew away a couple OF hun
4 bred yards and began firing her guns
at the ship. Round after round she
fred. We counted twenty-seven, but
; they did no material damage other
than opening up few holes. ETC.. ana
gave us some beautiful fireworks to
1, gaze at.
Ashamed of Poor Work.
Finally she seemed rather ashamed
Of her Door work. for now she ap-
preached about 100 yards and lot forth
4 4 torpedo, which went of with a ire
mendous crash, and 1t seemed to break
the ship completely in two, for she
4 caved in at midships and settled rap
4 idly. and finally plunged into the sea
With bow and stern both to go down
last.
There being nothing else doing. we
waved goodbye to the submarine cap
3 tain and shaped our course for New
b mort with our rescued crew, thirty
L eight men In all. While all this was
aoing on the other destroyers were
IcAniinued on Second PagA>