New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-14
HELD COLUMBIAN
CAPTAIN ON U-49
American a Prisoner Six
Days. with Three Other
Ships Masters

Corunna. Spain. Nov. l3.-Captain
Frederick Curtis, Of the American
steamer Columbian, who arrived here
with the rescued crew Of his steamship,
said to-day that he was a prisoner on
board the German submarine U-49 for
six days after the destruction Of his
vessel All Of the 100 members Of the
Columbian's crew were saved, Captain
Curtis stated.
The captains Of three other torpedoed
vessels were captives aboard the U-49.
All were landed in Spain.
Warned Before Sinking
Captain Curtis said the Columbian
was warned before she was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-49. The crew was
left in lifeboats, as the captain was
taken on board the submarine.
Captain Arthur Patterson, OF the
British steamer Seatonia, says that ne
was a prisoner on board the U-49 Tor
eight days. He heard the guns OF the
submarine in action, and also heard
distinctly the explosion of the torpedo
which. he learned later, blew up the
Norwegian ship Bai.o. The Balto's cap
tain was taken aboord the U-49. Soon
afterward Captain Yelugsen, Of the
Norwegian ship Fordalen, joined them.
TT. ,,.o,o ioined on the following day
by Captain Curtis.
My ship, registered at New York,
said Captain Curtis. carried a cargo OF
about 5000 tons and a crew OF 10Y, an
Of whom were saved. ! stopped on the
command Of the submarine, whose com
rander ordered me to abandon snip
With the crew Immediately, when we
did without other baggage than two
satchels with documents and money.
Imprisoned in Cabin
"The Submarine U-49 fired at once
two torpedoes at the Columbian wnleh
;rnmediatelv sank. The crew was left
in Ifeboats. while ! was taken on board
tho submarine. which plunged immedi,,
e+eIv after | was taken into the small
onartermaster's cabin. There | found
the captains of the Seatonia, the baito
and the Fordalen.
o., THE cabin was very small. 1t con
famed q little folding table, foldlng
chair and .hree hunks. Everything was
permeated with the odor of benzene'
There was no communication with the
exterior. and the cabin was apsoIutely
dark night and day III
ave we're fed in the morning with
y
a few morsels Of black bread, q cup
of coffee and a small portion OF pad
butter; at noon with stew OF cahheu
meat and soup. and at supper at ~
o'clock with coffee or tea ana oiaek
bread. with butter or marmalade. Inc
hours spent in this narrow prison were
very long and disagreesble
Under Armed Guard
The captain of the submarine, SAID
CAPTAIN Curtis, was about thlrty-sN
wears old, while mis- crew OF forty
sailors were all very young. All were
attired in clothing of glossy leather.
Cantains Curtis and Patterson, re-
Iating their experiences, said that they
were allowed at intervals, between the
operations of the submarine, to go on
deck 10 smoke. They were watched
on deck by members of the crew armed
with revolvers, but when they went
below the crew put aside their wea-
pons. A.
cabin. which the captains used IN turn;
otherwise they had to lie on the hunks
The submarine signalled the Swedish
steamer Varing thirteen miles of the
Spanish port of Camarinas, toward
neon of November 9. The steamer
stopped and was ordered to take aboard
the captains and land them. She was
also ordered to take aboard the crews
Of the Columbian, BALTIC and Fordalen'
All we're welcomed aboard the Narlng
The submarine watched the opera
ton. and then ordered the Narng 10
make for the coast six miles from
Camarinas. There the Naring was d.
rected to set out lifeboats and em6ark
the shipwrecked men in them. ms
was a long and difficult operation. ana
an American from the Columbian fell
into the sea and narrowly escaped
drowning He was slightly injured
during his rescue.