Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
CALIFORNIA SANK
IN NINE MINUTES
Forty.One Lives Were Lost in
Destruction of Ship by Ger
man Submarine.
NO WARNING WAS GIVEN.
Vessels Gunner Was Just Trsinine
ships Gun ON Spot where OIL Bub-
bles Indicated U.BOat's Presence.

London, Feb. S.--The British passenger
steamer California Of the Anchor line.
bound from New York for Glasgow. WAS
torpedoed at nine o'clock Wednesday
morning of the Irish coast and sank in
nine minutes. with the loss Of Il lives.
The stricken ship was able to send out
IS. o. s." calls and help arrived prompts
ly. Nevertheless five persons were killed
by the explosion and S6 we're drowned in
the launching of the lifeboats.
The news of the sinking of the California
reached London yesterday afternoon, be.
fore the survivors had yet arrived on
land but publication was not permitted
till more than "a hours later. -'''
The California was an armed liner. car
rying single ~ gun mounted on the
stern. The gunner was Just training the
weapon on the spot where oil bubbles had
revealed the presence of tho underwater
enemy when a torpedo struck tho port
side with an explosion so violent that
most Of the people aboard were thrown
or their feet. five being killed and a score
injured.
TWO TORpEDOEs FIRED.
The submarine fired a second tor.
pedo. in an apparent effort to accei.
crate the sinking, but the second shot
missed. although both torpedoes were
fired from distance Of less than 900
yards.
There was only one American aboard
the California and he Is among the sur
vivors.
Captain Henderson, commander Of
the California, declares that the con-
duct OF the passengers and crew was
exemplary There had been careful
drills on the ship on the way across.
and every person aboard had been as
signed place in life boat and pro-
vided with a nfebelt But. despite the
GOODNESS of the passengers and tho.
seamanship Of the crew, the successful
launching of the boats was made i'm
possible by the shortness Of the time
between the torpedoing Of the vessel
| and her disappearance beneath the
waves which did not permit waiting
| until the ship had lost headway
LURCHED LIKE DRUNKEN MAN.
While the boats we're being lowered
from the sloping decks, the California
continued to move forward, lurching like
a drunken man, and the roar Of the
water rushing through the gaping wound
in her side could be heard above the
shouts Of officers and men. In q number
Of cases 1t was necessary for the pas
sengers to jump into the boats after they
were in the water, and in one case boat
and sank. many Of the occupants being
! swept under the ship before the other
boats could give help.
SEA WAS CALM
Some Of the lifeboats in the after part
Of the ship were ahoat when released
from the davits. 80 rapidly did the ship
| settle by the stern. A considerable num-
Der of the crew jumped from their sta
| tions into the sea and swan to the boats.
ft was extremely fortunate that the
weather was calm and the sea CLASSY:
otherwise 1t would probably have been
impossible to launch single boat.
| The townspeople (name Of port omit
ted who crowded the quays carried
blankets. clothing and food and were
eager to be Of some assistance to tho
survivors when they were brought ashore.
Aside from those injured, few of the
survivors needed much help. but some
were thinly clad and gladly accepted
gifts OF clothing Naval and military
Red Cross contingents were present to
care for the injured. who were removed
to hospitals.
ONE TORPEDO MISSED.
| According to the reports received By
the American embassy from some Of the
survivors, there was only one subIua.
rine. which. however. hred two torpe>.
does. one Of which missed O few yards.
the other hitting the California squarely
on the port quarter. II was the captain
from the bridge who discerned Suspicious
oil bubbles on the surface Of the water
800 yards distant. He instantly OWNED
that . submarine was there and ordered
the gunner to IRE. Before this could be
done the ship was torpedoed. The track
Of the torpedoes and the periscope oe
the submarine could be seen, but no
warning was given. and the submarine
did not speak the boats after the sur.
vivors were In the water.
| Captain Henderson and the officers res
NAMED aboard the California until the
ship went down. Among the oflcers
missing are Chief Engineer Smith. Engie
neer Cunningham and Third Ohicsr Simp-
son.