The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-17
DEUTSCHLAND

(Continued from Page One.)
in the last quarter cast its rays over
the water.
carly hour led to much speculation
but it was believed that they would
accompany the submersible well be-
yond the three mile limit.
Yelled Its Signs of Departure.
Altho the Deutschland apparently
had been ready for her dash Tor some
DAYS. her departure was rather I'M
expected. Her skipper, Paul Koenig,
spent the evening in his leisurely
manner about the city He called at
two hotels and shook hands with
friends. When asked about MS sail
ing, the captain merely smiled and
said he did not know. After leaving
a theater, the captain strolled down to
the state pier, stopping to converse
with persons on the way In the
meantime preparations had been
made for leaving The machinery of
the boat had been tested days before
and the craft provisioned. First of
all the lights at the pier were extin-
guished and the launch Efco of the
North German-Lloyd liner Wilfehad,
scurried down the river to see that the
course was clear Then the steel net
that had protected the entrance to the
pocket was hauled up.
Farewells TO the Willehad crew
were said quietly. At 1 O'Clock the tug
Alert and T. A. Scott, Jr., of the T.
A. Scott Wrecking company. steamed
up to the pier The pontoon bearing
a high fence that stood between the
WiIlehad and the dock was pulled to
one side and at 1870 the Deutschland
slipped silently down the harbor.
Koenig Pale and Shaking.
Captain Koenig of the Deutschland
appeared pale and shaking as he step
ped ashore from his vessel on its re-
turn He refused to talk about the
collision and Immediately sent word
to Vice President Paul G. Hilken of
the Eastern Forwarding com pany, who
arrived a the company's offices short
ly afterwards, and went into consulta-
ton with him.
In the absence of authoritative in
formation, considerable speculation as
to the cause of the accident was cur
rent. Among shipping men, the opin-
ion was expressed that the steering
gear of the submersible may have been
at fault, causing her to run squarely
into the conveying tug. The fact that
the tug sank almost Immediately after
being struck was taken to indicate
that the blow must have been a pow
erful one and must have come with
unexpected suddenness. Captain
Hinsch returned 10 port on board
the Deutschland.
The accident happened all in a
minute, according to a member of the
morning. The tug, he said, got in
front of the submarine, the Deutsch-
land struck it in the stern, lifting it so
far out of the water that the tugs
nose went under. An explosion of the
boiler of the tug followed Immediately
Captain Hinsch caught hold of a guy
rope and was carried down with the
tug. When he reappeared on the sur
face he managed to seize a life pre-
server which had been ! thrown out
from the Deutschland and was hauled
aboard that craft.
Accident Unavoidable.
Paul G. Hilken of the Eastern For
for the undersea line, said today that
statement would be issued by the
company probably tonight, as soon as
it was in possession of full informal
ton He added, 1.-The drowning of the
crew of the tug r. A. Scott jr is a
much regrettable occurrence and none
feels it more keenly than the officials
of the Forwarding company and the
officers and men of the Deutschland.
That it was unavoidable goes without
saying"
Claim Damage Slight.
Baltimore, Nov. 1.-THE damage to
the Deutschland apparently was slight.
according to officials of the North
GermanLloyd line here, who got into
long distance telephone communica-
ton with the officers of the Eastern
Forwarding company at New London
when they learned of the collision be-
tween the submarine and her tug this
morning. A thoro examination. how
ever, would be made at once, they
said, to determine the exact damage.
No Attempt to Ram U-Boat.
Washington, Nov. 17-Official re-
ports from the collector at New Lon
don, Conn, add nothing to the unof-
fetal reports of the DeutschIand,s
mishap and contain nothing whatever
to substantiate published report that
a hostile motor launch attempted to
ram the submerSible.
Secretary Daniels has called for a
navy report from Rear Admiral
Grant, in charge of the American sub
marine flotilla. The German embassy
regarded the accident as being espec-
tally deplorable because material
aboard the Deutschland is urgently
needed in Germany and the official
mail on board is an accumulation of
three months. Some of the mail mat
ter the embassy desires to reach Ber-
lin at the earliest possible moment
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, made inquiries regarding
the identity of the victims of the dis