The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-03-08

banks or the Gironde are still leatiesS
We passed down the river without ia
cident and after ten hours were IN the
open sea.
Bound For Coaling Port.
mo, OF course not, We had no lights,
he exclaimed. We headed for Fayal.
in the Azores. to take on coal. as it
vas impossible to get sufficient coal
in Bordeaux. Mon Dieu, the price of
coal there is terriblel And even then
it Is impossible to obtain. Nothing hap.
pened until the following day. We
saw a few vessels bound north. but
m which appeared OF a suspicious
character.
The following afternoon, which was
Sunday, we We're sailing along as
peacefully as you please, never looking
for trouble, when shortly after six
bells g p. m "A large vessel appeared
about three miles distant off our star
board quarter. She was painted black.
with n dun war gray s~uperstructure.
had one funnel and two masts. a few
moments later a submarine darted out
from behind her and headed directly
for us.
"'Crick! Crack And a big splash
told where a shell had fallen about 100
meters short off our starboard quarter.
Decided to Give Battle.
"Since the German wanted n fight. |
decided TO give 1t to him. Why not?
No use giving up my ship before |
must. Just a little fight. 1t was such
good weather it would be a shame 10
miss the opportunity.
II ordered the crew to the boat sta
tons, told the helmsman to head south,
thus pointing the G%uyane's stern to
ward Mr.. German. AS we were swing
Ing round 'Pouf!' and he had fred an
other shell, evidently thinking that We
We're going to make a run for it. IL
came much closer-only about seventy
five meters short.
II went aft TO direct the gunners.
We let them have one shot. but we
overshot. While We were r~eloading
the submarine fired again, the shot
passing over our heads with "A wild
scream.
when you're ready | told the
men, take careful aim and show him
we are Frenchmen.' A la mort! Pouf!
1t was a wonderful shot-right be
tween the shoulder blades. Our sec
ond shot caught Mr.. German. to be
exact, just abaft the coming tower.
The submarine stopped and fired no
more. She turned in a half circle OF
white water. | knew we should have
no more steel conversation from him.
Did | stop TO pick up the crew? What
was the use? There was the other car
20 boat near by. and, besides. | was
some distance off by that time and
headed for New York"
Grew Describes Sinking.
The captains simple narrative was
supplemented by the crew. who told at
great length of the splendid aim of the
gunners.
How did we know that the German
was hitT' they Intercepted. why.
how do you know when anything is
hit? There was a %resounding thwack,
a big geyser of water, the submarine
stopped and sank That's all there
was to Ii.
Have you decided what you are go
ing to do with the 25.0OO francs $50 600
awarded by the Syndicat de Paris to
the crew which sinks the first U boat?"
the crew vas asked.
Each Of us has got a plan in his
head how he IL going to 'Rouffa' tho
next time he gets shore leave home,
but we all have agreed that it's the
best policy not to count our chickens
until they're Matched. Wait until we
get home safe, and then IN tLilk
about spending our : =