South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-01
Two Negroes Probably Per-
iShed and Other u. S. Cit
liens Are Missing From
Sunken Boats.
-FOUR MERCHANT SHIPS ARE
STRUCK WITHOUT WARNING
German U-Boat Orders Rescu-
ing TraWIer to Leave VII
Cinity of Destruction Un-
der Threats of Harm.
Press Service:

WASHINGTON. March 81. - De-
struction without warning of four
merchant ships carrying Americans
in their crews was reported to the
state department today in official
dispatches indicating that several
Americans lost their lives.
The vessels were the British
steamer Crispin, on which two
American Negroes probably per-
ished and from which 10 other
Americans are reported missing;
the Portuguese sailing ship Argo,
from which three American Ne
groes are missing: and the British
steamers Eptafolos and Snowdoa
Range. on which there apparently
was no loss of life, though Ameri-
cans in the crews suffered from ex-
posure.
The departments latest dispatch
on the Crispin, sent today by Con-
sui Washington at Liverpool. fol-
lows:
"Supplementing Consul Swansea's
Crispin cable OF 18th
Killed i'm Explosion.
Joint affidavit four American
seamen indicates two Americans,
colOred firemen, names so far un-
known. killed in explosion; Is
Americans so far unaccounted for
IT, captains boat; 50 Americans on
Crispin; 10 firemen, two seamen, 81
cattlemen; carried one gun aft;
submarine German; ordered rescu-
ing trawIer leave vicinity under
threats torpedoing."
Previously Consul Moorehead at
! Swansea, in a dispatch dated yes
steamer Crispin. Newport News to
Avonmouth with horses, torpedoed
without warning, p. m. March %,
OF Mine Island, Ireland. Wind
moderate, northwesterly winds;
fairly heavy swells, no vessels in
sight when attacked torpedo not
| seen. First intimatiOn of submarine
was explosion in vessel. No attempt
20 ESCAPE Vessel abandoned. sank
3:15 a. m; boats in charge of chief
officer, picked up by fishing tcs.wler,
taken 10 Milford Haven, no casual
ties among crew in the boats. Cap
tain's boat landed in Ireland; 40 Of
/ crew sent direct To Liverpool. Fore
going information obtained by tele
/ phone from chief officer"
Destruction of the Argo was re-
ported by Consul Armstrong at
Bristol, this dispatch dated today:
William Pitts and Spenser Ken
nedy. colored American seamen,
| Portuguese sailing ship Argo, from
New Orleans for London carrying
general cargo. swear Argo shelled
without warning by submarine fly
| ing German flag, 300 miles Off
I Gravesend o'clock. March %.
! Weather rough. cold; occupants life
boats at sea fou days; suffered
from exposure"
Consul Gaulen reported the sink
ing of the Eptafolos from Marseilles
i'm The following dispatch dated
yesterday
Has AfidaVits.
Mailing afhdavits Roy Adams.
Elberton. Ga: James Dennis. Hamp-
ton. Va: Edward Ryan. Suffolk
Va. fremen on British steamer Ep-
tafolos. sunk by submarine without
\ flag or indication nationality about
I 30 miles from Malta, March %;
weather fine: sea calm. Ep;afolos
bound Malta 70 Gibraltar in ballast
without passengers or troops. car
ried one gun. two gunners. Vessel
| torpedoed without warning by un-
seen submarine about 1890 noon.
Ryan on deck saw torpedo APP
preaching EpJafolos Immediately
stopped. crew entered life boats, for
which ample time Submarine then
/ appeared. took prisoner captain,
/ first. second officers, four engineers.
one gunner. and ordered crew steer
/ for Malta indicating course. No
| other assistance given by subma-
rine. Eptafolos. being still afoat
submarine dred about l. shells, yes
! sci sinking in one hour at about
$50 O'Clock Crew remained boats
from Friday afternoon until reach
ling Malta sunday March IS. about
| : o'clock morning Sufficient food
| and drink In life boats. Crew ar
rived Marseilles night. March 2S-
80 vessel in sight. time Of attack.