Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-12-06

FAOlO by Spafard
George Wilson, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Wilson, who has been
naval gunner aboard two boats
sunk by German torpedoes, was
given a great reception at the Ma
Jestlc theatre Sunday afternoon
by his many friends and ac-
quaintances. Long before the
hour advertised. every seat i'm the
theatre was filled, standing room
was at premium and hundreds
had been turned away. Everyone
is interested -in our soldier and
sailor boys, but this community
is particularly Interested i'm Mr..
Wilson, as he has The distinction
OF being sunk twice by subma-
rines, and is going back to look
for the fellow who did it.
Promptly at $50 the meeting
was called to order by DIR. Nc
Evoy, president of the Commercial
club, who, after a few remarks.
and the singing of ".Amcrica' by
fsa chorus of twenty voices. and
joined by the audience. introduced
! Y. w. Kellogg. Mr.. kellogg gave
an eloquent ten-minute talk on
the work that has been done for
the Red Cross and Army Y. NJ. G..
IA. His talk was straight to the
spoint and he surely made il warm
for those who have not given to
these most laudable and neccs-
sary enterprises. He made it
plain the magnitude of the gil
gantic struggle in which we are
now engaged and pleaded that all
unite against the common foe.
Mr.. Kellogg was followed by Mr..
! Wilson, who held the closest at
tention of the audience for am
hour and a half by his realistic
recital OF his hair raising expe-
rlences with German submarines
and his miraculous escapes from
death. His talk came closer to
home than any which has been
4 given here, as Mr.. Wilson is wei
Eknown TO all of us, and some of
his experiences have already been
published in press dispatches.
EThe digest of his remarks were as
follows:
\ I enlisted February 1. 1916. at
Omaha, when was lS years old.
Mas sent the next day to The
gGreat' Lakes training station.
Chicago, Ill, where / stayed for
live months, and was then sent TO
|lrfa. | was attached to the U. S. S.
zMaine, which was the receiving
Ship at that time. stayed there
almost a month, when | was
Fhipped to the U. s. S. Florida.
Was attached TO the Florida al
kmost nine months, and while on it
W visited New York, Philadelphia.
BOSTON, Norfolk. Newport and
Bar Harb0r. In November we
Iwent to Guantanamo, Cuba.
was there about a month and a
half when a call came for vMun-
steers to arm Uncle Sans mer-
kchant ships. left Guantanamo
and proceeded to New York. where
went aboard the Vacuum April
h, as gunner. We arrived i'm
Liverpool on the 18th of April,
K unloadrd our cargo, and then
Rsailed for New York on April IS.
D When about three days out, one
morning about 10 O'Clock, a sub
marine came up about 40 feet
ahead of the ship. They rang
full speed ahead ON the engines.
Frying to ram the submarine, but
he Germans slid around on the
etarboard side and kicked loose a
forpedo. The men on the forward
gun tried to bring their gun to
pear on the submarine, but were
ZNnsucccssful. AS soon as L saw
ut from the after gun, I started to
Atraln the gun, but was too late
The torpedo struck right beneath
my feet, and | was blown about 90
feet in the air. 7 landed in the
water and started swimming. The
after part of the shin sank i'm
mediately, and the suction caused
ply the sinking dragged me back
pver the ship. l crossed the ship
and came out on the other side
The bow was sticking in the all
at about an angle of 80 degrees
There was a strong wind BLOWING
land it blew the ship right back
IN top Of me. AT one time l hac
NY hand on the keel of the ship
plding myself away to keep from
Heing dashed to pieces. | swan
for about rs minutes, when q life