Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-10
Stories Told by the
Eye-Witnesses of
Submarine Attacks

and freight steamers by German sub
marines off Nantucket yesterday were
told here today.
According to report brought by Of
ficers of a f1otilla of United States de-
stroyers, which picked up passengers
and crews of several Of the vessels de-
stroyed, nine merchant ships were
sunk.
80 Americans on Stephano
OF the passengers of the Stephano so
were American tourists returning from
Newfoundland and the Canadian maritime
provinces. All came through their rough
experience without injury, according to
oflcers of the American destroyers, but
lost nearly all their effects Some were
able to save a few vauables but their
baggage went down with the ship.
Lieutenant Commander Miller of the de-
stroyer Ericsson, which picked up some
OF the boats of the Stephano. said that
no ok was made by the submarine on
this vessel until after all on board had
left the ship. When the Ericsson arrived
at the Nantucket lightship Commander
Miller observed a submarine about mile
distant and almost Immediately heard
three shots from the bow gun of the sub
nersible. Through the haze he could
dimly make out the Stephano, the OBJ
tect Of attack None of the shots struck
the ship and probably none was aimee
directly at her. The Stephano hove to
Immediately and sent a message to the
Ericsson saying. please take off our pas
sengers.
Passengers in Boats
Before Commander Miller could get his
boats to the side of the steamer she had
loaded all her passengers in her own
boats, from which they were taken on
board the destroyer within five minutes.
The Stephano was still at1oat when the
destroyer left but was reported later as
sunk by a torpedo.
The Ericsson brought here % women
and 70 children, while the destroyer Ralch
brought So others from the Stephano in
GLIDING passengers and members of the
crew.
Eighteen of the women were landed at
the government pier by permission of the
health officers and were taken in auto
mobiles to the homes of Gov. r. Living
ston Beeckman. Mrs French Vanderbilt
and Arthur Curtiss James, former COM
modore Of the New York Yacht Club
Dr.. Andrews Story
DR.. Andrews, who is connected with
the Grenfel mission. was one Of the
four Stephano passengers taken to the
home of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. DR..
Andrews was on his way to New York.
In describing his experiences DR.. Andrews
declared that the Germans gave the boat
proper warning and then stood by until
all Of the passengers had been taken off
No Torpedoes Used
"Oficers of the United States torpedo
boat destroyer which had arrived in time
to take care of the passengers Of the
Stephano visited the steamer" he said,
ito make sure that all of the passengers
and crew were safe. Then members OF
the German crew boarded her and opened
her water cocks.
He said no torpedo was discharged
While the Germans were engaged in
disposing of the Stephano a Dutch vessel
probably the Bloomersdijk, was standing
a short distance away like steer wait
ing to he slauGhtered.'' in the words of
DR. Andrews. She had been warned by
the submarine to hold up, her turn
was coming next.
Praise for U. S. Warshps
DR.. Andrews praised the work of the
American warships which went to the as
sistance of the distressed vessels He said
they gave every possible assistance to the
distressed passengers and when they
were taken aboard the destroyers showed
them every courtesy.
The other passengers taken 10 the
home of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt were
Flora Saunders. who was on her way to
New York; Mary Goss. who has relatives
in Bridgeport, Ct, and Michael Carew of
New York
Mrs French Vanderbilt and her son,
William II. Vanderbilt. who We're waiting
AT the government landing long after
midnight. cared for five women passen-
gers AZ their residence. Harbour View.
They were Miss Caroline Jlrich and Miss
Marion Cutter. both of Brooklyn. ~ Y;
Mrs. Henry Il Wilson and Miss Jessie
Wilson, both of Williamstown. Mass, ana
Miss Anderson of New York. who recent
~ came to this country from Sweden
Mrs. Wilson's Story
Mr. Nilsou sail that the passengers
were COINS to dinner when someore told
them that there were t!estroyers all
around the steamer and that 4 submarine
was nearby They thou-ht all Of these
were American boats until the German:
shots were fired across the bow Of tn"
Stephano. Mrs Wilson said. The steamer
vas stopped and all We're ordered to take
to the boats The passengers did not
have time to go to their staterocms and
scved none of their personal belongings.
TN seq was calm and all trans
fe:1ed to the destroyer Ericsson without
difficulty The Ericsson, she said was
nearly out of sight of the Stephano when
che liner sank
SIR. Wilson and her daughter had
h.en making an extended visit to the
Grenfell mission station In Labrador.
No Haste
raptain Fred s Riley. connected
with the Moran Towing and Transport
tation Co., Of New York. who was on
board the Stephano, said that the SUBJ
marine moved about in no apparent
haste within easy sight Of the destroy
or Ericsson. while the latter was pick
ing up the Stephano's passengers and
crew who were adrift In four boats.
"It was o'clock Sunday night when