Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-19
Memphis Crew
Had 48 or More
j. s. Citizens


London, March 1S.--The American
steamer City of Memphis, which left
was sunk Saturday. When she left
port the City of Memphis had the Stars
and Stripes painted on both sides. She
encountered submarine about 5 O'Clock
Saturday evening. The German COM
mander ordered the captain of the
steamer to leave his ship within IS
minutes
The entire crew entered FIVE boats
and the submarine then fired tor
pedo which struck the vessel the
starboard side, tearing a great hole.
The steamer foundered within few
minutes
During the night the boats became
separated and at 4 o'clock Sunday morn
ing three boats crew picked up by a
patrol vessel and landed. These boats
contained SO men, mostly Americans.
All of the officers were AMERICANS. The
officers believe that the other boats will
be rescued.
Third Engineer Thompson of the City
of Memphis in an interview with the
Central News said the submarine fired
warning shot for the steamer to slow
Gown and subsequently signalled for her
to stop and for the crew to abandon the
ship Ten II shells were fired at thu
vessel, which began to sink. Then follow :
ed terrific explosion which caused the
vessel to tremble all over, and within
20 minutes she sank stern first. The
crew suffered a great deal from exposure
during the night.
Thompson said the ship was on charter
TO discharge her cargo at Havre. From
Havre she went to Cardiff and the skip
Fer, knowing he was in ,ne danger zone.
kept the flag which was yards in length,
flying at the masthead Nobody seems
to have expected an attack. Capt. Borum
briefly consulted with the officers after
the Germans ordered him by megaphone
TO leave the ship because it was intend
ed to sink her, said Thompson. All
agreed that there was no alternative. Aft
err describing Se sinking of the steamer
Thompson continued:
when the ship had been destroyed
the German commander steamed to
our boat and asked for the captain,
but none of our lads answered him.
He then went from boat to boat until
he found Capt. Borum. who briefly
conversed with him. l do not know
what was said.
THE weather was not too bad. but
there were heavy swells. We kept the
boats together and during the evening
we rowed together toward the coast.
The night closed with biting wind
and some Of our young chaps were
very sick. Our flare lights were seen
between and 4 o'clock in the morn
ing by the patrol vessels. which res
cued two boats crews. The other two
had become separated. We lost every
thing we possessed"
The following American officers are
known to have been landed:
G. G. Laird. w. l. Percy, F. Bevill,
w. Nj. Thompson, NJ Dierland. J. w.
trician Phillips.
leans by birth of by naturaliza-
ton and nine others. several of
whom were believed to be naturalize1
Americans. comprised the crew of the
American freight steamship City Of Men,
phis, reported from London today as hav-
ing been sunk by shell fire. The vessel
itself valued at 100000. had weathered
safely many adventures in European wa
ters on previous voyages since the war
began.
Owned by the Ocean Steamship Co.
commonly known as the Savannah Line.
the City Of Memphis, $3.50 tons gross.
sailed from New York on Jan. q carry
ing 1858 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. P. Borum of Nor
folk, Va. where he was born of Ameri-
can parents. Her other Officers were all
American-born except one.
Every officer had his American license
and every naturalized American his natu-
ralization papers, in compliance with
rule laid down by the ships owners.
While on her last voyage from New
York the City Of Memphis was halted off
the scilly islands on Jan. q by German
submarine whose captain demanded to
see the papers she carried. mate went
aboard the U-boat and was informed
that inasmuch as the American carried
I contraband cargo she ought to be sunk,
but because America and Germany were
On friendly relations she might proceed.
leaving Havre after discharging her
cotton the City Of Memphis put in at
Cardiff. Wales. for enough bunker coal
to enable her - steam to New York. A
message rsceived here yesterday by W.