Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-27

seemed to prove conclusively that sh
was hostile and about 70 opan fire. I'd
stay on the surface seemed ccrtaiH
death, either from gun fire or ramminrI
so took tho 1-to-5 chance for lifa
under water.
Tho moments following my orded
to dive were rather exciting. wbo,f
tried to close tho coming tower lid
found to my horror that 1t had inn
med. BY the feel of It, I fancy n n,oo
OK waste or a ropes end had fou,et
the counterbalance weight. Tho ~,
ter was halfway up the coming towor
NO time to do anything, 80 L started
down again with tho idea of closin,
tho lower door. I had barely uot III
the edge OF the hole when the waterl
came. Tho first wave hit tho Tia
great smack, and luckily broke ,ha
struction and closed the lid with III
eans. although an avalanche of w.t.,
got into tho boat first.
round things pretty serious inside
FOR az soon as the pressure came onl
tho leaks opened up, and tho boat h,d
taken charge Of itself. sinking likn
stone. Tho water inside had run arr
depressing the stern to such an anp,,
that 1t was Impossible to stand with
out holding on to something.
1t was out Of the question To "a
main submerged; the question was
rather whether we would be able Tn
get back to tho surface at ALL ,rha
boat had gono right down until sbo
touched tho bottom with her tail. A..
she did 80 the door OF tho after com
partmcnt commenced to Eape and give
II tho boat had stayed at that depth
IL would have gone. But immediately
on touching the bottom she commenced
10 rise again because the water blown
out OF her tanks was sufficient to give
her slight buoyancy as soon az her
downward momentum was stopped
Ihcre was tremendous lot OF fres
water In the interior. Some OF the men
#ero literally washed away from their
stations. Those who were washed awnv
stayed as near their billets as possible.
ready TO dive back and work their
valves X Ii required it. They might
have been doing 4 routine practice In
home waters for all the difference Il
made.
I'VE were now rising very slowly.
when suddenly the port motor blew
out, water having reached 1t and short.
circuited it. This happened at forty
five feet. then stopped and commenced
sinking again slowly. The dial pointer
crept round to forty-eight feet. stop
ped. then went to forty-ninc. then
forty-ninc and onc-half. stopped thore
FOR a long time and then started to
rise again.
This was the critical moment. n
she had gone down instead OF up
nothing could have saved U.S. Once
she made up her mind to come up, she
came with rush. We emerged, ready
10 torpedo tho German cruiser IL we
could, and the men standing ready to
swim Tor II as soon al we mad tired
W men Wo broke surface, there was
tho ship. lying mot!onless 400 yards
way. a beautiful shot. But IL had
stopped raining. and l was astonishcd
TO IND At first sight that she was a
Dutchman Her ensign was clearly
visible and her silhouette. which Inow
saw for the first time. was unmis,ak-
able.
MY boat was practically in a sink
ing condition. and siSnalcd TO the
Dutch cruiser for help. Boats were
hcnt over with the utmost prompti;ude
ana We shortly found ourselves aboard
s "a, Noord Brabant, OF the Dutch ROYAL
Navy stationed at tho Held.r. W.
were received and treated most warm
heartcdiy- ! went up on the bridge
una watched my boat take its last
plunge as she went down. 4 burle
sounded the Attention. and the Noord
saiuted her while she dicd,a