The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-05
MORE SHIPS ARE SUNK

wireless on that sub, they sent another
shot at us. Both Brooklyn and Cape
May asked our position but the cap
tain ordered me not to try to talk
any more, as he was afraid the Ger
mans would kill the women aboard
with their gunfire.
Destroyed U. S. Secret Code.
Before we left I destroyed the
naval code book, then put our papers
in a silver pitcher and dropped them
overheard. The captain ordered us all
outside. II took about fifteen minutes
to get all hands into the ten Hfeboats.
We had plenty of boats"
Many of the survivors were without
proper clothing, and some were I'M
able to ta1k about the submarine at
tack without symptoms of hysteria.
The military men aboard gave the
clearest accounts. Because of the
crowded condition of tie schooner,
Worn and exhausted tho they were, q
little group managed to raise a feeble
cheer when they saw the, water front
building looming vaguely thru the
early morning mist.
Survivor Tells OF the Attack.
'Tt was about o'clock when we
heard the first shot," said Lieut.. j. P.
'C'Toole, U. S. -. AT first we thought
it was an American patrol boat. But
shot went over the bow, then one
screeched Vicar over the ship, and
another hut in the wake and a fourth
fell short. Then it came closer and
we Could see It for what it was-a big
German s. bmarine, with the crew in
yellow siickers standing on deck and
t of tam waving German flags"
Estimates of tie size of the Ger
man crew varied from twenty-five to
forty. 1t was generally agreed the u
boat was about 20 feet long and that
she carried what appeared to be two
six-inch guns, one fore and one aft.
Sunk by Gunfirc.
The boats were launched without
accident while the pirate circled
around and around the doomed liner.
the Germans standing idly watching
the men and women putting off in
frail craft, fifty miles from Land
Then the submarine gun crew, in
leisurely fashion. planted six shells in
the Carolina, below the water line.
And it was while this was going on
some of the Prussians were
working the gun and others grinning
at the castaways and Haunting their
German flags that somebody started
to whistle the Star Spangled Ban
ner.
Others took It up, women's voices
Joined in and punctuated by the re-
ports of the German gun, Americas
national anthem rang out over the
lonely waters. The Prussians stared.
They could not understand anything
like that.
Eight lifeboats were tied together
in a little flotilla and started away
toward where the Jersey coast lay
over. the horizon. The Carolina list
ed, her boilers burst and she rolled
over on her side. An hour later the
S,O00-ton liner sank-the first big
American victim of Germany's sub
marine frightfdlness on this side of
the Atlantic.
Women Wept During Storm
Robert E. Lebkicker Of PhiladeI-
phia, Quartermaster, described what
happened as night came on and the
thunder clouds gathered. As the sea
rose it was necessary to cut the haw-
sers so the lifeboats4 drifted apart.
Sea anchors were rugged to keep them
from capsizing. Rain came down in
torrents and women began weeping in
work to keep the boats from being
swamped. When morning came, the
storm subsidized and it was seen that
the little fleet had been scattered for
miles.
Some time later the schooner Doug
lass came in sight.
Captain Lauro of the Douglass said
off the Delaware capes, SO kept q
sharp lookout and in the morning he
spotted the lifeboats. They were
gathered in and after putting into
Barnegat to send a message, he pro-
ceeded up the coast to Scotland Light,
escorted by the 1907" Near the light,
sea-going tug took the schooner in
tow.
The Usual Spy Story.
There
among the rescued people when they
arrived at New York. One was that
q Hungarian, who had been arrested
for espionage in Porto Rico and later
released. dived overheard when the
submarine first appeared and swan to
It, where he was welcomed by the
Germans. Another had to do with
mysterious wireless messages, <fn an
unknown code. which were heard
about the time of the attack
Among the uniformed men aboard
the Carolina were a number from the
San Juan officers training camp.
Horrors OF the Storm.
Survivors arriving at Lewes, Del.
told of the horrors OF Sunday nights