The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-03-14


or u Q clock BY the captain TO get
up, get his clothes and come on deck
as something was wrong with the
iship. Il. s ~
The Liebenfels he sail, did not
seem to be sinking then. The Scap-
tain and some Of the crew got lii the
launch and went asound the ship.
EARLY next morning, the first Of Feb
ruary, he made coffee and came out
on deck. The lifeboat was tied along
/ side, but, the launch was gone. N
/ sjl s's.Dey gone and left mel Better hit
de water" he said Vi B,
\ Them he discovered the first officer
on board and cooked breakfast. II
On cross-examination, he said he
did not know whether all the men
were on board all night or not.
Emma Campbell on Stand.
Emma Campbell, colored, who
worked during the day, on the ship,
testified she came to the wharf at
Columbus street at 7:3O o'clock on the
morning Of February 1, to meet the
launch. Captain Klattenhoff was
landed from the ship, she said, and
in reply to a question. from hy-
stander as to whether the shin was
sinking, said: .!1
II hope so. I want to go to New
York. Pm tired" !;
Captain Flatley Testifies. ~
Captain Flatley, master of the tug
Waban, testified that the Liebenfels
was sinking by the stern when he
went to offer assistance on the morn
ing of February 1. He said he noted
the stern port hole open when he
approached. He went aboard and
talked to the first officer, telling
him the port hole was open. He
boarded the ship on the starboard
side, and when he inquired Of the
first officer if there were any port
holes on the port side, he was told,
1 don't know" -.
According to Captain Flatley, there
was nothing done to relieve the sink
ing condition Of the ship, and the
first officer refused all offers of as
sistance, saying that he could do
nothing in the absence of the cap
tain.
His testimony under cross-exami-
nation developed that he had towed
vessels past the Liebenfels since she
had sunk, but he was a little more
careful now. He said he was more
afraid of hitting the anchor or an
chor chain than of colliding with the
ship. Captain Flatley said he could
take any ship that could enter the
harbor past the Liebenfels with
safety.
Next Captain Lockwood.
Capt. J. j. Lockwood, Jr,, master
of the tug, Cecilia, testified he fol-
lowed the Waban to the sinking ship
and bore out Captain Flatley's tes-
timony. He said he was told by the
Waban's commander to find Captain
Klattenhoff. He went to Johnson's
wharf and telephoned, but could not
find him.
Charles H. Yeager on Stand.
Charles H. Yeager, expert diver
from the navy yard, next took the
stand. Mr.. Yeager gave thorough
description of the damage done to
the wireless outfie, steering gear and
engine room machinery of the Lieben-
fels, in an investigation which began
February 2. Mr.. Yeager went down
first into hold No. d, aft. There are
six holds in the Liebenfels, each sep
arated by waterlight bulkheads.
He examined the sides of the ship
and the suction pipes that lead into
the bilge, or drain for the water in
the hold. In % or 80 feet of water
in, the hold he found one large steel
bar, used to uncover the cargo
matches, in the bllge.
Engine Room Damaged.
He next went into tie engine room,
where he found two eight-inch discs,
lying on the floor, with marine growth
on them. On the starboard side two
floor plates had been removed. A
large steel wheel, used to reverse the
engine; was found under the engine
room floor plates, on the double bot
tom. The small steam throttle handle
was broken. Small pieces were brok-
en- off the dynamo engines, on the
port side, and manifold castings to
~ a.