The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-23


ship passed over the spot, so in all
dive deep enough to escape being hit"
Grazed by German Torpedo.
Thore was precious little room to
spare in this adventure, but 1t was sur
passed by liner, formerly a favoritc
ship among Atlantic pilgrims, now car
rNing cargoos for the allies A blanket
Of fog covered the sea In the early
morning. 1t lifted n triflc. and very
much surprised submarine popped up
dead ahead of the lunging prov. She
let fly a torpedo in n wild furry. ut
such an angle ahat 1T selwssced along
the steamers side without exploding
\ moment later the submarine itself
went humping and scraping along the
other side of the vessel whose officers
sailors and gunnera stared straight
down at it and uttered the deep and
hearty curses Of tile sea. They would
have sNappod their souls for a few
bombs Ia drop In remembrance Grimy
stoltcrs poil"d their heads through the
open ports and spat Mt the coming
tower, on passionately scrambled for
Jumps OF coal and slice bars to heave
at the blankety blank thing, Then the
fog swallowed II tlp and the incident
was closed.
Fought Until Ship Burned.
For hard fighting and the doggcd
courage that we rightly aserhe to the
men Of the American navy. the story
of the Morcni and chief Petty Officer
Andrew Copassaki, commanding the
armed guard, is one or those which
shines undimmed in defeat. German
anilora che"red him ana his men from
tn" deck of submarine when he fin
ishnd with hts ship on fire and a cargo
Of gasolin" about Ia blow him TO king
dom come, lie Was made II warrant
officer for devotion To duty and deter
nination To fight NJ long as she
fIoated. \ summary was given out
shortly after. but 1t seems worthy OF
publication IA full.
We were attacked three days ont
FROM Gibratcr, first sighting the sub
marine at 5000 Yards away. She fired
four OF five shots before we located
her We then swung round to head
our stern ut her md returned the fire
at 1000 yards, After half an hours
fight We were hit in the gasoline tank
aft, and a fire started. II was reported
to me that the ammunition aft was
running low. ! lined up the forward
guns crew with the merchant crew to
pass ammunition from forward to aft
after fighting an hour longer fire
broke out all over the ship. 1t became
impossible for the men to pass any
81
that such was the case I happened to
be Rhaft the matutnast, and called for
one Of the guns crew to go forward
with me. reached the bridge. being
burned on the way. but the man was
unable to follow me
About this time the steering gear
was shot away and the ship steamed In
circies. Coming down off the bridge.
| saw the captain and boatswain who
were holding the falls ready to lower
the iifeboats. The captain asked me
TO come and get in his boat az II was
already on fire and II would be too
late If We waited. | told him to wait,
and he replied that he would hold the
boat for me as long as possible
Cheered by Germans.
@ went forward and manned the
gun, with which we fired four more
shots before 1t was put out of commits
sion. When the submarine saw that
our shells were droppin. closer. she
went full speed astern so that we could
not sec her. Then. as we could fire no
more, and M the captain called that
the lifeboat was burning, we got into
1t. The boat upset when 1t hit the
water and two of the merchant sea-
men were lost. We swan around unit,
we could get to the capsized boat and
| turn it over.
] The submarine called the boats
, alongside and the commander con-
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