Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
U.S.CAPTAIN FOTLS
U-BOAT'SO OFFICERS
Orleans skipper, Whose
Head Kaiser Sought, Es-
capes From Ship
VESSEL WAS TORPEDOED
Bv Aocnco Radio

PARIS. July 10.
A graphic study Of the destruction Of the
armed United States steamship orleans by
n German submarine, revealing for the first
time that the Kaiser had set n price of
$4,000 marks upon the head Of Captain
Allen Tucker, was told here today by
survivors who have just arrived. Officers
on the submarine with drawn revolvers
tried to find Captain Tucker to kill him,
but were frustrated. The captain had a
narrow escape from drowning as we'll as
from death at the hands Of the Germans.
The Orleans, together with her sister ship,
the Rochester, were the first armed Ameri-
can frelghters TO leave New York after
Germany declared her ruthless submarine
war and this evidently enraged the Kaiser.
Captain Tucker was accompanied by his
officers. This is the story he told rounded
out by information Of the other officers:
on the night Of July 3 the orleans was
suddenly attacked without warning. The
first the seamen knew there was tremen-
dous explosion and geyser OF water
drcnched the vessel The ifeboats were at
once swung overheard and the crew em-
barked while the wireless operator Larsen.
pounded his wireless key with flashes of
IS. O. s."
Suddenly It was discovered that Captain
Tucker and the first officer were missing and
were still aboard the Orleans. The torpedo
had torn an enormous gap in the hull and
the vessel was sinking fast The lifeboats
spread out In fan shape and stood by, walt
ing to pick up the captain and first officer
as soon as they should appear on the SUR
face
In the meantime Captain Tucker and his
fellow officer, finding they had been acci-
dentally left behind attempted to throw a
plank overheard to cling to when they
should get into the water. The end OF il
fell, smashing Captain fuckers foot De-
utNifa INT Nni ta1 las.
the first officer, finally got the piece OF
timber into the water. As they did the
ship disappeared. The men were drawn
beneath the surface but when they arose
both swan furiously in the direction of the
board, which they could see nearby.
Finally lifeboat came up and after six
| hours Of drifting the survivors In this boat
| were picked up by an American armored
| yacht. This yacht cruised about until all
| the lifeboats had been found. Then the
| survivors were landed at a French port
In the meantime sensational incidents were
| occurring. As the Orleans took the final
| plunge, the submarine came to the surface
| and started to circle around the lifeboats
| When it reached the second officers boat
| II could he seen that five German officers
| with automatic pistols in their hands, were
standing on the deck.
| The commander called out:
"Have you got the captain in that boat?'
mo" replied the second officer, II think
| he went down with the ship"
| The German officer cursed spitefully II
| English for a while, then answered.
There is a price Of $4,000 marks on his
| head and want him"
Those on the submarine examined every
| one in the boats closely until they were sat
sfed that the captain was missing, and
then they made off very angry at their loss
| of a rich money prize.
The Orleans has had an exciting career
| but her master feared submarines no NOR
than he did the waves through which hi
| ship plOwed
| The Orleans, when she arrived at Bor
deaux after the declaration of ruthless sub
marine warfare, was given an enthusiast
reception. The voyage was watched wit
the closest interest by America and France
The Orleans ship of 2S0S tons, was bull
as the Avellanda, but afterward her nam
was changed to Menaptha and finally to tn
Orleans She flew the United States fla
and carried a crew of thrty-siX men, in
cluding ten American citizens. She left Ney
York on her final voyage on June IS, carry
ing mixed cargo. She was bound for
French port.