Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22

London, March 1S.-The sinking of
the American steamships City of
Memphis. Illinois and vigilancia was
announced to-day. Fourteen men from
the vigilancia are missing. as are
some Of the men from the City Of
was landed safely.
The American steamship City of
Memphis, which left Cardiff Friday in
ballast for New York, was sunk Sat-
urday. when she left port she had
the Stars and Stripes painted on both
sides. She encountered submarine
about five o'clock Saturday evening.
The German commander ordered the
steamers captain to leave his ship
within fifteen minutes.
The crew entered five boats, and the
submarine then fired a torpedo which
struck the vessel on the starboard SIDE
tearing great hole through which the
sea poured. The steamer settled down
quickly and foundered within a few
minutes.
During the night the boats became
separated and at four o'clock Sunday
morning three boat crews were picked
up by patrol vessel and landed These
boats contained thirty-three men. mostly
Americans The officers believe that the
other boats will be rescued.
The Illinois. from London for Port
Arthur. Texas. In ballast. was sunk at
eight o'clock this morning
The Vigilancia was torpedoed with
out warning. The submarine did not
appear. The captain. first and second
mates, first. second and third engin.
GERS and twenty-three men of the
crew have been landed at the Scilly
islands. The fourth engineer and 10
men are missing.
New York, Marcht 1s.-Forty-ei gh
men who were Americans by birth or
by naturalization and nine Others
several of whom were believed to he
naturalized Americans. comprised the
crew of the American freight steam
ship City of Memphis. reported from
London to-day as having been sunk
by shell fire. The vessel itself,
valued at 100000, had weathered safe
~ many adventures in European wat
ers on previous voyages since the war
began.
Owned by the Ocean Steamship
company. commonly known as the
Savannah line. the City OF Memphis, of
5.252 tons gross, sailed from New
York on January %. carrying o.s53
bales of cotton valued at 100000 This
she delivered at Havre. France, and
was on her way home in Ballast when
sunk.
Her captain was l.. r. Borum OF Nor
folk, Va, where he was horn of American
parents. Her other officers were all
American born except one.
MEMPHIS AN ADVENTUROUS SiIIF.
While on her last voyage from New
York the City Of Memphis was halted off
the scilly Islands on January % by Ger
man submarine whose captain demanded
to see the papers she carried. 4 mate
went aboard the U-bost and was informed
That lnasmuch as the American carried
a contraband cargo che ought to be sunk
but that because America and Germany
We're on friendly relations she might
proceed
Leaving Havre after discharsing her
cotton. the City of Memphis put in at
Cardiff. Wales. for enough bunker cosi
to enable her to steam to New York. \
message received here yesterday by W. II.
Fleasants. president Of the Ocean Steam
ship company. from Captain Borum an
nouncd the ships departure from Cardiff
on Friday SO that she was less than IS
hours out when sunk.
TEN TRIPS INTO THE WAR ZONE.
The City Of Memphiss last voyage to
Europe was her 10th into the war zone.
Exclusive of the final trip. she had travel
ed 1851 miles in taking abroad horses
for the Italian government. cotton and
general merchandise. worth more than
$6,0o.oO. this figure including tho value
Of the last cargo delivered.
Built In Chester, Pa. in 1902. the City of