The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-25
.SEAMEN BLOWN FROM
HOLD TO UPPER DECK
Armed Guard Commander Tells Thrill.
ing Experience ON Steamer Arne-
mia In U-Boat Attack.
HUN PIRATE MAKES GETAWAY.
When Boatswain's Mate Gets Line on
Submarine Latter Sinks Away Like
Licked Yellow Our After Tackling
Mastiff--OniciaI Report.

Washington, March 24.-Eow the
armed steamship Armenia saved her
self after she was torpedoed for the
second time in her life. how the mem
perS or the armed guard Were blown
into the air still crying their warnings,
and how the inside OF the vessel was
torn to pieces are told In thrilling
way by chief boatswaiI&a 1Ate, Ho-
mlak, commander of tEe armed guard.
by Se.~Gxgyy Daniels.
Secretary Daniels.
The Nwgsel was torpedoed for the
second time, on February 10, at 1910
A, M Gu both occasions she reached
port. Early in December she was hit
by torpedo and a collision mat and
her cargo OF -four saved her. OF the
last attack Chief Boatswain's Mate
Homiak says
"At I2:40 A. NJ. the ship was struck
in aft starboard quarter The torpedo
came on an angle. went through after
storerooms into No. hold and out
through wooden patch, bending ships
side forward OF patch in No hold.
AT tho time ! was looking aft from
the portside of tho bridge. I saw the
stern go up and the bow go down:
then stern down and bow up.
Up in the Air.
"A. Weigert, seaman lookout saw
the torpedo coming about forty yards
away and hollered. he was still hol-
lering when blown into the air. He
landed on main deck forward of No,
gun platform on starboard side. The
man on the aft side o. the gun was
thrown upon a gun and bruised his left
shoulder. Ready service box on No.
gun platform was blown into pieces.
The port lookout WIS blown through
where ready service box was onto the
main deck just mlsstsg No hatch
which was open a t the time. When
both iookouts picked themselves up,
they hurried up on gun platform to
man the gun, They trained the gun
In the direction from which torpedo
came, but nothing could be seen.
The two men sleeping In smoking
room under No, 2 gun found them
selves in the dark Everything was
mass OF wrecka9e. The outer bulk
head was caved in Doors were blown
of the hinges The ladder leading
from the smoking room to the main
deck was blown to spIiuters. Seaman
w. II. Touaing called TO w. Cywinski,
woman: Give me your hand and fol-
low" When they came to the com
panionway they found the wooden
bulkhead and ladder piled up in wreck
age. Cywinski sang out; we are
trapped" Tousins said: Get on my
shoulders and get to the upper main
deck" When Cywinskl reached that
deck he caught Housings hand and
pulled him up. They rushed 10 the
gun.
Mate Proves Hero.
al this time two other men told
me, they were hurt. Not being sure
had all my men. and missing two. |
ran of to the conpanionway leading |
to after smoking room. AS | did not |
know the ladder was blown up, I fell
down ON the wreckage. ] then turned
on the spotlight. Afraid of being
trapped myself. / put my head in The
door and called out to ask If there
was anyone inside, Going back II
flashed my light at magazine and found
1t twisted out of shape. I decided 20
go bslow and inspect the magazine
When I opened the door I saw a light.
found the wooden bulkhead shoulder
ing. I used my handkerchief to put
it out, From the inspection after ar
irving In port / found the bottle of
sample smokeless powder bursting
from the conclusion OF torpedo. against
the bulkhead and 1t ignited / ran
upon main deck and saw rescue boat
heading our way. l asked the second
mate to lower a boat 80 We could send
wounded man aboard 10 get medical
aid. which was done. I then took the
remainder OF men and went over and
tried TO launch boat again. The
boat was successfully launched. but
carried away. One sea painter. later
swung aft and hun on TO stern fast,
The boat was smashing up 80 badly
we had to drop her at the stern OF the
ship.
"At 3:3o A. NJ. tug got line
aboard. At 400 A. NJ. the line carried
away After several attempts q line
was made fast and the ship towed to
port. The men were taken of In boats,
going aboard again when the vessel
anchored"