The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-04-12
AMERICAN SHIP
DESTROYS U.BOAT
Standard Oil Tanker Sends Diver
to Bottom.
FIGHT LASTED 20 MINUTES
Steamer sequoya Arrives at San Fran
cisco and Tells OF 5attle-one Of
Crew Killed and Two
Wounded.

San Francisco. April 10.--A battle
between Il German submarine and the
Standard Oil ccmpany's tanker Sequo-
va, bcnZine laden, off the Cornish
coast, was revealed for the first time
on the arrival here of the steamer
from London. ~.
The battle ended in victory for the
Scquoya after 20 minutes of furious
Smelling, The submarine going down in
u volcano of smoke and flame.
a 4,T-inch shell, aimed by the gun.
ners on the Sequoya had hit its mark.
The Submarines magazine chambers
exploded, water Hooded the chambers
and the. finger of death directed the
U-boat 10 n grave with the Lusitania
and Laconia. @
One Dead on Secuoya.
One dead, three wounded and bridge
wheelhOuse and lifeboat smashed and
pcppcrcd by explosive shells, were the
toll aboard the SeGuoya. The damage
is still. perceptible, and will be re-,
paired ut the Union Iron Works.
Graphic details of the battle were
told aboard the Sequoya tonight at
the Union works Icy the officers OF
the vessel. t..ahE s..,.,
Capt. Il. G.. James. hero of the occa.
sion, who is well known here, is not
in command of the vessel Gu this vOy.
uge, having been relieved by Capt. w,
III. Phillips just before the vessel left
for this const.>
Chief Officer +. w. Weeks and Chief
Engineer l.. Il. Fountain, who proved
their bravery during the battle, are
still on the tanker, as are many OF
the crew. -...-.. ..
The fight between the tanker and
the submarine occurred in, the last
week Of February as the tanker was
nearing the English coast with her
cargo of benzine, which she received
in the Orient. .. ...
Attacked With No Warning.
I'VE first saw the submarine at day
light" said Chief Officer Weeks to.
night. I'VE had no warning until a
shot shattered the bridge.
"The submerSiblc was less than n
mile away. Captain james, ordered
the gunnrrS aboard to return the fire.
"A Second shot hit us. a piece of
shrapnrl tore off the top of Captain
James hat and spllntercd the steel
WCI:k on the bridge.
THE gunncrs trained the guns of
the Sequoya on the sUbmersble, and
two shots were fired without effect.
Meantime, third shot, carrying
death in its wake, came from the sub
marine. One of the crew hutl just
stepped out or the companiOnway from
the cabin. His head was almost Sc
vercd. Shrapnel flew around the deck
like hailStones.
at was apparCn; they were aiming
to destroy our steering apparatus.
1.-Two more shots were fired by the
submarine. Shrapnel had wounded
three of our crew. .t
~ ut was our fifth shot which told.
n llams shot MP from the coming
tower of the submarine, black smoke
arose. the echo Of an explosion was
heard aboard the Sequoyn anu the
submarine rolled over and disappeared.
4 whirlpool of water. ashes and oil
marked the spot Of the boats last
dive. ., 49,. ....... ...
An admiralty investigation was con-
tluctcd when we reached port, but IT
was ktpt secret Had one Of the shots
hit Epup tbenalne tanks all on board
would have been Blown to atoms"
The Sequaga IL American owned,
hut Of British registry.