Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-19

clear. The motor boat was seaworthy,
but its engine would not run. One
OF the small boats was damaged, but
was OF use in getting men onto the
RATS. The whaleboat was launched
but was useless. owing to damage
from the explosion.
AS the ship settled the commanding
officer ran along the deck and ordered
everybody to jump overheard. Most
OF the men who were not killed by
the explosion got clear of the ship
and reached RATS or wreckage, al
though few were seen to be swim
ming at a considerable distance from
the ship. they having probably jumped
overheard after the torpedo struck the
vessel.
Eight minutes after being struck the
destroyer sank stern first. About Is
minutes after the ship sank, the sub
marine came to the surface, approach
ed within half Il mile of the RATS and
picked up two survivors, although at
the time only one was seen to be
taken aboard. The submarine then
submerged and was not seen again.
Immediately after the sinking, the
| commanding officer, who jumped over
| board as the ship sank and was
picked up by the motor dory, had
efforts made to get all survivors on
the RATS and get the RATS and boats
together. He then began to max ar
engagements to reach the nearest land
in the motor boat so as to bring
assistance to the survivors on the
RATS. Lieut.. Richards was given or
| deTs 10 take charge of the survivors
and keep the RATS together. The COM
manding officer and the navigating Of
icer, Lieut.. Scott, knew accurately the
position Of the ship when she sank and
also knew the course to the nearest
port. They therefore made the trip
in the motor dory with four men to
assist. All the provisions and medical
kit from the motor boat were left with
the men on the RATS except a few
emergency rations and half a bucket
of water. The boat had to be pulled
| by oars, as the engine would not turn.
After a very trying trip. during
which it was necessary to steer by the
stars and by the direction OF the
wind. the boat was picked up at
o'clock the next afternoon by a small
patrol vessel. The senior officer of
the station to which this patrol yes
sci belonged informed Lieut.. Com
mander Bagley that the other sur
viyors had all been rescued.
One small raft, which had been Sc
parated from the others from the time
of the sinking was picked up by the
steamship Catalina at D. NJ, on
December 9. The remaining survivors
were picked up at $3.50 a m. on the
tn, by British patrol vessel.
Out OF the total of officers and 1913
men, 2 officers and 81 men were lost.
Two of these were captured by the
submarine.
Commander Bagley gives unstinted
praise TO the behavior of officers and
men.
Lieut.. Norman Scott, executive of.
hcer, accomplished a great deal to-
ward getting boats and RATS in the
water, turning of steam from the fire.
room to the engine room, getting life.
belts and splinter mats from the
bridge into the water. in person firing
signal guns, encouraging and assist
In gthe men, and in general doing
everything possible in the short time
available. He was OF invaluable as
sistance during the trip in the dory
Lieut.. J. X. Richards was left in
charge of all the RATS and his cool
ness and cheerfulness under exceed.
ingly hard conditions was highly com
mendable and undoubtedly served to
put heart into the men to stand the
strain.
Lieut.. (junior grade) s. +. Falk dur.
ing the early part of the evening,
though ALREADY in weakened condl.
ton. swan from one raft to another in
the effort to equalize weight on the
RATS. The men who were on the
RATS with him state, In their own
words, that HE was game TO the
last"
Lieut.. UunIor grade) N. N. Gates
was reported calm and efficient in the
performance of duty.
During the night, Charles Charles.
worth, boatswain's mate, first class, re-
moved parts of his own clothing twhen
all realized that their lives depended
on keeping warm) to try to keep alive
men more thinly clad than himself.
Commander Baglcy recommended that
he be commended for his action.
AT the risk of almost certain death,
Philip J. Burger, seaman, second class,