Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-01
Lieutenant andNine Mem.
bers of OalGunCrew
in Missing Life
boat.

iINtS hiG pcl!eNcu 10 nave
been lost when the armed America
oil carrying steamship Vacuum was
torpedocd and sunk by German sub
marine off the north coast OF Ireland
last Saturday. while en- route from a
British to an American port. News
paper dispatches from London and
cable advices to the ships owners. the
Vacuum oil Company. of New York,
were somewhat conflicting. but late io-
night IL seemed established beyond
doubt that the toll OF life Included the
Nacuum's skipper. Captain 5. 6. Harris.
of New York. and twenty members Of
his crew. the commander of the
United states naval guard aboard the
Vacuum. Lieutenant Clarence erase
Thomas. Californian. and nine mem
bers OF his naval crew.
The Vacuum had two lifeboats. 70
which those aboard took while the
vessel was sinking. Boat No con-
tanned those believed drowned. Boa;
No. has landed. 1t contained the
Nacuum's chief officer. thirteen mem
hers Of the ships crew and four naval
gunner.
Altogether, eight American lives arc
known 70 he saved. Up to late tonight
the Washington State Department had
not yet received official word OF the
Nacuum's sinking. pcnning receipt Of
definite data. no statement was made
and all comment was refused.
The loss OF the American bluejackety
marks the first American casualty
list In The war with Germany. The
gun crews commander. Lieutenant
Thomas. is the frs, American officer
TO he KILLED in the discharge Of his
duty as armed guardian of peaceful
American merchantmen.
JUST NINE DAYS AFTER
NONGOLIA'S FEAT
The Vacuum was sent TO the bottom
just nine days after another American
steamship. the Mongolia. on the last
lap OF her voyage TO British port. had
dra INN the .irs, blood i'll the war with
Germany. One cf the MonEolia's naval
guns. operated by American blue
Jackets. on April 10 sank a German
submarine as it was about TO attack
the merchantmen.
The Vacuum left British port for
her return TO America last Thursday.
week after the Mongolia's exploit
she was in ballast. Her complement
including Captain Harris. was thirty.
hvc. The naval crew. including Lieu
tenant Thomas. is believed to have
numbered fifteen. or the ships crew.
fifteen were Americans. and Of these
so far. only four are accounted for
safe in London adviccs.
Captain Harris hailed from Lempster
y. III. II was only reluctantly and
under protest that he assumed charge
OF the Vacuum when she left New York
or March 80 for Birkcnhead. Eng, his
friends In shipping circles here said
to-day. The Vacuum's regular skipper.
Captain Walker Mckay. now believed
10 be in Maine had obtained relief for
this one trip for vacation. All
through the war he had taken the
Vacuum back and forth through the
C-boat-infestcd waters, taking large
carGoes OF barrel oil to England
The Vacuum displaced 2.551 tons
gross. Her length was c4I feet. with
ty-,hree-foot heam. She was
owned by the Vacuum Oil Company.
California concern. The ship was built
in 1912 at Ecorse. Mich. Her name
originally was Bayamon She was
later brought to Atlantic waters and
converted into a tank ship.
OIL COMPANY GIVES
OUT MESSAGE FROM LONDON
Shortly after a news cable dispatch
told OF the facuums sinking. the
Vacuum Oil Company gave out this
message received from London:
Vacuum torpcdoed 2sth. 40 miles
west Of Barra. No. l lifeboat. with
captain and others. drowned; No. .,
with chief officer and following. saved:
Simpson and Williams (engineers).
i.indgren (carpenter). Lotes Quarter
mastery. Witzen and Gisses (oilcrs),
Parde tstoker, Eyl, Singros and
NimeEapham 'scamcn), Dia and An
drews tstcwards). Hatton twireless),
William Orell and Nicola Hilson and
LdSker tnaraD"
fhe names OF The American citizens
aboard the Vacuum as recorded IN the
office OF the United States Shipping
Commission are:
Captain S. S. Harris, Lempstcr, ~ II.
oscar tiaiies. first officer, New York
Frank ferncy, second officer, New
York.
Edward Hustled. third officer. Sew
York
John Kirk, chief engineer, New York.
John Simpson. first assistant en-
gineer. New York.
Francis Davidson. second engineer
milwaukee,
William Crane, steward, Brooklyn,
y. Y.
a. Williams third assistant engineer,
Milwaukee.
J Wilson, oiler. New York.
;. no"as h'i's' mess boy. Albany.
l.. J. Hatton, wireless operator. Mil
waukec.
YOUNG WIRELESS OPERATOR
AMONG THosE SAVED
Hatton, who is among those sa ycd
lived at Young Mems Christian Asso.
c'at'on branch in Brooklyn while
ashore, and there lec,ured ON wireless
teleeraphy.
Friends told Tonight how 1Ia,,on
save vivid descriptions Of the vae",,n.s
iast trip hack to America when .ho
was held up by German ,uhn,arin.
put allowed to proceed. ~