The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-11-06
SKIPPER AND crew
OF SUBMARINE PAY
FOR THEIR MURDERS
Capt. Neil Murchison Of Schoon-
er Columbia River, Tells How
Sailors Face Firing Squad


Stories have been told Of outrages
committed by the Germans against the
lives and property of the civil popula
tion of countries invaded by the Prus.
SLAMS, and Of atrocities almost unbe-
lievable which have been committed
against helpless women and children by
commanders of U-boats which have ter
rorized the water lanes of the world
since shortly after the beginning OF the
war. BIT in one case, at least, the
tables were turned, and according to
Capt Neil Murchison, master Of the
schooner Columbia River, the skipper
aud crew of one submarine paid the
supreme penalty for crime that could
be considered nothing short of murder.
In narrating the story Captain Muir.
Gibson said: ".
Met Old Skipper Friend
IL had been at Iquique only few
days when met an old friend of mine
who had been sailing in the war zone
for about two years. The captain of a
British patrol boat was an intimate
friend Of his and when the two met in
London after several years separation
they naturally began TO relate their ad.
ventures Of the sea.
cit seems the patrol boat had been
on duty in the North Sea and early one
morning ran across a German subma-
rine which was having difficulty with
its engines. II could neither submerge
nor advance, and upon seeing they were
at the mercy of the patrol the captain
and crew came up on deck and permit
ted themselves to be taken prisoner.
Placed Aboard Patrol
"They were placed aboard the patrol
and orders were given TO sink the sub
marine. Three shots had been fired and
the U-boat was commencing TO settle,
when the commander of the underwater
craft, who had been calmly surV, ing
the situation, was seen to smile iT =
ally. Upon being asked what be
amusing about the loss Of his vessel, a.
stated that he was merely admirirg
British workmanship.
stThe final shot had been fred and
the submarine had entirely disappeared
beneath the surface when the German
commander approached the British com
mander and told him that he might
feel even more highly honored if he
knew FIVE British captains had been
sent to- their death by British shells
fred at his command. They were
shaekled in one Of the chambers of the
craft at the time she was captured and
their crew forced to surrender.
Orders Out Firing Squad
ssThe British commander said not
one word but gazed in wonderment at
such n display Of hardheartedness, His
eyes remained fixed on the German
captain for several minutes after which
he calmly turned TO his officers instruct
ing them TO line commander and crew
along the rail. After the firing squad
had been ordered below, members Of
the crew examined the bodies to make
sure life was extinct, for as the cap
tain said, he never wanted il said he
had thrown eaptives overheard and
amused himself by listening to their
agonizing cries and watching their
death struggles. They had merely ex-
plated their horrible crime of sending
five British captains to their death
without even one word of protest.
tWell,n he concluded, 81 may be in
the Atlantic myself, before many weeks
have passed. Even though am lit.
tie old, ! feel as il / were missing
something by remaining in the peace
full trade of the Pacific"