Ellsworth American., 1917-01-10
roRpEDolNo OF CoLUMBlAN.


r. q. Richardson arrived here Friday
night from New York TO spend few days
with his wife, who II staying with her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest franklin.
Mr.. Richardson has ssen some rather
exciting experiences since he left Boston
Oct. n in the steamship Columbian, for
st. Nazaire, France, uand Genoa, Italy.
The ship LEFT with / 800 horses for France,
and cargo OF steel, iron and copper for
Italy. Tho Columbian arrived in st. Ma
zaire Nov. 8, after an uneventful voyage,
with the exception Of . slight fire in the
after hold ON Oct. "a. They landed 1,SOO
horses, having lost 200 during the trip.
They remained there only forty-eight
hours, tAen cleared for Genoa.
On Nov. z, with . heavy sea running and
in q gale OF " ind, at 40 .. M, subma-
rine showed up on their port bow, about
two miles distant, and fred shot across
them. After cruising around the ship and
looking her over, the submarine set signals
which were understood to mean "dis-
missal." She then disappeared, and the
Columbian continued upon her course.
At about p. M, the ship was over
hauled again by another shot across the
| ships bow, and signals were set upon
the submarine which were understood and
meant sslaunch q boat and bring your
papers to u.s." A boat was launched and
in charge of the first officer and four men,
started for the submarine. The sea was
80 heavy and wind SO strong that no pro-
gress could be made, and it was feared
several times that the boat would not re-
turn. Finally they managed to get back,
and the submarine understood that they
could not reach her IN such weather.
The sub marine then gave orders to fol-
low her course at an approximate speed of
three miles an hour. They followed her
all night, and at 9 q. m. Nov. s, after the
ships papers had been examined, the sub
marine gave orders to abandon ship.
Mr.. Richardson, ~ho is an engineer,
was on duty at the time, and after turn
ing the ship around with the engines so
that the life boats might be lowered on
the lee side, he shut everything on in the
engine room which might cause serious
trouble, went on deck, took his life boat
with thirty men and rowed to the Nor
wegian BALTIC, which had German prize
crew IN charge.
After all boats were clear OF tne Coium-
bian, the Germans set of two bombs in
the ship, one forward and another aft.
These were not effective. They then fred
torpedo INTO ner' Just art OF mioships,
at p. m. There was no visible explosion,
only spout OF water seVenty-nve or loo
feet In the air, and the ship showed no
signs OF sinking for FULLY one-half hour
she sank stern nrst IN ntty-six minutes,
with the stsrs ano stripes nying.
Inc American crew renamed on the
baito tne nlgnt OF Nov'o. FMS snip was
ready 10 De "toucneo on" upon the ap-
pearance OF any no tile craft, having
ounks placed IN all iour natches. AT
ABOUT q. m. NOV. y, tney were transferred
: by lifeooat to the swedish snip Varing.
AT ABOUT p. N. the baito was oiown up
oy the bombs, ana sank IN about thi rty
minutes.
Ihe submarine ovefhauled another
Norwegian ship, the Fordalen, that, after
noon' ana sank her with torpedo before
dark, the crew OF the Fordaien coming on
board the Varing. All three crews stayed
overnight on TINS snip, ana Al q. %.
NOV. lo' took to the hieooats and started
ior the shore.
Mr.. Richardson's boat took Six and one
naii nours TO reacn shore. thirty miles
distant. After following the shore few
miles, tney found . suitable ianding-place
at Camarinas, small fishing village on
the northeastern coast OF Spain. There
being no means OF communication there,
after three days the crew left for Coruna
to reach there.