Tensas gazette., 1916-12-01
UNITED STATES SAILOR DESCRIBES
RESCUE OF THE U.53'S VICTIMS
ouatermaster Of the McDouga Tells Of Swift Race of American
Destroyers to the Scene the German Submarines Opera
tions OFF Nantucket Lghtship-Sees Dutch Steamer
Blown Up by the Giant Diver

a large Dutch flag, another flew from
her signal stay, and on her sides was
painted her name. the name of her
home port, and the Dutch flag, all in
conspicuous letters. To the left OF
her and close to us the German sub
marine U-53 was sighted, towing a
ships boat, painted white. Later our
captain hailed this boat and invited
its occupants TO come aboard. The
Blommersdijk appeared to be deserted.
In spite of this fact her lights were
all burning. The invited boat came
alongside, and her occupants were
helped on board by our crew.
They were the. chief officer, G.
Klaasse; BOatswain p. n. Van der
G. Zeevaart, G. Heddema, and G. Van
COST. 1t is quite needless to say that
they, were all received with welcome.
Does Some Tall Diving.
The boatswain, Van der Sluys, could
speak English very well, having served
on board English ships, and from him
We received news as to what actually
happened. l will not repeat his exact
words, but will give brief descrip-
ton of what took place. They had
taken their departure from the light
ship, when submarine was sighted
flying the International T. A. F.,
('Bring your papers on board."O The
BlOmmersdijk, being a slOw-mOving
vessel. lowered q boat, whose crew,
were the officers and men named
above.
Chief Officer KlaaSse was informed
by the submarine commander that his
ship was to be blown up at 80.
During the time that the two Off
GERS were parleying the U-53 sighted
one of our destroyers standing toward
her. She Immediately dived. asked
the man who told me this if it took her
very long TO dive, and he answered, in
very sober manner: "Oh, no; only
about 80 seconds. Ye gods but she
can do some tall diving" Shortly af-
ter this occurrence we came upon the
scene. sighting the submarine with the
Blommersdijk's boat in tow. At this
time there were about four destrOyers
close aboard the light vessel, appar-
entity taking off survivors. Quite
humber of small boats were tied up
astern of the lightship. We stood over
toward the submarine until we hailed
the boats crew, as / have already
stated.
We then stood toward another ves-
sci, the Stephano, about two miles
away from the BlOmmersdijk, to rem
der assistance to her survivors If nee
essary. This vessel, like the Dutch
ship, was ready for slaughter, absO-
lutely deserted, but with all her lights
burning brightly. To make sure that
there was no one left on board our
captain ran close to her and had our
forward searchlight turned ON. The
light was swept fore and aft without
a living soul being visible.
Dutch Ship Dies Hard.
At this time the U-53 was running
back and forth between the BlOm-
mersdijk and the StephanO, followed
closely by one of our destrOyers, which
apparently did not wish to miss any
thing. The submarine kept continual
ly moving about. Whether it was in
decision on his part cannot say; any
way, at about 10 our time (seventy-
fifth meridian) the U-53 took station
about 500 yards off the port beam of
the Blommersdijk, bow on. Expect
ing he would fire, our captain (many
thanks to him) decided to run over
and observe the effect. We had taken
station about 1900 yards astern of
the doomed ship when. at 7:20 (Our
time) we heard d terrible report. Look
ing toward the BlOmmersdijk 1 saw
high cloud of water shooting up in the
air, higher than the ship, but she didn't
sink.
Feeling cocksure that their torpedo
or was it a bomb, or perhaps a
mine?-wOuld finish the Scotch-built
ship, the German turned her back and
steamed away. l watched the BlOm-
toarSIii n, lilo n howE rootinU for bar